A mental health organisation has been selected as the winner of the 2021 Prince of Wales Award in Devon.
The Awards judges deemed Parental Minds CIC, an organisation founded by Sarah-Lou Glover, the worthy winner of this year’s award.
Sarah-Lou has been a mental health caregiver her whole life and knows what a lonely journey it can be. This was the rationale for establishing Parental Minds in September 2019, which includes an initiative designed to support and empower parents who are acting as caregivers for friends and family.
Understanding how the power of nature can help people improve their mental health and overcome conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress has been boosted thanks to a new handbook.
The resource, from researchers at the University of Exeter, provides guidance and best practice for organisations providing Nature on Prescription, helping them to develop beneficial, safe and sustainable services.
Nature on Prescription is one form of social prescribing through which people can self-refer or be referred by a health or social care professional to engage proactively with...
More than two in five runners in the South West (42%) say running has been good for their mental health during the pandemic – with 10% saying they wouldn't have been able to get through the last year without it.
However, research by running specialists, Runners Need, shows that 16% of South West runners said they have found it harder to stay motivated during lockdown without organised races to look forward to.
With almost a fifth of people (18%) in the South West enjoying running challenges and enjoying recording their run using an app (24%) – combined with all the...
Surfing helps improve police officers’ wellbeing and mental health, according to research from the University of Exeter Business School.
A research team evaluated the effectiveness of Surfwell, a health intervention programme spearheaded by Devon and Cornwall police that combines surfing with a programme of peer support and group therapy.
Around one in five police officers is thought to be living with some form of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to 2018 research by Police Care UK, with over 90% of officers and staff having been exposed to trauma and 65% not...
Professionals such a Police, midwives, and nurses have been surprised at how well they are coping with stress just by listening to this 18-minute recording. It has helped them with symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety about going in to work, and overwhelming stress. Jessica Vassallo, who founded her business in Exmouth in 2015, felt it was even more important to reach people during Lockdown so went into the studio to create a series of therapeutic recordings that she could share. "I wanted to remain accessible as I was unable to meet people face to face at my clinics in Harley...
Exeter University students Henry Yannaghas, 21, from Suffolk and Edward Warner, also 21, from Llandudno in North Wales, have set themselves the challenge of running 48 kilometres over the course of 24 hours. The distance will be split over equal hourly stints with the aim of raising funds for the UK charity Mind .
The final year Mechanical Engineering and the Arabic and Islamic Studies undergraduates are helping to raise awareness of mental health issues and the pressures students are suffering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it is having on student lives....
As pupils prepare to return to the classroom on March 8, Devon-based Thrive has put together a list of easy-to-follow, practical suggestions to help parents and children to get ready for face-to-face learning.
While some children may be feeling excited at the prospect of seeing friends and teaching staff again, others may be feeling anxious about returning to a busy school environment, seeing less of their parents or the perceived pressure to catch up on missed lessons.
Thrive, a Newton Abbot-based provider of training and tools which support children’s mental health and...
Children in England will return to schools on 8 March, and the government has pledged £700 million in funding to ensure "no child is left behind" due to the pandemic. But a South West personal development coach warns that the long-term impact on children's mental health is not being addressed.
Jack Russell , a personal development coach with over 30 years' experience supporting young people, urges the government and schools to focus beyond academic catch-up when children return to the classroom.
Jack said: "It is welcome news that schools are reopening and will have...
There is no doubt that everyone’s mental wellbeing has been affected throughout every lockdown we’ve had over the past year. In the first wave last March, 62 per cent of adults felt anxious or worried, and, whilst this number decreased over time, the numbers are still worryingly high.
Humans are social creatures and being alone for any extended period doesn’t do our mental, physical or emotional wellbeing any good. Many employees are currently missing the interaction of the physical workplace and that is not only influencing how we feel, but on our levels of productivity too....
A Devon charity is launching a pilot ‘Listening Ear’ service to provide a safe space for Devon business owners to chat about the challenges of running a business during a pandemic.
Listening Ear has been developed by a partnership of independent charity Devon Communities Together and Devon County Council, as a response to a need for business owners to have somebody to talk to about their general stresses and concerns, especially if they would rather not talk to their family and friends about these issues. This need has been identified by Heart of the South West Growth Hub and other...
