How we choose to show up in this moment as leaders has ramifications for each of us, our people and our industry.

And retaining our creative strength and taking care of our people will be vital to our commercial survival and protecting our industry culture to continue to attract amazing talent.

Our industry had a mental health crisis before this crisis. The experience of countries ahead of us as COVID-19 has unfolded shows that mental wellbeing goes downhill from week three, so we must act with urgency or things will get worse. The usual shell be right Aussie attitude wont cut it.

Ultimately, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking were just working from home right now. The reality is that we are confined, trying to work.

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Data collected through polls of over 1,000 people over the past two weeks shows the negative impact this massive disruption is already having. And we have a long way to go.

Click to enlarge

Only 20% of people actually love WFH. If you dont love where you work, how do you produce your best work?

Emotionally, 83% of us are negatively impacted in ways that impact our ability to be creative and productive.

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To thrive, well need to use our creative superpowers on ourselves. We are the brief. We start where all great briefs start, with real data and insights on how people are feeling right now, and what is impacting their creativity.

From there, we need to immediately implement a plan that fosters creativity and wellbeing:

Dedicate 90 minutes a week to connect, learn and practice how to be well with new skills that will help your team perform under pressure. Preferably at the same time for everyone, role modelled by the leadership team. Thats less than 4% of the working week to positively impact the remaining 96%.

Check in regularly with your people on their emotional sentiment and keep the dialogue two-way and open.

Best practice is to use a wellbeing diagnostic to understand where to prioritise for greatest impact.

Create space to be creative and do focused work. Trial a Power Hour at the same time every day across the business to give permission for time to be creative and to not be on with others constantly.

Up-skill leaders, fast, on how to lead through uncertainty by building their emotional intelligence capabilities.

Validate the toughness of this situation. Reframe challenges as opportunities and remain positive about what lies ahead whilst being authentic about not knowing whats ahead.

Create a sense of belonging. Watch your language, and change it to represent we rather than I. Overcommunicate and celebrate collaboration regularly.

Establish a transition program that fills future skills gaps and retains valuable talent.

Find a way to celebrate creativity during adversity as a collective. Maybe we assemble Team Australia to tackle the UN brief together?

As an industry, create opportunities to share our experiences and work together to protect our creative prowess.

Were in this together. Whatever steps we take now will pay dividends for the future, for creativity and for retaining our best people where they thrive, and deliver their best work in these challenging times.

We have a choice to make: Thrive, survive, or decline.

Fleur Marks is chief wellbeing officer of Well You, and was previously director of wellbeing and talent development at WPP AUNZ. Sean Hall is CEO of human performance company Energx.

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COVID-19 only adds to the mental health crisis we were already facing - MuMbrella

COVID-19 and the worldwide lock down that's come with it has had an immediate and obvious impact on consumers purchasing behaviours, with one example being the run on vitamin c supplements. But what will be some of the longer term impacts on purchasing behaviours and how can brands ensure they are doing the right things now to ensure customer loyalty once we come out the other side?

Will Cowling, marketing manager for the insights provider, points out that the population itself will have changed following this crisis, with the mortality rate for those over 60 being far higher than for those younger.

The senior demographic contributes a significant amount of revenue to the economy each year. Many of these consumers are still in employment, whilst they also often have good levels of disposable income. This is something that will have an impact on economic growth, due to less money being spent.

He adds that this older audience, once deemed to have a 'forever young' attitude -looking to break stereotypes by enjoying adventurous and fun-loving lifestyles - may be tempted to take a more cautious approach to life.

They have often looked to push the boundaries of excitement, wanting to be seen as more liberal, open-minded and adventurous than the generations before them. This is something that is often also reflected in their spending habits.

This ethos may be instead replaced with a more conservative and pessimistic outlook on long-term health.

Cowling suggests this change in attitude could lead to a greater focus on functional food and drink and a reduction in consumption of products associated with indulgence.

He adds that it is something that could also result in more baby boomers wanting to exit the workplace early as they increasingly re-prioritise what is important to them, such as spending time with loved ones.

But the shockwaves are rippling through all age groups and Cowling says consumers in the Generation X segment - the demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the Millennials -will too be left with a greater feeling of vulnerability when it comes to their long-term health.

As a result of this, consumers in this segment will become more proactive towards their health, adopting a prevention over cure approach to disease and illness.

