Talking shows strength Just Talk Talking shows strength

Why mental health affects us all We ALL have mental health and we should be able to talk about it in the same way we talk about physical health Life can be difficult sometimes for everyone. It shows strength to talk about mental health & to seek help when struggling At least 1 in 10 young people will have a clinically diagnosable mental health condition (1 in 4 adults) Seeking help early makes you less likely to become ill Did you know? 72% of girls and 70% of boys in Hertfordshire think it’s OK to talk about their mental health.

What do young people worry about? Boys: Exams Physical Health School work Girls: Exams The way you look School work

Worries continued Worrying is normal – we all worry sometimes But sometimes worrying, feeling stressed, feeling down, or feeling anxious, can become too much to handle Seeking help early means you are less likely to become unwell Did you know? In Hertfordshire, 16% of boys and 14% of girls were unable to identify any coping strategies when asked how they would handle a problem that was worrying them

How do young people cope? Life is full of ups and downs – it’s important for all of us to have the tools to cope when times are tough Boys most commonly use physical activity and sports, and technology and video games as a coping strategy. Girls most commonly use music or chatting to friends. Some people can’t identify any coping strategies – this puts you at risk There are lots of things you can do to boost your wellbeing and help you cope when things go wrong. The five ways to wellbeing is based on lots of evidence, and is a useful tool for building more coping strategies…

Five Ways to Wellbeing

Five Ways to Wellbeing Connect: Spend time with family and friends. Enjoy doing things together and talking to each other. Be Active: Physical activity is good. It keeps you physically healthy, and makes you FEEL GOOD! Keep Learning: Try something new. Try a new hobby, learn about something just because it interests you. Take Notice: Take a break to see how you feel. Relax and look around you or listen to music, take a few deep breaths. Give: Do something for a friend or relation/adult, as well as making them feel good, it can make you feel good too!

Other ideas for handling tough times Talking about your problems can help you work through them; either with friends, your family, or a professional Finding activities that you enjoy and that help you relax can help – some people like to find online meditations Exercise, healthy eating and getting enough sleep can also help keep you emotionally healthy

A campaign for Hertfordshire

How has this campaign been developed? National and Hertfordshire research told us boys need more support e.g. fewer boys than girls access mental health support services, and boys are less comfortable talking about mental health 650 Herts boys completed a 2017 survey Professionals from a wide range of backgrounds have been involved in shaping this campaign We’ve worked with a social marketing and design company We’ve run focus groups with young people to make sure this campaign is relevant for YOU

You can share your thoughts #JustTalk Quotes from the survey “Don't be afraid. The more you say, the more people will hear, and the more help you'll be given” “Go talk to someone you trust and tell them everything because you will feel better talking to someone”. “you need to talk to people. You can’t just bottle it up inside - if you do it could make it a lot worse” “If I would see my friend feeling low I would encourage him/ her to speak someone (teacher or parent).” “Don't be scared and always share your feelings. Don't bottle them up or they will just get worse” You can share your thoughts #JustTalk

Key information Healthy Young Minds website http://www.healthyyoungmindsinherts.org.uk/ Kooth: Online confidential counselling service for young people. No personal details or real names. All the counsellors are trained https://www.kooth.com/ Health for Teens is a website by the School Nurse Service for young people wanting information on a range of topics. There are online forums where people can discuss different topics. http://www.healthforteens.co.uk/ Chat Health A school health nurse will answer your health questions. 07480 635050 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.