Alternative Ways to Fight and Avoid Mental Health Issues
Wellbeing in terms of both physical health, as well as mental health is more important than ever before.
According to the NHS, one in four adults experiences at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any given year, making mental health problems the largest single cause of disability in the UK. On top of that, two thirds (65%) of adults and more than two thirds (68%) of young people with mental health problems say their mental health has gotten worse since the first national lockdown.
We are proud to work with some amazing companies working to bring solutions to tackle Mental Health issues. See them below:
Think back to the last time you felt at home with yourself... the last time you felt like you could do anything. That pulsing energy, that sense of euphoria – it’s not just a memory. It’s who you are. And this is what KaiFlow wants to show you.
It isn’t about peak performance or perfection, to be better or improve, but rather to undo, unlearn, reconnect and restore. It’s about mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
The KaiFlow practice can be used by individuals wanting to reconnect with themselves and their creativity, or by business leaders, teams and professionals looking to step outside the box and overcome stumbling blocks.
Humane Startup
50% of CEOS and Founders report feeling alone, and the same amount report experiencing challenges with their mental health. Ashlie Collins has witnessed this herself many times, which led her to found Humane Startup, a coaching, training and consulting company that will help you achieve your goals, but in a way that is authentic to you, fulfilling your deepest purpose and calling.
Ashlie has an incredible amount of experience working as a startup executive mentor, speaker and sales trainer, partnering with courageous entrepreneurs and sales professionals who have blasted through their revenue goals and achieved hyper-growth in a way that feels authentic to them, and doesn’t come at the cost of their own mental wellbeing.
What Does Not is a global collective of creators and a digital space for collaboration and networking.
They fan the flames of potential, unlocking opportunities for the underdogs, those met with closed doors, or not sure of the next steps. With WDN, the unconventional thinkers and creatives are not dismissed or overlooked – they're empowered to shift perceptions and have a voice.
The company was founded by Christine Charitonos, who after a long career across different industries, now dedicates herself to championing uncommon creatives, seeking out brilliance in unpredictable places – and sampling every morsel of culture the world has to offer.
Participation in regular physical activity can also increase our self-esteem whilst reducing stress and anxiety. It also plays a role in preventing the future development of mental health problems and has been shown to improve the quality of life for people currently experiencing mental health problems.
And this doesn’t necessarily mean traditional, and sometimes daunting, activities such as sports or gym training. A study conducted by UCLA in 2021 reported that free-flowing dance produced positive mental health benefits among participants. It was based on a survey of 1,000 dancers across the world who had depression, anxiety, or a history of trauma. With that in mind, here are some options to tackle mental health issues through movement:
Dance classes:
Adore Dance is an East London based dance school with the mission to create an inclusive space that welcomes people of all abilities who might be apprehensive about dance, or feel like it wouldn’t be for them. Founded by Connor, an ex-professional dancer, and Joe, from a family of dancers and dance teachers, the school offers sessions in a range of styles including ballet, commercial pop and barre fitness.
Adore Dance looks to build a relaxed environment, and strike a balance between giving people the push they need to achieve their goals and try new things, but without the feeling of dance being an ‘elitist’ discipline.
Mindful movement and Free-flowing dance:
Karen Lucia is a London-based Health & Movement Coach and EFT Practitioner helping individuals awaken their expression and connect to themselves and others through dance and mindful movement.
Karen offers workshops guiding people through movement patterns that allow them to move however they feel, need and want to. You won’t learn a set piece of choreography: being mindful of your movement, you can create your own choreography of emotions.
Her free-flowing dance workshops offer business teams the opportunity to work on elements that improve their personal and group skills, such as flexibility, self-expression, creativity, etc. “We allow our minds to dance with the flow. We leave our bodies free enough to flow and follow their own moves, based on your headspace and your energy waves”, says the coach.
Studio Figura is also a solution for women looking for a friendly, inclusive and non-judgmental space where they can look after their health and boost their activity levels. Originally from Poland, the women-only studio allows women to get started with low-impact exercise through their specialist machines, as well as other health benefits from treatments like lymphatic drainage, without the heavy gym environment.
Another big concern when we talk about Mental Health issues after the pandemic is the current situation of teachers in the UK. New research from the NUT shows 44% of teachers in England plan to quit within five years, due to increased workload and lack of external respect for the profession. Research from Hays Education suggests the number is even higher with 65% of teachers having considered leaving the profession due to poor well being. Morale is at an all-time low due to the increased pressures from Covid.
Some within the education world are going a great job to fight this situation within the sector, and make sure the teacher morale is restored, including:
Alison Kriel is the founder of the newly launched 'Above & Beyond Education', after being an inner-city Executive Head Teacher for nearly 20 years and a CEO for 5 years.
Above & Beyond is a platform for schools, school staff, consultants, innovators and service providers to celebrate their wins, share their struggles, and journeys, and deepen their knowledge and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis. Its single mission is to make every school a great school through sharing ideas, showing support and sparking conversations.
We need to talk about Mental Health and there are different nuances to be looked at. Contact us if you’d like to hear more about these companies.
