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 some strategies that can be integrated into daily life.
The ‘how to’ guides you will find on this website are intended to highlight the value of what is so often being done intuitively by family and to provide explicit guidance to those who may be newer to care or education.
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 both you and your loved one.
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.
- Affinity Hub – signposts parents and carers of children with special needs to sources of emotional support
- Born at the Right Time
Founded by Rachel Wright, author of The Skies I’m Under, Born at the Right Time supports families of people with complex needs through sharing lived experiences on the blog, parent workshops and training professionals with CPD certified courses.
- Sibs (For brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults)
- Challenging Behaviour Foundation
- NHS Mental Health
- Mind
- Carers UK
- Local carer organisations
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/