We get so much from our communities: connection, a sense of belonging and purpose, and protection from mental health problems.
One of the ways to get involved with our community, and boost our mental health, is by giving back. 
Taking part in community activities, like volunteering, boosts our self-esteem, confidence and overall wellbeing.
Find out more about ways to get involved in your community: https://bit.ly/4kcDalm
Thousands of children and young people have received support from Childline for anger issues over the past year.
New data shows that the NSPCC-service delivered close to 3,000 counselling sessions to children and young people across the UK about the issue, online and over the phone, which is a 6 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
The rise in contacts on the topic has made anger issues a top ten mental health concern for all genders contacting the service. This data gives insight into a generation increasingly struggling to manage and regulate their emotions in the face of a range of pressures at home, school, online and in the community.
This Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12 to 18), Childline is offering advice in dealing with these emotions in a healthy way.
One 13-year-old girl from Scotland told Childline: “I get so mad and annoyed about little things. It takes all my energy to control and hide it. I try shutting myself in my room when I feel it happening, but then mum thinks it’s her fault. Is there anything else I can try?”
Counselling sessions delivered by Childline reveal several recurring themes when children are discussing anger.
Some are aggressively criticising themselves, while some often experience frustration with parents and peers following disagreements. Others are struggling to regulate their emotions during challenging situations.
One boy from Scotland, aged 15, confided to Childline: “Games usually help me relax but lately I’m getting really frustrated with them. It makes me feel so stupid, being this angry about a game or wound up over laggy internet.”
Adeniyi Alade, Childline service head, based in the Aberdeen Childline centre, said: “At Childline, we hear from children every day about the emotional challenges and difficult situations they are facing. Sometimes they tell us they feel stressed and angry, and they need our support to help process their feelings in a constructive way.
“Young people face so many different pressures in today’s world – from family disagreements at home, to arguments with friends or classmates at school and online. As a result, they can struggle to manage and deal with difficult emotions.
“This Mental Health Awareness Week, we are here to let children know there are so many healthy ways to express their feelings and our counsellors are here to provide a safe and confidential space to help them to learn vital skills for their mental wellbeing.”
As well as encouraging children to contact Childline, the service has been working with children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, to release advice to both young people and parents on how to manage anger issues and look after their mental wellbeing.
Tips for Children on Looking After Their Mental Health:
1. Talk to someone you trust: Whether it’s a parent, teacher, friend or Childline (0800 1111), sharing how you feel can help.
2. Find healthy outlets for emotions: Try physical activities, creative expression, journaling, or relaxation techniques.
3. Take care of your body: Regular sleep, healthy food, and exercise all support good mental health.
4. Practice mindfulness: Take time each day to focus on your breathing and notice how you’re feeling.
5. Create a feel-good toolkit: Identify activities, people, and places that help you feel calm and happy when you’re struggling.
Tips for Parents on Supporting Children’s Mental Health:
1. Create regular check-in times: Establish consistent opportunities for conversations about feelings, perhaps during dinner, car rides, or before bedtime.
2. Use open-ended questions: Ask “How are you feeling today?” rather than questions that can be answered with just “yes” or “no.”
3. Model healthy emotional expression: Show children how you manage your own emotions in a constructive way.
4. Look for changes in behaviour: Notice shifts in sleeping patterns, appetite, social withdrawal, or increased irritability which may signal emotional struggles.
5. Normalise seeking help: Talk positively about therapy, counselling, and support services.
Dr Rebecca Kirkbride, Clinical Director at Place2Be, said: “At Place2Be, we know that learning to express and process emotions healthily during childhood builds resilience and establishes positive coping mechanisms that serve young people throughout their lives.
“The rise in children seeking support for issues related to anger, as highlighted by Childline’s data, demonstrates the importance of early intervention and teaching children healthy ways to process emotions.
“By creating safe spaces where young people feel heard and validated, we can help them develop the emotional vocabulary and self-regulation skills needed to navigate complex feelings, without expressing feelings through angry or aggressive behaviour – which may have implications for themselves or others around them.”
Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk.
Any adults concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact the NSPCC helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000.
As Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May 2025) begins Scotland’s children’s charity is urging parents and carers across Edinburgh to call their support line if they are worried about their child’s mental health.
