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© THE DOVE SERVICE

Content• Recognise some triggers, signs and symptoms

of stress, anxiety and depression

• Highlighting stigma and discrimination associated with mental ill health

• Introduce The Dove Service and what we are funded for in this area

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What does health and well being

mean to you?

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What is mental health?Mental health and well being is relevant to us all.

However we only tend to take notice of mental health if it becomes a problem for us.

1 in 4 of people will experience mental ill health at some point this year. 1 in 6 people in the UK will experience illness related to

anxiety

Depression affects 1 in 12 of the population

Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental health problem in Britain

www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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What is mental ill health? The definition of ‘mental ill health’ or ‘mental health problems’

covers a very wide spectrum, from the worries and grief we all experience as part of everyday life to the most bleak, suicidal

depression or clinical diagnosis of a mental health illness.

Everybody responds differently to the stresses and strains of modern life and it is common to describe ourselves as

‘depressed’, ‘stressed’ or ‘anxious’ at times. For some, these feelings can become serious enough to make it difficult to

carry on with everyday life.

www.mindfulemployer.net

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What is good mental health?

Good mental health is characterised by a person’sability to fulfil a number of key functions andactivities such as:• The ability to learn • The ability to feel, express and manage a range of

positive and negative emotions• The ability to form and maintain good relationships with

others • The ability to cope with and manage change and

uncertainty

www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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Recognising triggers, signs and symptoms

It will be helpful if we all can identify clues when all is not well.

It’s obvious if someone is feeling under the weather due to a heavy cold or a foot injury. It will not be

so obvious to recognise when we are experiencing mental ill health.

Would we be able to recognise triggers, signs and symptoms in ourselves and those around us?

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Triggers• Change• Stressful events • Juggling life's demands home/children/relationships/work/finances/ caring for

someone• Physical health problem• Relationship difficulties or a break up• Trauma (e.g. Car accident) • Illness of a loved one • Bereavement • Loss• Feeling lonely (isolated)• Personality traits (e.g. periodic dips in confidence and feelings of low self

esteem)• Lifestyle – alcohol, drugs, diet, lack of exercise• Domestic violence • Abuse (physical, verbal, psychological)• Bullying and harassment

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Physical Signs

• Tired • Unwashed – hair, clothes • Looking more dishevelled that usual• Feeling unwell/nausea/dizzy/headaches • Sudden weight loss or gain • Changes in breathing pattern• Tense • Sweating • Lack of energy

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Behavioural Signs • Lack of concentration • Restless/fidgety • Speaking or moving more slowly • Use of drugs or alcohol• Putting off jobs/making excuses • Change in level of/and or nature of

communication • Not hitting targets/KPIs• Nail biting /Teeth grinding • Self harm

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Emotional Signs • Withdrawal• Lack of motivation• Mood swings • Tearful • Sadness• Angry or irritable• Overwhelmed • Helplessness • Suicidal thoughts • Numbness • Nervous• Worrying

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Psychological Symptoms/feelings

• Feelings of losing control or going mad • Feeling as though people are looking at them• Feelings of wanting to run away/escape• Feeling detached from their environment • Feeling like everything is going to fast or too

slow• Feeling fearful of something awful happening

or that they are ill• Feeling bad about oneself

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Stigma and Discrimination

• Stigma – originally means a sign, point or branding mark. This can lead to labelling.

• Discrimination – prejudice, being treated differently due to being associated with a certain group or category. Treatment is usually in a negative way.

• 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems will experience stigma and discrimination

• Stigma and discrimination can be far worse than the actual condition itself.

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Summary

We have …• Recognised triggers, signs and symptoms of

mental ill health• Highlighted stigma and discrimination

associated with mental ill health

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References

www.anxietyuk.org.ukwww.fivewaystowellbeing.orgwww.mentalhealth.org.ukwww.mind.org.ukwww.time-to-change.org.ukwww.thedoveservice.org.uk

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Thank You