Winter is here, the kids are back to school and the New Year is in. The coronavirus has been tough on us all and has forced us to change our lives in incredibly drastic ways. New routines have been made and old habits have been adapted or created to cope with all of the change.
Read MoreWe have seen that parental alcohol use can impact the wellbeing of children and young people; and often the alcohol use is seen as the ‘elephant in the room’ that no one in the family talks about. The term ‘alcoholic’ can portray a stereotype that can lead to families feeling judged and stigmatised
Read MoreIt’s getting ever closer to that time of year where a lot of us start thinking about what we want for Christmas. For many of us, the disruption and challenges of 2020 and Covid-19 have put this into perspective and our “letters to Santa” are more likely to include “time with my loved ones” at the top of the list rather than the latest kitchen gadget, slippers or bath bombs (still very much in my top 5, though, if you’re listening Mum…).
Read MoreThe effects of drug and alcohol use combined with mental health in the family go well beyond the direct effects on the person using them. Families are affected by alcohol in many different ways; stigma, trauma, isolation and anxiety can all be caused when a family member drinks too much, this mixed with barriers to seeking help can make recovery very difficult.
Read MoreI was thirteen years old when I began drinking. Admittingly, this was once a bragging point. I was living in a rural farm town where this was the “normal” thing to do. Surrounded by friends next to a fire in the woods, I opened my first beer and took a sip.
Read MorePicture this: You wake up at 6am after a broken night of sleep. Your partner got to bed at 2am and is still out cold, snoring. You get up to tend to the kids in the morning, make breakfast, make sure they’re washed and have packed their bags. The work day is hard as you’re tired and haven’t been able to settle your anxiety. You head home not knowing what your partner will be like. Are they drunk? Are they at home?
Read MoreIt can feel like a big ask to talk about our drinking when you have problems with it. It’s not just the travelling, but the prospect of the trust we put in that listening ear and the reaction to what we say when we finally get there. But there are other barriers. There’s the time pressure, which can feel like you’re on a conveyer belt and clock watching can make you clam up.
Read More“Prevention is better than cure” is a familiar phrase coined in 1500. It has a simple meaning that can be attributed to many aspects of our lives. Small everyday choices from the food we eat to the company we keep help to shape our future in ways we sometimes can and can’t predict.
Read MoreResilience is the ability to deal with the challenges and obstacles faced. Life is full of challenges and obstacles but when we are also experiencing high levels of stress these difficulties can start to feel overwhelming. In terms of mental health this struggle can lead to becoming unwell. Therefore, closely linked with resilience is health and wellbeing.
Read MoreThis year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is kindness and it could not have come at a more crucial time. Amid COVID-19 updates there are many heart-warming stories of selfless acts that demonstrate the power of kindness and compassion.
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