Last month we looked at government statistics relating to the nation’s mental wellbeing levels during the pandemic.
In this newsletter, we delve back in the Office of National Statistics (ONS) archives to examine figures for younger generations in the years leading up to the pandemic.
Covid 19 has, of course, created uncertainty and so we would expect to see some degree of change in past findings.
The figures relate to the years 2015 to 2020. During this time, the sense of personal wellbeing had declined across those aged between 20 to 24.
Finances may have played a key role in moulding people’s feelings as nearly 10% of young people said they were struggling to make ends meet between 2017 and 2018.
Researchers also noticed that females in the 16 to 24-year-old age bracket were finding their levels of anxiety and depression had increased. There was a drop in the sense of connectivity which youngsters felt towards their local communities.
The statistics highlighted a near 10% decrease in their sense of belonging to their locality.
In short, the figures between 2014 to 2015 showed 57% of people surveyed felt a connection with others in their vicinity – compared to just 48% between 2017 to 2018.
Rapport is a crucial element in creating a sense of community. Communities can, of course, consist of any size.
Building ‘caring and sharing’ values within our own practices help us not only to connect with our immediate colleagues but also provides a spirit of community for our clients who can quickly create a regular ‘anchor point’ during their meetings with you.
It allows clients to experience positive thinking, positive interaction and positive action.
For our members, these feelings will ‘flow’ naturally. Afterall, the reason for people joining our organisation is because they genuinely care for people in their community and want to do what they can to help people in key aspects of their lives.
It can be worth reminding people what you can offer them: perhaps developing a local on-line advertising campaign extolling the benefits of stopping smoking or one which focuses on the positive outcomes from reducing someone’s stress levels.
It’s all good PR which can really help to boost enquiries.
Likewise, leaflet campaigns can be a cost-effective way to promote your message in the local community. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly expensive. Even simple photocopies can help to promote the virtues underlining your business.
There are lots of local design and print companies which can provide you with leaflets and the ability to distribute them for you.
Word of mouth recommendations are also important as clients can provide first-hand testimony for how your work has benefitted them.
Establishing that sense of rapport in our consulting rooms is a crucial part of creating a ‘safe space’ area where people can enjoy their treatment sessions without feeling any pressure.
Allow yourself plenty of time before each appointment to ensure paperwork is tidy and that the coffee is back on ready for your next appointment. That all encompassing aroma of ground beans can certainly create a lasting impression!
Building in ‘mini breaks’ during your day also allows you to reflect on sparkling moments and positive achievements in your own life.
You may also have a chance to work through your own Miracle Question outcome and / or listen to your CD so you can feel relaxed and refreshed when your next client arrives.
Allowing relaxation and space for ourselves during the day helps us to keep our own ‘stress bucket’ levels nice and low.
It also allows us to be more focused as we strengthen our own neurological circuitry to the benefit of ourselves and, of course, our clients.
The NBH is encouraging all of its members to display our logo on their website. The rights for you to use the NBH logo are covered by your annual subscription costs and in your ability to meet our high standards of membership criteria.
Clients can be reassured that the logo on your website means that you have achieved the gold standard of qualification required for practice – and that you aim to maintain regular supervision plus engage with Career Professional Development (CPD).