This is something that will drive demand for functional food, drinks and supplements that contain ingredients with health boosting benefits.

He adds that when it comes to Millennials (those born in the late80s and 90s)and Generation Z (those born in the late 90's and naughties), the pandemic is more likely to impact mental health especially as a recession is something that could impact on life-cycle patterns such as getting on the housing market and securing employment.

And looking at our youngsters, Generation Alpha (those born from 2010 onwards)will grow up in an era characterised not only by technology being an imperative part of life but also by the importance of hygiene and minimising the risk of disease.

During the great recession of the last decade, much attention was given to consumers turning to small moments of affordable indulgence for escapism purposes. However Cowling says that this pandemic means, at least in the short term, many consumers will be prioritising basic essentials.

Ultimately, consumer spending habits will become more considered, whilst brand loyalty will also decline as consumers shop around for the best deal.

Consumers were already concerned about levels of damage done to the environment before this pandemic, but this crisis is going to make those concerns all the more relevant, says Cowling.

Whilst many situational factors have been cited for the surge in COVID-19 cases in certain regions, the air quality in Wuhan and Lombardy the center of the outbreak and the area most impacted in Italy has come into question.

Indeed, the virus is one that can have a significant impact on the lungs and some experts have stated that the quality of the air in these regions is something that may have a direct impact on death rates.

Over the next twelve months, consumers will increasingly assess their diets and lifestyles to determine how at risk they are from complications should they catch the disease. Whilst they will feel that they can make changes to their diets, they will feel somewhat that protecting the quality of air to prevent vulnerability to disease and illness is something that is more the responsibility of the government and big businesses.

As consumers pay closer attention than ever before to the topic of sustainability and want brands to act in an ethical and environmental manner, the impact that policies and practices have on air pollution is one that will be increasingly monitored by consumers.

He points out that one emerging positive impact of the worldwide lockdown has been the benefits to the environment in a relatively short period of time and this has shown consumers that damage done to the environment is reversible if the right action is taken.

For instance, much attention has been given to the change in air quality captured via satellite pictures in areas such as Wuhan, whilst the fact that the canals in Venice are the cleanest that they have been in decades is also something that has not gone unnoticed.

In the long-term, this will result in consumers recognising the sheer impact that daily lives in the 21st century is having on natural resources such as air and water. This will further enhance concerns about the state of the environment but on a more positive note, consumers will be more inclined to think that damage done to the environment is reversible."

As well as looking for brands that display ethics and sustainable practice, consumers are also going to be drawn to brands that fall in line with their new-found priorities post pandemic.

Cowling explains: "Consumerswill look to step back from the pressures of everyday life and re-evaluate what is important to them, with a greater focus on non-material wealth Consumers will also see time as an increasingly precious commodity, especially when it comes to their health and the quality of life of loved ones.

"This is something that will also have a direct impact on the food and drink brands that consumers buy. For instance, consumers will want products that encourage them to spend time socialising face-to-face with others. Additionally, consumers will also want brands to align with these evolving need states. For instance, consumers will want brands to demonstrate traits such as kindness, compassion and empathy as consumers re-prioritise.

"This will mean it is more important than ever before that brands are seen to be helping facilitate lives in a positive manner, encouraging consumers to relax, spend time with loved ones and focus on being happy."

The mammoth behaviour change when it comes to sanitation will not be a short term trend, Cowling argues. He believes that there will be a long term demand for products that blur the boundaries of personal care and household care, as consumers increasingly recognise the importance of good overall personal hygiene.

This is something that will also drive demand for products that help boost the immune system, such as products that are high in vitamins and minerals and other functional ingredients.

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Consumer attitudes: The short and long term effects of an unprecedented pandemic - NutraIngredients.com

POLICE allowed a mental street party to continue on Good Friday because everyone was obeying social distancing guidelines.

DJ Chris Marshall organised the bash in Hull, East Yorkshire, after being inspired by the weekly clapping for NHS workers around the country.

Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

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The party - which took place between 6.30pm till 9pm - had been raging for over two hours when cops turned up after complaints of people congregating.

Pictures from the scene show locals enjoying a drink in their front gardens while Chris blared out dance music from his turntables set up outside his home.

However, the officers allowed the festivities to continue after they found that all the locals were staying within the boundaries of their homes while enjoying the tunes.

