For Mental Health Awareness Week, we sat down with our mental health coaches, Daniel and Liam, to find out more about the TeamTalk programme.
Firstly, what is the “TeamTalk” programme?
Liam: TeamTalk is designed for young people between the ages of 9 and 17. We cover key areas in these sessions including confidence building, teamwork, and stress management just to name a few. Our aim is to deliver the four p’s which are to: promote positive mental health and awareness, prevent low mental health, prepare young people with knowledge, tools and techniques, and positivity making people feel more positive and empowered.
Daniel: The programme offers children and young people the opportunity to learn more about mental health and find ways to manage their emotions better. By offering our programme to different schools across south Shropshire, it provides children and young people with the platform to learns ways of managing their mental health and to become stronger within themselves. We believe that everyone should have access to mental health support and our programme is a great way of providing this.
Promoting positive mental health is key to the programme, what does mental health mean to you?
Daniel: Being around loved ones who have struggled with mental health themselves, I can understand how challenging it can be both for the individual and their family. Stigma can be created where people could think mental health is a bad thing, however it can tell us that sometimes we need to look after ourselves more and receive support from the people that we love. I believe that it is ‘OK’ to show our emotions and experiencing mental health can allow for us to become stronger individuals in the future.
Liam: Absolutely! According to the internet the definition of mental health is ” state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her community”, but it’s much more than that. For me mental health is different for everybody and can mean many different things depending on the situation. Understanding what factors come into play with our mental health can help us in the long run.
Do you have any advice on where to find out more about mental health?
Liam: There are loads of great websites out there that can help but for me Mind is my go-to page the work they do is great and there’s lots of info on their website: https://www.mind.org.uk/
Daniel: Mind is a great resource. Additionally you can find support by visiting Samaritans or YoungMinds.
Finally, what’s been your favourite moment from delivering TeamTalk?
Liam: Our lovely school in Bitterley made a mental health buddy who they called DAN (I think they all love Dan Udoh!). Whenever they find it difficult to someone they can talk to DAN, which has helped them build on their confidence to talk about their mental health issues. Of course they got to build a cool robot too, so what’s not to love?!
Daniel: The whole experience has been fantastic as it has allowed children to learn ways of being able to deal with their emotions and learn more about mental health. Seeing children engage in the activities and the fun that they have within the sessions has been my favourite takeaway, especially when they do Mindfulness Art and Cosmic Kid’s Yoga.
Thank you both for your time!