A recent survey commissioned by the charity showed a staggering 92% of children and young people aged 11-25 in Scotland were worried about mental health. The same survey showed less than one in four children believed childhood is better now than when their parents were young.
Last year more than two thirds of the people who contacted Children First’s national support line were worried about a child’s emotional wellbeing.
From mental health, money worries and online harm, to struggles at school, the charity’s support line offers emotional, practical and financial support to any family in Scotland.
Last year Children First’s support line gave expert, confidential advice to more than 2,500 families and supported over 9,400 people in 2024.
Simon McGowan, Assistant Director at Children First, said: “Every day our support line team are helping more and more families who are desperately worried about their child’s mental health.
“No family should struggle alone. Whatever your concern about your child, we are here to help. Our friendly team can provide expert support and advice that can make all the difference.
“Call us on the Children First support line on 08000 28 22 33 or start a webchat at childrenfirst.org.uk.”
One mum who called Children First’s support line in a desperate plea for help and worried sick about the mental health of her daughter, Orla*, said: “I honestly don’t know what I’d do without the Children First support line.”
Orla was only 14 when she tried to end her life. Support from Jess*, a recovery worker at Children First, has resulted in Orla feeling less anxious and more positive about the future.
If you live in Scotland call the Children First support line on 08000 28 22 33 free, visit www.childrenfirst.org.uk for advice and support, or start a webchat.
You can talk to the team seven days a week:
Mon-Fri, 9am to 9pm
Sat-Sun, 9am to noon.
Scottish walking charity shines spotlight on walking and mental wellness
SCOTLAND’s walking charity is supporting the Scottish Health Walk Network (SHWN) to raise awareness of mental health and encourage open conversations during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Paths for All has been working closely with a group of SHWN members to design and deliver a mental health campaign.
The campaign will offer the network a range of useful tools and resources to acknowledge, celebrate and enable discussions around mental health during Health Walks in the East Renfrewshire area.
It is hoped that the campaign will inspire longer-term conversations beyond Mental Health Awareness Week to reduce stigma, and promote safe, welcoming and accessible opportunities to move more for wellbeing.
Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All, said: “Walking has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health, and these walks provide a supportive environment for open and honest conversations about mental wellbeing.”
“By equipping the network with resources and tools, we hope to encourage more discussions around mental health and further raise awareness of this important issue.
“With Mental Health Awareness week also happening during the National Walking Month of May, it’s relevant more than ever to encourage Scots to get out walking.”
The campaign is part of Paths for All’s ongoing collaboration with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) on raising awareness and engagement of SHWN members with the Scottish Mental Health Charter. The Charter aims to change attitudes around mental health and encourage more organizations to promote mental wellbeing.
For the Scottish Health Walk Network, the Charter will support members to design and deliver Health Walks which are even more inclusive of those living with mental health problems.
Robert Nesbitt, Head of Physical Activity and Sport at SAMH said: “We are proud to work collaboratively with Paths for All to reduce barriers to walking for people and communities.
“Recognising the power of walking, together we are creating accessible tools and resources with the Scottish Health Walk Network, so they can continue to play their part in supporting the physical, mental and social health of the people of Scotland.“
The Scottish Health Walk Network is a membership network designed by Paths for All, accrediting and supporting Health Walk provider throughout Scotland. It brings together over 400 organisations with the common goal of creating supportive environments to offer safe, welcoming, accessible walks that meet best practice standards.
Elaine McWilliams is a Group Development Worker at Stepping Stones, a mental health charity supporting people across the West Dunbartonshire area and has been part of the co-working groups supporting Paths for All in developing the campaign.
Elaine said: “We get over 800 referrals every year and currently have 600 active cases and we understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to providing support.
“Walking groups have been part of our services for over 10 years and we have seen it play a massive role in allowing people to be part of a social group and connect with others, allowing people to build confidence.
“This campaign is extremely important to help Health Walk organisers to understand how they can help and start open conversations about mental health and wellbeing up and down the country.”
Paths for All’s mission is to create opportunities for everyone in Scotland to stay active through walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling, contributing to a happier, healthier, and greener Scotland.
For more information about Paths for All’s work with the Scottish Health Walk Network and the Scottish Mental Health Charter, visit: www.pathsforall.org.uk
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, St James Quarter is hosting a programme of wellbeing activities in partnership with Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid to support the community in the capital.
