This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2023.

Whilst we should treat mental health as an important aspect every day, this week gives us time to focus a little more on what can be a sensitive subject. This year’s MHA focus is ANXIETY.

The Mental Health Foundation state:

"Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

"Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food. But anxiety can be made easier to manage.

"Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we will keep up the pressure to demand change - making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole."

We have created some guidance based on tips from the Mental Health Foundation on how best to cope with anxiety.

DOWNLOAD THE LCFA GUIDANCE ON ANXIETY

The Mental Health Foundation have also released a booklet on anxiety for both pupils and teachers in secondary school.

DOWNLOAD THE SECONDARY SCHOOL GUIDANCE FROM MHF