World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2020 was held on Saturday 10th October. Some may say this has to be one of the most important yet. Year 12 student, Tyler Gordon shares his views and encourages you to watch the short video he's created in partnership with fellow sixth form student and mental health ambassador, Ioan Gwenter, to raise awareness about mental health, and show students how they themselves could deal with their own issues, or help others who are struggling.

Mental health is an extremely prevalent issue in today’s society, and is probably the most dismissed. The ongoing pandemic situation has caused substantial change to the way we live our lives, and has undoubtedly had a detrimental effect on people’s mental health around the globe.

"As a teenager, the drastic changes have caused extreme levels of stress and anxiety, which has led to various occasions where my mental health has become an issue.

The first few weeks of Sixth Form were hard-hitting for me - a leap up in terms of workload, combined with uncertainties over my A Level choices eventually eroded my mental health to nothing within weeks. I knew I was stressed, but I ignored it and wrote it off as “being normal” - as everyone else seemed to be coping fine. That was until I realised things were not right.

As a quiet individual, I never shared anything with my teachers or peers, and kept all my issues wrapped tightly inside my head. Fortunately, I had the courage to take action and remove the tumour - which in this case was my fourth A Level.

However, if I could mask my true feelings from even my closest peers - then so could others.

I made the video with our mental health ambassador and student leader, Ioan Gwenter, to raise awareness about mental health, and show students in my school how they themselves could deal with it or even help others who are struggling. Presenting this video to students during tutor time would provide advice to students who may not have the courage to ask for it - potentially even giving them enough encouragement to open up.

After interviewing Dr Vicky Eames, a clinical psychologist at Riverbank Psychology, I was able to collate professional advice from a certified psychologist - which I could then pass on to others.

Essentially, the most important things to do when dealing with emotional issues are:

Talk to someone who you have a strong relationship with (whether that be a teacher/peer/parent/guardian)
Get some exercise!
Get yourself outdoors and enjoy the nature
Give yourself time to relax, watch a fun movie for example!
Identify and remove the source of your problems, as quickly as possible
Put things into perspective, is it the end of the world?

When helping someone else who is struggling:

make sure you listen to them, make them the subject of the conversation
Say something positive, it can brighten someone’s day!
If you are really concerned, don’t feel afraid to get more help
Spend some time with them, and involve them in activities

Helping others is our upmost priority, and we will do anything we can do to improve students’ experience throughout their time here at Queen’s Park High School. During rough times like this, it is crucial we work together - teamwork makes the dreamwork!

Ultimately, I will do anything I can do to make the world a safer, more enjoyable place for all of us, so please watch our video, so you can help us eradicate mental health issues from our planet.

Helpful Websites

Please click on the headers below to connect to the relevant website or on the drop down arrow for more information about each organisation.

YOUNG MINDS

YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity fighting for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges. They are there to make sure you get the best possible mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life’s difficulties.

childline

Childline is there to help anyone under 19 years of age in the UK with any issue they are going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it's something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you.

Mental Health Foundation

If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse, or you are worried about someone you know - help is available. You are not alone; talk to someone you trust. Sharing a problem is often the first step to recovery.

mind

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

NHS

NHS website which contains an A to Z list of Mental Health Support Charities, organisations & support groups who you can go to for expert advice for yourself or a loved one.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership

If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse or deteriorates, this can be called a ‘mental health crisis’. In this situation, it is important to get help quickly. Please call 0800 145 6485 and their dedicated local staff will support you to access the help you need.
The phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is open to people of all ages – including children and young people. If you feel that you do not require urgent help, but you would like more information and resources about anxiety, low mood, and the current situation, please refer to their website (above).

Thank you

I must personally thank Dr Eames for the extremely precious opportunity to talk to such a experienced psychologist, it was an absolute honour to receive her expert advice for use in my video. Additionally, I would like to share my gratitude towards Ioan Gwenter, who committed his very valuable time to aid me in conveying this message, it was a pleasure working with such a talented student.