Making mental health support and guidance more accessible for people living in Edinburgh, Listening Spaces will open in the Quarter from 16th May. Launched by Health in Mind, the space will offer guests one-to-one time with a trained expert to talk about their mental wellbeing and receive compassionate advice, support and resources.
The free, weekly sessions will initially run for a six week period and be delivered from 2pm to 4pm in the Guest Services Lounge.
On Wednesday 15 May, Everyman Cinema will transform into a calming haven with a free mindfulness experience. Hosted by Health and Mind, the session will explore the body and bodily sensations as a source of mindful awareness. This session will end with mood and energy-boosting tips from Neom Wellbeing, leaving guests feeling relaxed and in tune with their minds. There’s limited spots which can be booked at bit.ly/3JSVbor.
In a bid to brighten guests’ days during Mental Health Awareness Week, local magician, Grant Mitchell, will be sprinkling some magic in the Quarter with mood-boosting tricks that are guaranteed to put a smile on faces on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May. Talented musician, Dan Collins, will also entertain guests with feel-good tracks on Thursday 16th May.
The team at St James Quarter continues to show its commitment to its charity partners. On Friday, 16 members of the team will put on their walking boots to climb Ben Chonzie in support of Mental Health Awareness Week, and to raise funds to support its two charity partners, Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid.
Kerry Girdwood, Senior Services Manager (North) at Health in Mind, who will be managing the new drop-in Listening Space, said: “Around 1 in 3 people in Scotland are struggling with their mental health, and with added pressures like the cost-of-living crisis, the fallout from the Covid pandemic, pressure on public services, and conflict around the world, that number is only climbing.
“We’ve run Listening Spaces in communities around Scotland, where people can chat through their mental health difficulties, access resources, and get connected to services. Thanks to this new pilot with St James Quarter, we’ll be doing all that in one of Edinburgh’s busiest community hubs.”
Jennifer Laseen, Hospitality Director and CSR Committee Chair said, “We know how hard it can be to make the first step and reach out for support, and sometimes you just don’t know where to start.
“At St James Quarter, we’re perfectly positioned to make mental wellbeing support more accessible in the city centre and we’re really excited about this opportunity to offer a Listening Space with Health in Mind.
“The Quarter is a welcoming and supporting place for all our guests and however you’re feeling this Mental Health Awareness Week, I encourage you to join us for a mindfulness session, enjoy some feel-good entertainment, or meet the team from Health in Mind.
“It is a privilege to have two brilliant partner charities and every donation to Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind supports them to provide valuable services in the city.”
To keep up to date with events happening throughout the Quarter, visit the St James Quarter website or download the St James Quarter App.
Activities taking place during Mental Health Awareness Week:
Monday 13 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell
Tuesday 14 May – Magic from Grant Mitchell
Wednesday 15 May – Mindfulness Session with Health in Mind
Thursday 16 May – Listening Spaces with Health in Mind & Music from Dan Collins
Friday 17 May – Team SJQ Munro Climb
For more information, please email: stjamesquarter@johndoehub.com
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Keep on top of your mental health
The 15th-21st of May is mental health awareness week in the UK. We know that each year in England, one in four people will experience some sort of mental health problem.
Long-term mental health problems can increase our risk of developing heart disease, which is one of the reasons why it is important that we look after our mental health by combating stress, maximising our ability to cope, and seeking support.
Here are some tips to keep our mental health in check:
Create balance
When we are busy and have lots of responsibilities such as work, family commitments and looking after a house we can be more susceptible to suffering from mental health conditions.
Often, in times of overwhelm, the first things to suffer are our nutrition, exercise and sleep. These three things are important for optimal mental health. Try to balance your day-to-day demands with some exercise, me-time, time to prepare meals and implement a good sleep routine.
Use your support network
If the above point sounds like too much to manage on your own, ask for help. Having someone you can talk to about your mental health can help you to better deal with any challenges you are experiencing.
People are often more than happy to offer support but may not realise you are struggling if you don’t let them know. This could be a friend, family member, or mental health professional.
Check in
Checking in with ourselves and noticing trends in our behaviour and the way we feel can help us to know when we may need to seek help or put something in place to support our mental health.
