The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly caused a lot of upset amongst people of all ages and sadly meant that we have been unable to participate in rugby.
Whilst this is for the interest and safety of all involved and the wider community, we recognise that for many of our members, supporters and friends, Bramley Buffaloes is about more than just rugby; it’s a support network, it’s a life, it’s a community, and some people may have taken it harder than others.
In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, Paul Abraham, Registered Mental Health First Aider shared with us some useful guidance on how to spot when things have gone beyond low mood and how you can support someone who may be suffering.
In Younger Children:
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
- Hyperactivity
- Persistent nightmares
- Persistent disobedience or aggression
- Frequent temper tantrums
In Older Children and Pre-Teens:
- Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Excessive complaints of physical ailments
- Changes in ability to manage responsibilities
- Defiance of authority, theft, and/or vandalism
- Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
- Frequent outbursts of anger
In Adults, Young Adults and Teenagers:
- Confused thinking
- Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
- Feelings of extreme highs and lows
- Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Strong feelings of anger
- Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Numerous unexplained physical ailments
How can you help someone with Mental Health issues?
- Speak openly and honestly about your concerns
- Give the person opportunities to talk to you about their feelings
- Let the person know you are concerned about them and are willing to help
- If the person doesn’t feel comfortable talking to you, encourage them to discuss how they are feeling with someone else
- Treat the person with respect and dignity
- Do not blame the person for their illness
- Offer consistent emotional support and understanding
- Give the person hope for recovery
- Give them a call or text and show them that you care
What doesn’t help someone with Mental Health issues?
- Telling them to ‘snap out of it’ or ‘get over it’
- Being hostile or sarcastic
- Being over-involved or over-protective
- Nagging
- Trivialising a person’s experience by pressuring them to ‘put a smile on their face,’ to ‘get their act together’ etc.,
- Belittling or dismissing the person’s feelings by saying things like ‘You don’t seem that bad to me.’
- Speaking in a patronising tone of voice
- Trying to cure the person or come up with answers to their problems.
This is only a short guide to help detect Mental Health issues and always aim to get professional advice should you or someone you know start showing signs of Mental Health issues.
Remember, it’s okay to talk.