A thought for the weekend

I'll tell you a tale, that's been recently written.

Of a powerful army, so Great it saved Britain.

They didn't have bombs & they didn't have planes.

They fought with their hearts & they fought with their brains.

They didn't have bullets, armed just with a mask.

We sent them to war, with one simple task.

To show us the way, to lead & inspire us.

To protect us from harm & fight off the virus.

It couldn't be stopped by our bullet proof vests.

An invisible enemy invaded our chests.

So we called on our weapon, our soldiers in Blue.

"All Doctors, All Nurses, Your Country needs you".

We clapped on our streets, hearts bursting with pride.

As they went off to war, while we stayed inside.

They struggled at first, as they searched for supplies.

But they stared down the virus, in the whites of its eyes.

They leaped from the trenches & didn't think twice.

Some never came back, the ultimate price.

So tired, so weary, yet still they fought on.

As the virus was beaten & the battle was won.

So many of us, owe so much, to so few.

The brave & the bold, our heroes in Blue.

So let's line the streets & remember our debt.

We love you, our heroes. Lest we forget.🌈

What are mental health problems?

In many ways, mental health is just like physical health: everybody has it and we need to take care of it.

Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you're frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.

Mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year. They range from common problems, such as depression and anxiety, to rarer problems such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

I now know that if I felt there was something wrong, it's because there was, but I didn't understand mental health fully... it's a spectrum and you should feel able to decide where and when you [are] on that spectrum.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Experiencing a mental health problem is often upsetting, confusing and frightening – particularly at first. If you become unwell, you may feel that it's a sign of weakness, or that you are 'losing your mind'.

These fears are often reinforced by the negative (and often unrealistic) way that people experiencing mental health problems are shown on TV, in films and by the media. This may stop you from talking about your problems, or seeking help. This, in turn, is likely to increase your distress and sense of isolation.

However, in reality, mental health problems are a common human experience.

Most people know someone who has experienced a mental health problem. They can happen to all kinds of people from all walks of life. And it's likely that, when you find a combination of self-care, treatment and support that works for you, you will get better.

It wasn't until I had a breakdown that I felt my condition was 'serious enough' to qualify as an issue. I could have got help much earlier but I didn't because of this – it's never too early to seek advice.

More info and help can be found at https://www.mind.org.uk/

Positive mental health at work

Acas Senior Adviser Abigail Hirshman talks about the Acas strategy for positive mental health at work. The Government's Department of Health advises that one in four of us will experience mental ill health at some point in our lives. It is therefore important that employers and their staff take steps to promote positive mental health and support those experiencing mental ill health For more information on Mental health in the workplace and to book a place on our training program. http://www.acas.org.uk/mentalhealth

We have grown, time for you to join

Local Service Champions: Share my story

Moments of truth

Your public services are at breaking point. Hear from the people who provide them – and their personal, and often frank stories of the tremendous pressures they face.

Hear their voices. Share their stories. Take a stand for your public services. #momentsoftruth

For More Info click Here

Key facts

• The NHS is suffering the deepest financial squeeze in its 70 year history, with the decade 2010-2020 set to be its most austere ever
• At least 12,000 NHS beds have been lost since 2010
• Local government budgets have been slashed by nearly 50%, making it increasingly difficult for councils to properly fund street cleaning, libraries, leisure centres and community safety
• Approximately 1,000 Sure Start centres have closed since 2009
• Because of inadequate funding, nearly 80% of workers providing care to elderly people in their homes report having no option but to rush their work or leave clients early to get to their next call
• The number of police community support officers has been cut by more than 30%, at the same time as violent crime and sex offences have been rising
• The number of teaching assistants in secondary schools has been cut by 8%
• Close to one million jobs have been cut across public services, with more than half of those who are left reporting that they now have to undertake unpaid overtime to keep services going
• 80% of NHS staff have raised concerns about there not being enough staff on duty to give patients the high-quality care they want to

This is why oxford City Branch of UNISON stands out from the rest, with look at problems from all angles and are not scared to try something new.

Not all trade unison are the same.