Apps such as Thought Diary or Daylio offer an easy way to track our wellbeing over time.
For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at:
www.heartresearch.org.uk/health-tips.
For Loneliness Awareness Week (13th-17th June), a psychologist has shared her top advice on how to overcome the effects of social isolation.
Below, Dr Cecilia Radecka, psychologist at Livi, explains the difference between loneliness and social isolation and looks at how social isolation affects our brains.
How to overcome the effects of social isolation
“Although it may seem impossible, making small steps to connect with others is important. There are many forms of friendships – but the key here is quality, not quantity,” explains Dr Radecka. “Arrange to chat to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or set up a weekly phone call.”
Being part of a community gives us a strong sense of belonging. Join a class based on your interests. “Doing activities that we enjoy is good for our mental wellbeing and a way to meet new people,” says Dr Radecka. Try taking part in a book club, dog-walking group or choir or volunteering at a community garden. One study found that group singing significantly boosts psychological wellbeing.
“If you’re struggling with social anxiety, keeping physically active can improve your mood and decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety,” says Dr Radecka. “It boosts the feel-good chemicals in the brain and decreases stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.”
Dr Radecka said: “If you feel that social isolation and loneliness are affecting your health, don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends or a health professional. A Livi doctor or therapist can evaluate your symptoms and talk you through treatment options available.”
The difference between social isolation and loneliness
“The main difference between social isolation and loneliness is in how people experience them,” says Dr Cecilia Radecka, a Livi psychologist.
“Social isolation is a state where you have few people to interact with regularly. Loneliness is a feeling, where you can be surrounded by people yet still feel lonely.
“Studies show that it isn’t the quantity but the quality of social interactions that matters. For example, while social media can help us stay connected, it can lead to lower quality interactions. One study found that spending too much time on social media can increase feelings of loneliness.”
It’s not just the elderly who feel lonely
Social isolation disproportionally affects older people, and in some countries, up to 1 in 3 older people are lonely.
“Older adults are at increased risk of loneliness and social isolation due to living alone, the loss of friends or family and poor health,” says Dr Radecka.
However, social isolation can affect us all at some point. For some, being socially isolated comes and goes – perhaps as a consequence of life events, like a death of a loved one, a relationship break-up or moving somewhere new. For others, it’s more long term.
How social isolation affects our mental health
Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems like anxiety and depression – and mental health issues can also increase your chances of feeling lonely. There’s even evidence that social isolation can shorten life span. A study found that people who are socially isolated are more likely to die prematurely, regardless of underlying health issues.
However, while social isolation and loneliness can impair our cognitive function, there’s also evidence that re-socialising and making new connections can reverse the negative effects of isolation. In a recent study conducted during the pandemic, residents who suffered cognitive decline during lockdown quickly recovered when restrictions eased.
To improve access to mental health treatment, Livi, the UK’s largest digital healthcare company, has this week launched an Online Therapy service, offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with qualified and accredited mental health practitioners. Appointments can be booked online, and people can see a therapist by video in their own home, at a time that suits them.
George Jones, Director of Mental Health at Livi, said: “England saw a record 4.3 million referrals to mental health services last year, and every month our GPs help thousands of patients with mental health concerns.
“Livi’s new Online Therapy service will improve access to mental health treatment for patients and ease the pressure on NHS services.
“Everyone should have access to the help they need, when they need it, and outstanding digital healthcare can play a vital part in meeting increased demand by improving access and reducing waiting times.”
Livi partners with the NHS to provide video appointments with GPs and other health professionals, covering eight million patients under NHS contract.
EQUITY has published a global scoping review of 111 academic studies related to mental health and wellbeing in students and professionals within the performing arts. This landmark study was commissioned by Equity and was launched alongside a new Mental Health Charter at a panel event to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
What’s a scoping review?
A scoping review is a type of research that aims to map the existing literature on a particular topic or research area and identify key concepts; gaps in the research; and types and sources of evidence to inform practice, policymaking, and research.
The review by Dr Lucie Clements found a clear trend for increased mental health concerns across the performing arts, although findings regarding the prevalence of mental health concern vary greatly.
The review identified a range of contributing factors:
Another stark finding is that there is currently no research explicitly exploring mental health in relation to ethnically diverse performers, disabled performers, and social class.
