Last month A Way Out embraced Mental Health awareness with a
360 degree approach.
Our Youth Service has focused upon wellness sessions
delivered to local schools using soft meditation, creating ‘identity stones’
and encouraging peer support. This has
introduced the young people to effective coping strategies to support each individual
in managing stress and anxieties related to personal and school life.
A Way Out also supports female clients whose lives may have
be affected by complex mental health needs some experiencing trauma generated
from childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual exploitation. We take a ‘trauma informed’ approach to
support provided, with full consideration for each client’s individual experience
of trauma and damage, as we support each to recovery and a future of security
and hope.
A Way Out also recognises that in order to provide effective
support to clients and young people our staff and volunteers also should be
well in themselves. This month we devised
and promoted a wellbeing programme for staff and volunteers detailing a menu of
available options to support wellbeing at work including recognition of
symptoms of stress and offering a selection of stress busting techniques
provided by our in-house Psychotherapy Service.
Simple techniques such as concentrating on breathing, meditation, prayer,
or undertaking a short distraction activity have a beneficial and calming
influence and have proved useful for staff, volunteers and also with our clients.
A Way Out’s holistic approach contributes to the uniqueness
of the charity which is celebrating 17th years of service this
month. This could not have been achieved
without local financial and volunteer support for which we are extremely
grateful. If you would like to be part of A Way Out’s future support please get
in touch – info@awayout.co.uk, 01642
655071.
