Tough headlines having impact on mental health in Suffolk
Suffolk Mind has issued some top tips for reducing stress
With tough headlines around the Ukraine invasion and the cost of living crisis hard to ignore or escape at the moment, Suffolk Mind says its taking a toll on people's mental health.
The charity's revealed its top tips for reducing stress.
Jon Neal, chief executive of Suffolk Mind, said: “Every day, new horrors are revealed – tragic stories of families running for their lives while their country crumbles around them.
“At times like this, it is easy to dismiss how the news impacts our own mental health here in the UK – you would be forgiven for thinking ‘it’s nothing compared to what the Ukrainian people are going through’.
“However, for many the disaster unfolding in eastern Europe is taking a heavy toll on their mental health.
“To add to this, there has never been a war so fully reported – with heart-breaking pictures and video flooding social media on a daily basis, making it difficult to escape and ignore.”
Six tips to help reduce stress
- Accept that there are things we cannot control by making a list of things you can – such as where you’re going to go for a walk today, what time you’ll make yourself something to eat, what colour socks you’re going to wear, and so on. Then, throughout the day, focus attention on the list of those things you can control.
- If you can, donate items to an organised collection and engage with local Suffolk refugee organisations supporting Ukrainians. These kinds of practical actions can connect us with meaningful efforts to bring about change for the better.
- Avoid “doom-scrolling”. This is the term psychologists use when we look for updates and find ourselves in a cycle of negative news stories. This keeps the ‘fight-or-flight’ response switched on and our brain looking out for more signs of danger. This can keep us in a constant state of worry, which can then tip us into anxiety and depression.
- Protect yourself by limiting the time spent on the news and social media – take a break from the worrying headlines.
- After reading or watching a negative news story, take the time to do something relaxing, like breathing exercises or going for a walk in the park, or reading some fiction.
- Practice “kind-scrolling” by searching for positive news stories which give us a more optimistic view of the world. Although there’s a lot of bad news out there – there are some incredible acts of kindness too.
If you're struggling there is more support available on Suffolk Mind's website.