In response to this study, our new Mental Health Charter has five key demands to improve mental health across the performing arts industry by bringing about deep-rooted structural reform.
This includes producers and engagers addressing the harmful impacts of precarious work by improving pay and work-life balance, and adopting relevant safeguards in the workplace, such as mental health risk assessments, safe spaces policies and consultation on organisational change.
Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming says: “This landmark study confirms in concrete terms what Equity members have known for years – those working in the entertainment and performing arts industries are more likely to experience poor mental health.
“There are a range of contributing factors, but it is abundantly clear that the harmful impacts of precarious work, low pay and poor working conditions are fuelling this collective crisis.
“Equity’s new Mental Health Charter puts the responsibility back on the bosses who control the creative industries. They show that our demands for improvements in pay, condition and access to the industry aren’t just about our members’ material wellbeing, but their mental health too.”
Alice Brockway, Director of Playing Sane and Equity Member says: “Equity’s new Mental Health Charter places its demands squarely on government, education providers, producers and engagers and, aligned with current collective bargaining aims, makes it clear that decent pay, safe, secure, inclusive work are vital for maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing.
“These demands are non-negotiable, as are the rights of Equity members, and all workers, to live with freedom from economic and social instability.”
The research written by Dr Lucie Clements commenced on 21 January 2022 and was completed on 05 April 2022.
The research and charter was launched at a panel event chaired by Actor, writer, and well-being coach Abiola Ogunbiyi. Speakers include Dr. Lucie Clements and Juliette Burton, Comedian and Ambassador for Rethink Mental Health Illness.
More information about the event.
The World Health Organization (2004) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.
In 2015, ArtsMinds, in collaboration with The Stage, Equity and Spotlight found that 46% of performing artists self-reported poor or average mental health. One in five of the 5,000 survey respondents was seeking help for their mental health.
The review identified a number of other factors related to mental health in the performing arts sectors. This includes:
Equity’s new Mental Health Charter includes the following five demands:
In response to this study, Equity has announced that it will continue to fund access to counselling services for its members through its longstanding relationship with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).
For Mental Health Awareness Week (9th-15th May), the iconic ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ image has been recreated with 11 mannequins to represent the number of tradespeople who die from suicide each week.
The display was organised by IronmongeryDirect as part of its annual campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst the UK trades.
Its 2022 report found that more than four in five (82%) UK tradespeople deal with some form of mental health problem due to work, and sadly, many take their own lives as a result.
Government data shows that there are 589 suicides in the industry each year, which works out at 11 per week, on average.
To visualise this tragic statistic, IronmongeryDirect positioned 11 mannequins on a platform, which was then lifted 30m into the air by a crane that was kindly donated by the excellent team at Bandshire Crane Hire.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the original skyscraper photo being taken, and the number of ironworkers in the scene matches the weekly suicide figure.
The original Lunch atop a Skyscraper photo from 1932
As part of its campaign, the Essex-based ironmongery supplier has partnered with the mental health charity, Basildon Mind, and is donating over £3,000 to support its crucial services.
Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support.
“This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.
“We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “The Lunch atop a Skyscraper image is famous for its message of hope for the industry and camaraderie between workers, so it’s heart-breaking to think that the same number of tradespeople seen in the photo die from suicide every single week.
“Unfortunately, our research found that almost nine in ten individuals don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health, yet this is one of the most positive steps people can take to start addressing any issues.
“We hope that by raising awareness of mental health in the trades, this stigma can be removed and the situation can start to improve.”
To read IronmongeryDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2022 report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/
The Health and Safety Executive’s Working Minds campaign aims to raise awareness of the legal obligations that employers have to protect employees from work-related stress and its impact on mental health.
Take the Working Minds quiz to find out more preventing work-related stress Working Minds Quiz – Work Right to keep Britain safe (campaign.gov.uk)
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
This week is mental health awareness week. We know that each year one in four of us will experience some sort of mental health problem.
Long-term mental health problems can increase our risk of developing heart disease, which is one of the reasons why it is important that we look after our mental health by combating stress, maximising our ability to cope, and seeking support.
Here are some tips to keep our mental health in check:
Create Balance
Use your Support Network
Check-In
Ask for Help
For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.
To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.
Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:
https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.
