What’s the point of talking?

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this:

“What’s the point? It’s just talking. How will that help?”

Have you ever thought this about talk therapy? Or know someone who does?

I’m not sure if this should come as a surprise - but I’ve mostly heard this from men of a certain age.

Consider this:

Have you ever experienced someone saying something very unkind to you?

How did that make you feel?

Have you ever had someone say something very kind to you?

Burnout is described as “emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment”.

This isn’t a new phenomenon - it has been going on for many years. However, by all accounts numbers are increasing.

Healthcare workers are more susceptible to burnout than other professions. Those working in psychiatry or mental health are at even greater risk.

Burnout can affect the health of those suffering, but also the quality of care given to the patient. This is a concern for health professionals as well as those who are receiving our care.

This is serious stuff!

We as healthcare professionals went into healthcare to care for people’s health. To make a difference. And many of us may be feeling that we aren’t achieving what we set out to do.

What can we do?

Delicious crispy, crunchy seed cracker recipe. These crackers are gluten-free and dairy dairy-free, and are a great alternative to potato chips when you just want a crunchy salty savory snack.

As a nurse or other health professional - it’s important to keep up to date with the latest research. Online learning can offer a way to improve knowledge and gain professional development hours (PDRP) and is something you can do at your place and your own pace.

The Nutrition and Mental Health for Health Professionals is a course designed for those working in the mental health field

Are you confused about knowing who to turn to for support?

If you are struggling with mental distress, feeling stuck, or simply seeking guidance to improve your overall well-being, knowing who to turn to can be challenging. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. There are many different types of therapies and therapists including psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors, life coaches and health coaches.

Knowing what to eat for mental health and well-being can be confusing. The more I read about diets, the more confused I used to become. My simple uptake on everything I have read, heard and studied about dietary advice - along with the most recent world wide agreed dietary advice from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAD) is below:

KIS JERF (Keep it Simple, Just Eat Real Food).

Happy Valentine's Day to you all today.

Whether you are single or with the love of your life - I hope you got to experience a little bit of love today.

We can create moments of love and connection as we go about our day - a smile at a stranger, letting someone in through the traffic, paying someone a compliment.

We can prepare or share a meal, bake a cake or simply be present for someone in need.

We can experience moments of love and connection simply by giving our fur baby a brush, noticing the colour of the sunset, or listening to the sound of a bird call.

Five Minute Meditation by Helen. Focusing on the breath.

Not sure how to meditate? Join me for a simple short five minute meditation experience!

What if we changed the way we did Valentine’s?

What if it was all about you?

As Valentine's Day approaches, the air is filled with sentimental cards and expressions of love and affection for others.

Among the flurry of romantic gestures (or not), flowers and heart-shaped chocolates, I would like to plant a seed that this day can also serve as a powerful reminder to cultivate love and care for ourselves.