This follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressing the nation to confirm the extension of current coronavirus restrictions

Phil commented that one of the key areas leaders must take into account is the psychological impact the delay will have on workers who may be continually struggling with the current circumstances.

“Small businesses have been at high risk of experiencing health and financial security issues since the pandemic began. So, a further lockdown delay will apply unwanted additional pressure.

“It’s important that leaders check in on both their own mental health and that of their staff at this uncertain time,” he noted, adding that one key to alleviating this negative impact may be introducing mental health specialists.

“Mental Health First Aiders and counsellors can provide additional support for staff who may be struggling,” Phil added.”

Read the article here. 

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Jess talked about how The Mind Map’s counselling has helped her in lockdown. While Phil talked about how his own OCD and anxiety led to him creating The Mind Map.

Jess said: “The pandemic gave me extra time to reflect and I could see I needed help with a few different parts of my life.

I really wanted to better myself, it wasn’t just about going through a healing process or getting over a trauma for me.

“I wanted to be mentally healthier and stronger, and checking in on my mental health and working on myself during this time and making sure I’m in a healthy place has really been invaluable.”

She continued: “The Mind Map have been amazing, showing me you don’t need to be at rock bottom or breaking point to go for counselling. You can invest in your mental health at any point.

“You don’t need to go a long time without talking about things, they really taught me that looking after your mental health is more an overall lifestyle choice rather than something you only do when you’re having a crisis.

“Lockdown and the pandemic have helped people be able to be a bit more vulnerable and wear their hearts on their sleeve. Being able to say “actually I’m going through this and it’s a bit of a tough time at the minute.” 

“Personally, I distracted myself previously with work, social life, and it was only when I slowed down with the pandemic that I was having those real conversations with friends, saying yes, I actually am struggling, I’ve struggled with this for years and now I need to unpack it a little bit.”

You can watch the interview here.

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The Mind Map’s founder Phil Bridges says: “The pandemic is putting a huge strain on young people’s mental health. According to a princess trust report, half of 16 to 25-year-olds said their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic.

“Young people are understandably anxious at the moment and need increased mental health support. They’re dealing with disrupted education, a depleted jobs market and distance from their friends.

“With 75% of adults with a diagnosable mental health condition experiencing their first symptoms before they’re 24, early intervention is vital.”

The Florrie’s Chief Executive Anne Lundon says, “Young people from low-income families are four times more likely to struggle with their mental health, which is an alarming statistic. 

“Working with The Mind Map to provide our young people with free counselling, should they require it, is a key part of our health and wellbeing strategy. 

“The partnership complements the work we’re currently doing to support young people through our Youth Hub, which is a creative and educational space offering a range of activities, opportunities and support including work experience volunteering, homework groups, music and sports.”

The partnership is the result of funding support from the National Lottery.

The Mind Map is a Liverpool based mental health organisation, navigating people to better mental health through counselling, training, awareness raising and signposting. Belying the small size of their organisation, they train some of the biggest companies in the world in Mental Health First Aid, including Netflix and Ebay.

The Florrie is a charity at the heart of Liverpool 8. Their stunning, Grade II listed, Victorian community heritage venue is a social & educational hub for the people of south Liverpool. 

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The pair talked about how, for some, the pandemic has offered up time to develop new positive wellbeing practices, with Robert talking about a new found love for mindfulness.

In the interview, Phil explained how his lived experience of anxiety, OCD and depression and coming from a family of mental health professionals inspired him to found the organisation in 2017.

On The Mind Map’s new website, people and organisations can book online counselling, Mental Health First Aid training, find free mental health services and read expert advice and articles.

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It’s the result of a groundbreaking research project carried out between The Mind Map and leading organisations with Mental Health at the centre of their agenda. With contributions from Liverpool John Moores University, Imperial College London and the NHS.   

Founder Phil Bridges, a lecturer in Mental Health Innovation and Mental Health First Aid instructor says: “Our research uncovered that people don’t feel they have access to the support they need, in a format that is accessible and relevant to their everyday lives. This was certainly the case for me personally when trying to find help for my anxiety and OCD.

“With recurring lockdowns restricting people’s ability to receive in person support, we have recruited 20 associate counsellors experienced in delivering therapy online.

“Clients can choose a qualified counsellor by location, gender and specialism. We have sessions people can purchase, plus are providing free counselling to healthcare workers and unemployed people in Liverpool’s L8 area.” 

Smita Melling, HCPC, BACP, MSc, MBA, MBPsS, a counselling psychologist at The Mind Map has been practicing for seventeen years and sees the pandemic as a serious threat to people’s mental health. 

She says: “Unfortunately, anxiety has been through the roof since March. It’s like peeling an onion, you start with pandemic-induced anxiety – exacerbated by working from home and loneliness and often find deeper lying issues such as thinking errors.”

On The Mind Map’s new intervention, Smita says: “It can take an awful lot for a client to seek help and if they have to wait, it adds insult to injury. The Mind Map bridges the gap between counselor and client, allowing them to find help immediately.

“I decided to join The Mind Map as being paired with clients means I get to concentrate on delivery, as opposed to the business side – an achilles heel for many counsellors.”

Using cutting edge graphic design from Kruger Buro and innovative website development by Citrus Suite, The Mind Map’s new website will appeal to millennials, Gen Z and beyond.

In addition to offering tangible mental health support, the platform helps normalise mental health through engaging advice and articles from academic experts, writers and public figures. 

Browsing the immersive journal section leads you to international musicians and Premier League footballers talking about everything from anxiety to grief and how they have dealt with their respective life challenges and mental health issues. 

This creates dialogue, reduces stigma and helps put Mental Health front-and-centre as an important issue to the young adults of the UK and their welfare.

Visit www.themindmap.co.uk 

@themindmapco

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