Watch: A personal journey that led to a changed perception of mental health
Nick Bennett, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Fika, recently delivered a TEDx talk where he shared his personal story that led to the creation of Fika with his Co-Founder Gareth Fryer and their mission to mainstream mental fitness. Nick’s story is an emotional reminder of why it’s so important to reframe how we think about mental health.
It’s evident that mental health and wellbeing is becoming more widely talked about thanks to open conversations and the sharing of personal experiences such as Nick’s. From an education point of view, we welcome this move toward a more open dialog. We believe that learners’ potential can only be fulfilled if they feel mentally fit and able to talk. Similarly, staff in education can only support learners if they too feel mentally fit.
Please note that this video discusses suicide.
I want to share an idea with you, that could change how you think about your fitness for the rest of your life.
Training for mental challenges is just as important as training for physical challenges.
Here are some mental fitness training activities that anyone can try which only take a few minutes. Repeat them a couple of times a week and see how it makes you feel.
1. Take some time out to get creative. Being creative can lower stress hormones and open the mind to new ways of thinking.
2. Breathe for instant stress relief. A few minutes of slow, deep breathing can help encourage relaxation and clear thinking.
3. Choose the right words. Repeating positive and calming words (in the mind or out loud) is a great way to remind ourselves of our ability to cope and lower stress.
Fika is an app-based programme filled with exercises that train users to better deal with stress management and improve their mental fitness.
For more information on how Fika and NCFE are supporting staff and learners with their mental fitness training at 69 FE centres, visit https://www.ncfe.org.uk/fika.