I MIND
CONNECT • REACH OUT • INSPIRE HOPE
CONNECT • REACH OUT • INSPIRE HOPE
Mental health is an undeniably important matter, yet most people don’t have access to the resources they need when they need help. This is why we have created the Friendship Bench I Mind Collection; a gathering of free resources, information and tools for all to use.
We hope the I Mind Collection provides the skills and tools that will empower you to better care for yourself, care for one another, and be able to identify and access (or even establish!) resources which will enhance community wellbeing and improve quality of life for all.
Within each of us is the power to overcome adversity, sometimes we just need a bit of support.
WHY TALK?
If we just bottle our problems and feelings up inside, we can quickly feel trapped and lonely. Putting our feelings into words helps us understand them and ourselves better. Why? Because putting things into words forces us to take a proper look at them and to get them into some kind of order.
Some Helpful Ways To Start Putting
Words To Feelings
Pause, stop everything, sit quietly, and take a few deep breaths.
See our grounding & meditation exercises.
Look inside yourself, below the surface, and try to identify where in your body you are feeling emotion, e.g. stress can be found in our heads and present as a headache, or anxiety in the stomach.
Ask yourself some questions; "why am I feeling this right now?", "is there a message in this?", "what has triggered this feeling?"
Do not analyze or judge just observe.
Talk it out. Write it out. Draw it out.
Our Workbooks
Free downloadable WORKSHEEts and workbooks, designed for home printing.
You do not have to be an expert to use these tools, only be willing to actively play a active role in your mental and emotional wellbing
Awareness Posters
What to do if you recognise that someone in your life is struggling...
Connect, reach out, inspire hope, and offer support. Show empathy and a willingness to understand.
If someone lets you know or you think someone is struggling with difficult thoughts and feelings, it's common to feel like you don't know what to do or say – the good news is you don't need to be a professional to show someone you care about them. Just being there for someone is extremely valuable.
OFFER THEM EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
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Listen, let them talk freely
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Offer empathy and reassurance
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Stay calm (if you need to freak out do it later)
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Be patient
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Do not judge
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Do not make assumptions
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Do not minimize (e.g. "at least you have food on the table")
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Stay in contact with them
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Do not make promises
YOU CAN'T FORCE SOMEONE TO TALK TO YOU OR GET HELP, BUT YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE THERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE READY
There are many resources available to us in our communities, it may take some time to find the right support but we encourage you to connect and talk with others until you find what suits your needs.
Reach out to people you feel safe with, share what's happening and ask if they know of any support services or individuals who would be willing to share their story and experiences.
Another way to connect with people is with this Community Resource Directory, in this way you can explain to people you are just gathering general information about easily accessible services available in the area to fill in your directory and not feel shame or pressure to start telling people about what you are going through.
We would like to encourage people to talk more about their struggles, if everyone is more open and honest about mental health, we can prevent pain and suffering, and those in need will get the help they deserve.