The DJ, who has lived on the street for 30 years, told Hull Live: People were bringing patio sets round to their front lawns, some people opened up windows and were sat inside watching.

It just went absolutely mental. Everyone stuck to the social distancing and there was no partying in the street but the atmosphere was something I've never seen before.

Live Blog

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Teacher Chris said the cops' attitude was fantastic after they asked how everyone was and enquired about how long the party was going to last.

He organised the event to give residents including families something to enjoy during the coronavirus lockdown.

Chris said he was inspired by the Clap For The Carers which takes place every Thursday at 8pm where people up and down Britain come out of their homes and show their appreciation for frontline NHS workers.

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Police ALLOW mental street party because revellers were social distancing within their homes and front gar - The Sun

Interserve has invested in the innovative Thrive application to support colleagues' wellbeing and mental health.

The company has rolled out the application to all of its colleagues in the UK and Ireland, who can download it for free. The Thrive: Mental Wellbeing application, provided by AXA PPP healthcare, helps users boost their mental wellbeing and manage their mood with clinically approved techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Thrive was founded by Dr Andres Fonseca, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Dr Adam Huxley, a Consultant Clinical Forensic Psychologist who each have over 20 years' experience working in mental healthcare. Thrive is the only NHS approved application.

Allan Shanks, Interserve's Group Head of Health & Safety, said: "We care about the health and wellbeing of our colleagues - this is an integral part of Interserve's values and is fundamental to how we go about our business. We are therefore delighted to roll out Thrive to our colleagues as an added measure of support through this unprecedented period and thereafter."

Dr Fonseca, CEO and Co-founder of Thrive, said: "I am delighted Interserve has chosen to invest in Thrive because it illustrates just how importantly the company views the health and wellbeing of its employees. Mental health issues affect one in four people in the UK, so it is more important than ever that we have a positive attitude to mental wellness."

The app we have created is available 24/7 and is rich with tools and content to help people measurably improve their wellbeing and better manage their way through life's daily challenges."

- Ends - For more information contact:

Stephen Hallmark

Corporate Affairs Manager (Interserve Facilities Management and Community)

Telephone: 07484 085098

Email: stephen.hallmark1@interserve.com About Interserve Group Limited

Interserve Group Limited is one of the world's foremost support services and construction companies. Everything we do is shaped by our core values. We are a leader in innovative and sustainable outcomes for our clients and a great place to work for our people. We offer advice, design, construction, equipment, facilities management and frontline public services. We are headquartered in the UK and have consolidated revenues of 2.9bn and a workforce of circa 60,500 people worldwide.

Website: http://www.interserve.com

For Interserve news follow: @interserve

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(C) 2020 M2 COMMUNICATIONS, source M2 PressWIRE

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Interserve : supporting colleagues to 'Thrive' thanks to wellness application - marketscreener.com

Our lives have been turned upside down; were already seeing the tremendous physical, mental and emotionaltoll that Coronavirus has brought into our world.

Coronavirus Anxiety is a thing. Its also completely normal; were all experiencing it to some degree. The good news is that we can find ways to counter it, and it is absolutely possible that we can come out on the other side of this a healthier, more positive version of ourselves.

Across the world, were all asking the same questions, How long is this going to last? What happens if I get sick? Are my loved ones in danger?What about my job? Andfor the most part, we dont have any answers, which feels really scary.

Small steps, along with big shifts in our attitude and outlook, can help us to manage our fears, doubts and uncertainty so that Coronavirus Anxiety doesnt get the best of us

We are incredibly resilient. Its up to us if we choose to allow this to break our spirit.

One area that many of us do have some level of control over is how were taking care of ourselves. Really simple changes can have a huge impact on our wellness changes that we can start immediately, if were not already doing it.

I cant emphasize enough how important it is to make a point to seek out the positivity. Embrace the happiness in even the smallest flashes of joy that pop up throughout our day. We may need to actively seek out these moments theyre there, I promise, we just dont always see them. Start by tuning in to even the smallest acts of compassion and resilience so that we intentionally fill our energy and our minds with these stories of kindness, compassion and grace.

One space that we can look to for inspiration and positivity is the incredible response of so many organizations working together to do good. From nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, they are making big changes to the way they do business to help support our frontline workers and our community.

