Latest news - Emotional First Aid

Emotional wellbeing, along with physical wellbeing are two key components to a person’s life.

A young person may not have a mental health problem to be experiencing emotional distress. It is important to remember that emotional distress is a normal reaction to a stressful situation/circumstance. Everyone goes through issues in their life which cause them to feel vulnerable, unsettled and/or confused. Everyone also has different ways of coping or conveying their feelings.

For a young person emotional distress can be heightened as they have less experience of understanding their feelings, and situations are new, for this reason (and others) growing up can present many emotional challenges and a young person’s experience of distress may be compounded if they feel unable to express their emotions and less awareness of how normal their feelings are.

It is at this initial stage that support and a listening ear can be most beneficial. Professional’s such as teachers, parents and friends, may often notice a change in a young person’s behaviour or character, e.g becoming quiet and less social, and may put it down to part of growing up, however that young person may be experiencing feelings which they don’t understand and by simply taking time to give them space to talk may help them deal with the trigger and accept and normalise their feelings. Acting at this stage may also prevent further and more concerning behaviours as a young person continues to struggle with feelings and thoughts without support.

Growing up is a time of change and whether planned or not, wanted or not, change can be a very stressful time. Feelings of uncertainty, loss and anxiety are all very normal feelings, yet for a young person it may be the first time they have had these feelings, presenting an even greater challenge.

Here is a list of just some events which are typical to growing up that may present a stressful situation,
Bullying from peers
Peer pressure
Changing classes/school
Expectations of others – teachers/parents
Expectations of self
Body changes
Sexuality
Falling out with friends
Exam pressures
Being a shoulder to cry on for others

It is important to remember that whilst a situation may have little effect on one person, for another person it may have a far greater impact.

Some young people may also experience what may be described as acute stress factors, for example;
Bereavement
Family breakdown/divorce
Accident
Moving area
Abuse – verbal/physical/sexual
Neglect
Poverty

Young people express distress in many different ways, but some of the signs of a young person struggling with their thoughts, feelings and/or emotions may be;
Change in character
Change in moods
Crying
Withdrawal
Change in sleeping pattern
Change in diet/eating pattern
Underachievement
Looking for approval
Ritualistic behaviours
Self-harm
Separation anxiety
Over sensitivity
Lateness
Negativity
Presentation of self

Whilst it may not be possible to take the trigger away, to change a young person circumstance, it is possible to give a young person support, time to listen and where applicable professional intervention. By providing young people with the tools to cope with emotional distress, recognising emotional distress when it occurs, acting on signs of emotional distress and offering time and support are key to preventing longer term problems and promoting emotional wellbeing for a young person.

Nationally it is estimated that about one in four young people will have a mental health, emotional or behavioral problem sometime in their life. This means that at any time in Southampton, 4,600 young people will be in need of mental health help. To ensure young people are helped before their mental state becomes overwhelming, a new innovative ‘first aid kit’ was launched on Tuesday 1 July 2008.

Education and health professionals and voluntary sector workers gathered together at Harbour Lights for the launch of the country’s first young person’s emotional first aid kit. The event saw the introduction of Southampton’s newest tool, designed for school teachers, health workers and others who work with young people.

Pioneering research in Australia has shown that many members of the public have a poor understanding of mental health problems. They cannot recognise specific disorders or different types of psychological distress and they differ from mental health experts in their beliefs of the causes of mental disorders and the most effective treatments. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team at Southampton City Primary Care Trust have devised a first aid course; Emotional First Aid for young people.

The course has been informed by the booklet ‘Me & U – a real insight into the emotional experience of a young person today’. It aims to teach those who work with young people to recognise the signs of mental illness and to help them learn how to provide support, and encourage the person to seek help.

It is anticipated that in Southampton, 50 professionals from education, social care, youth services and health will become Emotional First Aid Trainers, training others working with children and young people, and significantly increasing mental health awareness and potential for early identification and intervention.

Stephanie Ramsey, Associate Director of Child and Family Services said: “I would like to thank all those who have played a hand in bringing this project to completion. And, especially to those young people who shared their experience of mental ill health and produced a useful booklet full of expert understanding and inspirational insight.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

• Me & U (My Emotions Understood) was created by young people who have experience mental health illnesses and made positive steps towards a recovery. Coming together they have shared their ideas and produced a useful booklet filled with real emotion, expert understanding and inspirational insight. They do not suggest that the outcomes will happen in every situation, that a person should say this “…” when this happens and everything will be ok, but these stories hope to help a reader understand a little more and think about the impact of their actions.

For more information please contact Matthew Butler, Communications Officer, Southampton City Primary Care Trust on 023 8029 6930.

Telephone: 023 8029 6930
Fax: 023 8029 6960
Email: matthew.butler@scpct.nhs.uk