I think most of us have days when we don’t feel we are good enough or cannot get things right. If we have other difficulties or problems, then these feelings can multiply. Low self esteem is especially common in those who have specific learning differences and these individuals and their familes can often feel very isolated. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and there are many new videos and webinars readily available on the internet, alongside leaflets and websites with lots of really useful information to help those who need some support. The youtube video below from the Mental Health Foundation speaks about loneliness and how people can be surrounded by others, but can still feel very lonely. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
Understanding what our difficulties are and finding support from others to help us with challenges make life easier . Just discussing a problem with someone else can make an individual feel better. I particularly love the next youtube video of a young boy who feels different to others and unhappy that he is dyslexic and how his outlook changes when he has a conversation with his teacher.
Self esteem and confidence can play such an important part in how successful an individual can be. I am reminded of ‘Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs’ (pictured below), which was created by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943. Maslow suggested that human needs could be put into five levels. It just reiterates that it is difficult for an individual’s full potential to be achieved unless their basic and pyschological needs are met.
Mental health is talked about a lot these days, so we are all more aware of difficulties many individuals encounter and where to find information how to support them. For the younger generation, ‘Young Minds’ is the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health. They state that they ‘want to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what’. Visit their webpage on https://www.youngminds.org.uk/ for more information.
For those who want to read more information, Routledge (publishers of professional and academic books) are offering 15% off their mental health books for this month. Go to https://www.routledge.com/
Finally, I leave you with a video from Youtube which always makes me smile, so I hope it does you too. Have a good week. PJ 🙂
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