Good Mental Health

What is mental health?

Mental health is the way we think and feel and our ability to deal with ups and downs. Our mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can fluctuate as circumstances change and as we move through different stages in our lives. We all have times when we feel down, stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feeling pass but sometimes they develop into a mental health problem like anxiety or depression which can impact on our daily lives.

How might it feel?

The earlier we are able to recognise when something isn’t quite right, the earlier we can get support. As a rule you should seek help if you have difficult feelings that are:

  • Stopping you from getting on with basic daily tasks

  • Having a big impact on your relationships

  • Affecting your mood over several weeks

  • Causing you to have thoughts of self-harm or suicide

How would I recognise it in others?

At work we might notice that a colleague/student is more tired than usual. They may make more mistakes, find it hard to motivate themselves, timekeeping may slip or they may be short tempered. You may spot that someone is becoming isolated, distracted or procrastinating or alternatively might speed up, become chaotic or take on more work than they can manage. These are early warning signs.

10 ways you can look after your mental health

We can all take steps to improve our own mental health and build our resilience. Look through the 10 evidence-based ways to improve your mental health below – there are bound to be some you do really well so be aware of those but try to choose a couple that you would find challenging as well (but be kind to yourself and don’t make them too hard!):

  • This can be to someone at work – your RD, another Yipiyap or one of your colleagues in school if you get on well with them – or from outside work – parents, friends or family.

  • Regular exercise can boost self-esteem, help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Try to make exercise you enjoy a regular part of your day – get out for a walk, go to a class or to the gym for regular sessions or play a sport you enjoy. You can even volunteer to help with school team practices!

  • A diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health so include plenty of fruit and vegetables and lots of water. Also, try to be sociable when you eat, having lunch with your colleagues in school is a great way to bond and share the ups and downs of your day!

  • Try to keep social drinking within recommended levels. See the website drinkaware.co.uk for more information about low risk alcohol consumption.

  • Relationships are key to our mental health. Working in a supportive team is hugely beneficial and we are committed to ensuring that everyone at Yipiyap feels they belong to a small team of trusted colleagues. Be sure to make your RD aware of any issues that come out throughout your day – they can be highlights, challenges, questions or just something funny that happened that day. Our RDs go above and beyond to support their teams throughout the year so if you need to chat, just pick up the phone.

  • None of us are superhuman and we all sometimes feel overwhelmed when things don’t go to plan. Whatever you need help with, there is always someone on the team who can help or advise – speak to your RD and if they can’t help themselves they will find someone who can.

  • A five-minute pause from what you’re doing, a book, music or podcast during your commute or a weekend visiting friends can be all it takes to refresh your mind so give yourself some ‘me time’. Many people find mindfulness practices and breathing techniques useful and remember to get plenty of sleep. At Yipiyap the next school holiday is never far away so make plans and have adventures!

  • Doing something you enjoy and are good at builds self-esteem. Whether it’s a sport, musical instrument, craft, dance, gardening, baking, etc. you will concentrate and get some perspective on any worries you may have. Previous Yipiyaps have even made their own furniture and prepared their dogs for Crufts so whatever works for you!

  • We’re all different and it’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Be proud of yourself and your achievements and give yourself goals but make sure they’re realistic and work towards the change in stages, celebrating the success of each stage.

  • Caring for others is an important part of keeping up relationships. Working for Yipiyap you will be constantly looking after your students but remember to be there for the rest of your team (and even your RD sometimes!) Volunteering can also be extremely rewarding and help us put our own problems into perspective.

Yipiyap culture

We create a workplace culture where people can be themselves so they find it easier to speak about mental health concerns and reach out for help if they need it. Our Head of Colleague Support is also available for meetings.

How will we support you?

As you can see, we encourage open conversations about mental health. During your year with us, you can feel free to share if you're struggling. Alternatively, if you want to reach out to your RD then just contact them to arrange a time for a phone call or a face to face meeting. They will be non-judgemental and proactive in helping you.

You should have good working conditions

If your working environment is causing you concern eg. too small a space, not enough natural light, isolated away from the rest of your department, etc. just let your RD know. If you are in a school that is new to us then they may not be clear about what we expect but they will want you to be able to work comfortably.

Return to Work form

When you have been absent from work due to illness, your RD will complete a Return to Work form with you on your return. This is another opportunity to discuss your mental health.

Time of year

January and February are often months when people feel a little more down than usual. We will remind you in the run up to this period of all the things you can do to keep your mental health in tip-top condition.

Discussing mental health at work

Many people now feel more confident to raise previous mental health challenges during the recruitment stage of joining Yipiyap. We take this as a positive sign that they can trust that there is no stigma or discrimination in our organisation and not feel that there is anything to be ashamed of.

Some particular triggers to be aware of during your placement

Staffroom/Department Office

This should always be a place where you feel welcome and are treated as a professional. Everyone feels nervous going into the staffroom for the first time but if after a couple of weeks it still feels awkward, let your RD know and they will help you settle in.

Not receiving regular praise

Having come straight from a school environment where you are being continually assessed and graded, some Yipiyaps find it a challenge to adjust to an environment where they don’t get regular formal feedback about the standard of their work and certainly nobody gives you an A (or A*!) at the end of every session. This is the same in every job but over time not having this positive recognition can affect a Yipiyap's mood without them even realising it. Schools are busy environments and you can rest assured that the work you do is highly valued and your RD will try and gain specific feedback over the course of the year so you know you’re doing a great job and find out any areas for improvement. You will also have a Development Meeting each year where your strengths are highlighted.

Changes to the routine

Occasionally Yipiyaps have found that changes to the normal routine such as the end of term or weeks where all classes are off timetable can cause them to feel an unusual level of anxiety. We can overcome this by working with schools so that when a change is upcoming it is discussed in advance and the Yipiyap's new role during the period is outlined. This can help to feel more prepared and comforted just knowing that the situation is out in the open.

Further information and useful resources

Health & wellbeingYipiyap