National Safeguarding Week 2020

Our regional theme for this year's National Safeguarding Week (16th - 20th November 2020) is mental health and wellbeing. We have a range of virtual seminars taking place broadly around this theme, including sessions on self-neglect and thematic learning from practice reviews. Conversely, our communications campaign will place a focus on what positive mental health and wellbeing looks like, and the components of our lifestyle which can impact our mental wellbeing.

Our National Safeguarding Week campaign will be promoted across our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages (search @CYSURCymru).

Mental health and wellbeing is a very common theme in communications this year, given the pressures and worries that many are experiencing. At a time which is challenging for so many of us, we thought it was important to talk about working towards positive mental health.

Just like we can exercise and eat healthily to improve our physical health, there are a number of ways we can work to improve our mental health too. Each day, we will talk about one component of mental wellbeing: how it impacts mental health, and how we can work to improve it. The elements of positive mental health we will discuss are: sleep; connecting to nature; exercise; social interaction and leisure; and diet.

Like our physical health, though, whilst we can try to improve our wellbeing by developing good habits and healthy lifestyles, there are also times when our physical or mental health may be suffering to an extent where we require support. In other words, to anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, or any other form of adverse mental health, our message remains the same – talk to someone who can help. You can visit our website for more information about the services who can help you. These elements of wellbeing are not suggested cures for mental health issues, but general ways in which research tells us we can attempt to improve our general mental wellbeing.