And I know its a challenge, but now more than ever, we really need to do our best to manage stress as much as possible. Chronic stress wreaks havoc on our immune system. Very little is in our control right now, and stress is all around us, so its up to us to determine how we handle these stressors. Set boundaries on exposure to news and Coronavirus updates. Stay informed, of course, but make sure were taking enough time to step away and separate our thoughts, energy and focus.

Another tool to incorporate is habit stacking. This is a term used often by the team here at Thrive Global. Habit stacking refers to adding a new habit that were trying to form on top of an existing one, to create a built-in reminder for our new habit to take hold and really sink in.

One example of habit stacking is the gratitude hand wash. While youre washing your hands, take the 20 seconds to think of one, two or three things you are grateful for.We could sing Happy Birthday twice, or we can take the opportunity to reflect on the good that is in our lives.

Routine can benefit our emotional health, plus it can help us strengthen healthy habits, reduce stress levels, and cope with the changing world around us. Think about what your daily schedule will look like in terms of sleep, work (especially for those working from home), physical activity, mealtimes, and chill time.

Block off windows of time for your focus + productivity hours, scheduling it like you normally would any other meetings or calls. During these times, do your best to minimize distractions from emails, texts or calls, or social media. I realize this may not be as feasible when youre layering in home schooling with working from home, but as best possible, try to coincide kids study time with your own focus time.

Take breaks. Stop for mental refreshers throughout the day. Carve out time to make lunch, go for a walk, read a magazine, sit outside, or call a friend (especially one whos calm and steady).

Stop working. Its hard not to keep on working when you are at home, because it can seem like nothings ever finished. We also dont have the normal end-of-day cues like we do at the office, when other people are leaving for the day. Set a time to stop working and stick with it. The work will always be there, we need to be sure were protecting our emotional energy as well.

Review your to-do list before you wrap up. Before I end the workday, I run through my list for the day or coming days and scratch off what I accomplished. I prefer pen and paper for this, versus a digital list, as theres just something satisfying about crossing items off the list.

This is a mental clean-up for me; I also re-write this list as needed, as Ive often jotted notes and more to-dos throughout the day.

Fill our downtime with things we enjoy. Take walks with family or other quarantine-mates. Cook dinner, experimenting with new recipes. Read books, watch movies, work on those projects youve wanted to do or try, but didnt have the time.

This is all just a small sliver of the steps we can take to ensure were truly caring for ourselves. Continue to surround yourself with positive messaging. Follow wellness experts on social media who are sharing stories of inspiration and self-care. Tune in to the simple things that have a huge impact on our happiness. All of these are things that we can start right now.

Click here to listen to Mollys podcast version of this article.

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Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian + nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of Ochsners Eat Fit nonprofit initiative.Tune in to her podcast,FUELED | Wellness + Nutritionand follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. See more of Mollys columns + TV segments atwww.mollykimball.com.

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Adapting to Our New Normal: Strategies to deal with Coronavirus Anxiety - Thrive Global

To say the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to the UW-Madison campus community and the world would be an understatement.

Most everything is different than it was just over a month ago. People are grappling with issues that test their physical and mental health, determination, and creativity.

But when life gives you lemons

Ive been trying to focus on a lets make lemonade attitude as much as I can, says UWMadisons Li Chiao-Ping, a Vilas Research Professor with the School of Educations Dance Department. When I check in with my students, I let them know Im concerned about their well-being. Thats very important. But this situation can be a great lesson in resilience.

Like faculty and staff across the university, Li has transitioned the in-person classes she is teaching this semester to alternate delivery modes. She is currently leading two advanced-level, studio dance courses.

And while there have been plenty of proverbial bumps in the road, after overcoming an initial fear factor I had never taught online, so this was horrifying at first, Li said she remains upbeat about how the spring semester is unfolding.

The quality of the work our students are producing is very high and in some ways even better than before, says Li. Despite all of the challenges, they are rising to a new level and its making them be more creative and think through assignments more deeply. (For several examples of this work, scroll to the bottom of the story for links to student videos.)

It was Thursday, March 12 when UW-Madison announced it was moving all face-to-face instruction to alternate delivery modes on March 23, immediately following spring break. Li says that by the next day, Professor Kate Corby, chair of the Dance Department, scheduled a lesson for faculty members with Assistant Professor Natalie Zervou, who Li calls an in-house online expert.

Spring break was spent coming up with a plan to transition my classes online, says Li.

