Emotional care is important for all of us and your mental health is vital for your wellbeing and for the person or people who you care for, support or teach. If you are happy and well you are better able to care for and support others. Your emotional and mental state can impact on the people around you, including the people you support.
A calm, regulated adult can regulate a dysregulated person but a dysregulated adult can never calm anyone.
Bruce Perry
Your mental wellbeing is important for you and for the people you care for. NAC recognises that most people have busy lives with responsibilities that can make finding time and energy for yourself difficult. It does not have to take a lot of time, and there are many strategies that can be integrated into your daily life.
NAC promotes the importance of carrying out natural, non-invasive daily emotional wellbeing practices and techniques for everyone. The guidance that NAC provides is designed to be used with people who do not use words to communicate, however, many of the experiences are suitable for anyone and everyone. So please do give them a try and see what works for you. There are many online sources of information and advice on how to integrate emotional wellbeing practices in your life and you can find tips and support on the Sidekick App, which is free of charge and run by a non-profit organisation with a shared ethos as NAC.
There are many different ways that we can take care of our mental wellbeing and here are some links to organisations and sources of information, support and advice on a variety of approaches that you can explore to see what is helpful and works for you.
- NHS Mental Health
- Mind
- Carers UK
- Local carer organisations
- Challenging Behaviour Foundation
- Sibs (For brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults)
If you are in any way concerned about your or anyone else’s mental health, please seek sources of help and support by seeing your GP. You can find more information at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/