The two classes Li is teaching this semester each meet twice per week, for 100 minutes per meeting. Initially, she cleared out a good amount of space in her living room to teach from but found that didnt work well because most of her students have quite limited spaces to work in. Li is now teaching in her office at home so that she, too, is more confined.

She explains that one class Dance 312: Contemporary Dance Theory and Technique is typically taught in one of our beautiful large studios at Lathrop Hall, with live accompaniment by one of our dance musicians. The major objective of this class is to build the technical and artistic skills and strategies the student dancers will need for performing at higher levels but to do so somewhat individually.

Several students shared how coursework for dance majors depends a great deal on connecting with others, sharing space, social interaction, and feeding off of each others energy all things that are challenging to reproduce without meeting in person.

The toughest part about meeting for these classes online and not in person is the shift out of the wonderful community that exists in Lathrop Hall into a more personal practice, says student Bailey Seymour. A huge aspect of dancing is community, and being involved in a group energy and learning experience. Physical touch is often an aid in dance teaching and training. In our department we often work on partnering, so navigating this shift at times can feel lonely.

Adds student Megan Schimke: We are all sharing our energy and love of moving when were in the studio together, and to replicate that by yourself in a confined space for an undetermined amount of time is nowhere near the same experience. As amazing as the internet is, it cant replace the physical presence of your friends dancing by your side and the motivation that brings.

The other course Li is teaching this semester Dance 455: Advanced Composition focuses on the making of dances.

Its a class where Ive been able to really challenge our choreography student artists, says Li.

Li has been utilizing the Blackboard Collaborate platform through Canvas to continue meeting with students during the originally scheduled class times. The biggest challenge, notes Li, is that she cant see all of her students while teaching.

I am used to observing them throughout class and can feel what is working or not working by being in the room and walking around them, she says, adding that the online communication is also clunky and less natural.

Notes student Cassie Last: The loss of social contact has been especially difficult because our department is such a strong community. I hadnt realized how much I value the social aspect of dance classes until I lost access to it.

Despite these issues, Li says that over time she has become more comfortable teaching from a distance and she is driven to continue finding the most effective ways to connect with her students.

This is an opportunity for me to innovate pedagogically, she says. Im obsessed with this now and cant stop working on it.

Li continues to stress the positives with her students and note that more normal times will eventually return. Her students, too, are doing their best to make the most of a difficult situation.

In the meantime, Li has been thrilled with videos being produced and shared by her students.

The importance of art in the world is being seen more than ever, says Schimke. The amount of creativity that is being shared over the internet is heartwarming and exciting. Hopefully it keeps us inspired for better times. I know that dancers are eager to get back into the studios as soon as possible.

Following are links to examples of student dance work:

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Dancing at a distance: During trying times, Li Chiao-Ping focusing on the positives - School of Education - University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Wanna Talk About It?" That's a question many of us are asking each other right now. It's also the name of Netflix's new weekly Instagram Live series, in which stars of the platform's most popular shows talk about how we can take care of ourselves during the coronavirus pandemic. The series kicked off with Noah Centineo of All the Boys I've Loved Before in conversation with Ken Duckworth, MD, the chief medical officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), talking about self-care: how we're struggling and how to prioritise mental health right now.

"I suck at it. I need help," Centineo said of self-care, at the start of the stream. He talked about how, at the beginning of the pandemic, he thought that watching the news and "hours of government updates every day" could provide comfort and control; instead, it became a source of stress.

"You need enough media to know what's happening," Dr. Duckworth said. That might mean checking in just once or twice a day. "If you dose it too high, you might find yourself up half the night worrying about it." Right now, a big part of self-care is using the news and social media in a way that helps you, instead of stressing you out. (Here are eight therapist-approved ways to manage social media right now.)

Centineo went on to describe the ways he's doing self-care right now: taking breaks from work, checking in with friends, making his bed every morning, and journaling. He's also been trying out the Wim Hof Method of controlled breathing with some of his friends.

"We've created a group chat, checking in with each other every day, saying, 'I did my session.' It creates a community aspect," he explained. And once he's done 20 or 30 minutes of breathing and checking in with himself, "I become more open to myself. My anxiety and my stress fall into a separate category, separate from myself." He's able to journal and write about his feelings from "a bird's-eye perspective."

Dr. Duckworth also encouraged people to view the period of physical isolation "as an altruistic act to help the vulnerable." Centineo agreed, adding, "I'm being isolated with millions of other people around the country and the world. It feels like I'm a part of something greater than myself by doing this. And then I feel so much less isolated when I'm isolated."

Centineo, who said he's currently sheltering in place with his sister and her boyfriend in LA, said he's also using the time to connect with his housemates and act with more of an altruistic, philanthropic attitude. "Developing those communal bonds is so important and finding little ways to do that are helping me substantially during this time," he said.

Dr. Duckworth distilled the talk down to four tips for dealing with anxiety and prioritising self-care:

Mental health professionals are offering remote tools like teletherapy so you can get help without leaving your home. You can also find resources on NAMI's website. If you're having a mental health crisis, you can text "NAMI" to 741741 to connect with the National Crisis line.

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Noah Centineo Opens Up About His Self-Care Routine on Netflix's New Instagram Live Series - POPSUGAR Health and Fitness Australia

A national survey by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 11.4 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds were depressed in 2014.Ruby Walkerwas one of them. Her book,Advice I Ignored: Stories and Wisdom from a Formerly Depressed Teen is the only book on teenage mental health written by a teenager. It answers the question everyone's been asking her:What happened?

I was depressed. Thats the easy answer, the one I give in polite company, Walker told us. And maybe its the accurate answer too. But the word depression means different things to different people, so its worth elaborating on exactly what I mean. Its not a constant feeling of sadness, although I was often sad. And its not a constant feeling of numbness, although I was often numb.

Walker is an 18-year-old college student, activist, artist and writer. She lives in Austin, Texas, and is currently studying art at Trinity University in San Antonio.

I felt tired sometimes - a bone-deep slowness, like everything in the world was too much effort, Walker told us. Id lie in bed for hours just staring at the ceiling and listening to music to drown out my negative thoughts. Id wonder if I could really move.I felt terrified that I would never have peace of mind again. Sometimes Id think about dying; I never planned it out or attempted anything, but I couldnt imagine living to be an adult. I felt angry too. When people tried to ask me what was wrong, Id snap. How could they expect answers from me when I was the one who felt the pain of this confusion most acutely? What was wrong with me? Wouldnt I like to know!

Walkers own family couldnt get through to her. When she was 15, she stopped going to school altogether. She was tired of trying. She didnt know what to do. She couldnt imagine a future for herself. She just assumed shed be dead before adulthood.

Sometimes I would feel good for a few days. Good didnt mean happy, exactly, but a reprieve from panic and despair. Id get way too excited about it, filled with some kind of wild corrosive energy, like a live wire, until eventually the ecstatic feeling drained out and I felt even more empty than before, Walker told us. Most of all, I hated myself. I hated every stupid useless word that fell out of my mouth. I hated my hair, my body, my voice, my teeth, my face. I was a hollow waste of space, a lost cause, a defect. The people who loved me were fooling themselves - basing their feelings on some false impression of me they made up and idealized in their minds. If they really knew me then they wouldnt care.

Walker went from a numb, silent, miserable high school dropout to a joyous loudmouth in one year flat. Full of stories, honest advice, and fierce hope,Walkers book is a self-help book for people who hate help and themselves. It'sthe only book about teen depression written by a teen.

More than a year after dropping out of school, when I was sixteen, I started drafting advice I ignored on notebook paper, Walker told us. The people around me had seen a very profound change happen in my attitude, my mannerisms, and my general outlook. I wanted to give people some kind of explanation for how I got from point A to point B.In my recovery I had done a lot of journaling and a lot of drawing, so an illustrated book felt like the most natural way to express my thoughts.

Walker says when she was depressed, she read a lot of self-help books.

I appreciated them but I struggled to take their advice because I didnt feel like their experiences were close enough to mine, Walker told us. I wanted to write a book for my 14-year-old self, something personal enough to get past the eye rolls.

Walker hopes depressed teenagers realize that theyre still in the backstory section of their lives.

Recovery is a wonderful thing, but please dont think you have to wait for your life to start. You dont matter because you have so much potential, Walker told us. You arent worthy of love and respect because of the person you might someday become. Even at your worst, your most dysfunctional, your absolute pit of hollow despair, you are still a human being and you deserve every ounce of respect that everyone else does. You dont need to be successful or productive or pretty or okay to matter. You are a human being. You matter. Period.

Categories: Depression , Mental Health Awareness , Teens | Tags: mental health, teens, depression

Patricia Tomasi is a mom, maternal mental health advocate, journalist, and speaker. She writes regularly for the Huffington Post Canada,focusing primarily on maternal mental health after suffering from severe postpartum anxiety twice. You can find her Huffington Post biography here. Patricia is also a Patient Expert Advisor for the North American-based,Maternal Mental Health Research Collectiveand is the founder of the online peer support group -Facebook Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Support Group - with over 1500 members worldwide. Blog:www.patriciatomasiblog.wordpress.com Email:tomasi.patricia@gmail.com

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Teen Writes Book For Fellow Teens On Advice She Ignored While Going Through Depression - Theravive

The anxiety, grief, and profound loss so many people are experiencing during the pandemic cant be underestimated. COVID-19 is traumatizing it can be difficult to keep our spirits up or find joy amidst so much pain. At a time of crisis like this, happiness is particularly elusive and attempts to find it may lead to the opposite hopelessness and frustration, Inna Khazan, Ph.D, a health and performance psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, tells Thrive.

But we know people who have a penchant toward optimism are also more resilient in the face of a crisis. In a recent piece in The New York Times, Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed With Happiness, referred to a study conducted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The participants were students who had not personally lost loved ones in the attacks. All the students reported experiencing heightened distress after the attacks, but the more resilient participants reported having more positive emotions, like love and gratitude. But that didnt mean they were Pollyannas, Smith writes. They experience despair and stress, and acknowledge the horror of whats happening. But even in the darkest of places, they see glimmers of light, and this ultimately sustains them.

Even if youre not a natural optimist, looking inwards and seeking meaning such as a greater appreciation of life and a deeper sense of spirituality can help to ease psychological pain and improve our mental health. Studies show that finding meaning, rather than seeking happiness, leads to greater fulfillment and better health, says Khazan. What she refers to as meaning-making can help us build resilience because its something that you can choose to do, she says. It reinforces a sense of mastery.

While we dont have any control over the virus, we do have control over our attitude and response, Khazan points out. Finding our inner resources that we didnt even know existed, and connecting to our deepest core values increases our optimism, she says, which in turn has a positive effect on our well-being.

Even if you dont see yourself as an optimist, you can behave like one, notes Inna Khazan. By choosing to interpret the situation as a challenge, and believing that we have the resources to meet it, we can become healthier and more resilient.

Here are six ways to find meaning and strengthen your resilience the way natural optimists do.

Connect with family and friends

Spend time with loved ones, even online. Getting support from friends and family during a difficult time and providing help to others will help you cope better, says Khazan,and feel more connected, says Khazan, which boosts well-being.

Focus on the gratitude

Fostering a sense of appreciation for whats good in your life maybe simply that you are safe and healthy will direct you towards what really matters. It doesnt mean dismissing the difficulties and suffering, but being grateful will help you become aware of the positive and important aspects of your life, which can often be dismissed at a time of crisis, Khazan says.

Tap into community

Being part of a religious, spiritual, or social community has been found to be comforting during times of crisis, as has giving back. Whether you join a mindfulness group, a Facebook group of people sharing similar experiences, or just schedule a regular virtual meeting with close friends, the conversations youll have with like-minded people will lead you towards meaningful reflections and a greater sense of purpose.

Give back

Giving back not only boosts our meaningful connections with others, but its a powerful act of self-care as well. It can improve our motivation and resilience and our physical health, too (studies show that people who volunteer regularly have a decreased risk of high blood pressure). While we are following social distancing mandates, one meaningful way to give back is through the First Responders First fund, an initiative from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, in which donations provide healthcare workers with the physical and psychological resources they so desperately need. Doing small acts of kindness for those in our communities, such as grocery shopping for those who are immunocompromised, supporting the crowdfunding initiatives of local businesses, or sending cards and letters to people who live alone can help bolster both your community and your sense of meaning.

Learn something new

Expanding our horizons can help us become more positive and optimistic about the future, says Khazan, author of Biofeedback and Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Unless you are a first responder or an essential worker, you may well have more time at home. Take advantage of self-isolating for goals that youve never had time for in the past, says Khazan, like learning a new language, discovering more about history, playing an instrument, or completing an online college degree.

Remember youve persevered before

One proven resilience-boosting tactic is to think back to a specific time in your past when you overcame an obstacle. Take deep breaths and recall a time when you persevered. Remember that youve made it through difficult situations before, and when you do, youll feel more resilient so you can persevere through whatever youre facing now.

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Coronavirus Crisis: 5 Ways to Find Meaning and Optimism - Thrive Global

Nothing is the same any more. Coronavirus has thrown everyones daily lives into turmoil, turned our world upside down and presented us with challenges we have never seen before.

Football has also seen time stand still, with the sport on hold until further notice. Instead of training with your team-mates and looking forward to the business end of domestic competitions, the UEFA Champions League and international qualifiers, players now have to spend most of their time stuck at home. This is also the case for Austrian international Viktoria Schnaderbeck, who has been playing her club football in England with Arsenal since 2018.

"For me personally, on the one hand its important that I keep myself fit, and at the same time make sure that I prepare for the time when it all gets going again," she said in an interview with FIFA.com. "The league may well start up again. From my point of view, I would say that every player is obliged to do their level best. On the other hand its a challenge when you dont have any certainty on how and when it will start up again."

"If Im being honest, the time Ive got now is no bad thing at all as its an opportunity simply to come down a little. Not in terms of sport but the mental side. When you get into a rhythm of permanently playing matches, youre also under permanent mental pressure. As a footballer Im used to that, but now that its gone away, it gives you time and space for things that otherwise you wouldnt do in your daily lives," said the former Bayern Munich player, with whom she won two womens Bundesliga titles.

Fortunately for Schnaderbeck, who hails originally from Graz, motivation has not proved an issue. Recurrent knee injuries have meant that she has often been forced out of action, so she already knows how important it is to concentrate completely and utterly on rehabilitation and preparation.

"I try to vary things, keep challenging and motivating myself," she explained, and I have to say that Ive managed pretty well so far. Arsenal have sent us a detailed plan of when and which days we have to train and how much we have to do. We also get options for strength and distance training.

"At the end of the day we can adjust things individually, so for me its a mixture of strength and stamina training. For me its important to maintain a rhythm, and that I keep involving some ball-work. Im currently at my girlfriends place in Norway and the pitches arent closed off here, so I can do my individual training with a football. Its obviously not the same as being with the team, but ball-work is ball-work. Runnings a lot less fun without a ball."

Things had been going just swimmingly for Schnaderbeck before the break. Arsenal are through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League, while Austria are at the top of their group in qualifying for the European championships. Their crucial clash with France has been postponed indefinitely for the moment, and we asked her whether that is a good or bad thing for the team.

"We had a really good training camp in March in Spain and a lot came out of it. This match would have been a good opportunity to see what wed taken away from that. But to make things perfectly clear, there are more important things on the agenda at the moment," the Austrian captain said.

"It would be selfish to say that we dont understand why it is how it is, and that its knocked us out of synch. Its happening to everyone. Everyone needs to adjust and adapt to their own situation. Obviously itll be a challenge when the time comes, since the team will have lost its rhythm, but that will be the case for other teams as well.

"You have to make the best of it, as they say. I think though that weve got a good team spirit and that well come through this OK. Thats my attitude to things in general. Its times just like this one that show how good a team is or not, as the case may be."

Even though the team is not allowed to meet up at the moment, they are still of course keeping in contact. The players are asked to analyse videos featuring individuals and teams as well as dealing with what is happening at the present time. "I have to say that our sports psychologist has offered her help in this respect, for those who need support, who want to work on themselves or simply need to talk," said Schnaderbeck. "Its not just about working through negative processes its also about developing yourself mentally."

For Schnaderbeck, it is not only important to keep herself fit but also to motivate others to do so, which is why the affable 29-year-old is an ambassador for the Fit for the Job initiative a health award that is organised once a year by the Steiermark Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Department for Sport and Leisure Institutions. The main aim of the initiative is to increase employees occupational health.

"Health not just physical but also mental is very important for me, both in normal, everyday life and also in crisis situations," she explained. "If youre physically and mentally fit, its easier to overcome setbacks or even crises and you have a lot more energy to go about things in both your working and your private lives."

When you get into a rhythm of permanently playing matches, youre also under permanent mental pressure. As a footballer Im used to that, but now that its gone away, it gives you time and space for things that otherwise you wouldnt do in your daily lives.

Viktoria Schnaderbeck

Excerpt from:
Schnaderbeck keeping everything on track - FIFA.com