Breaking News!
Swindon Trauma Group function and Conference are to be held on Friday 9 May 2025
and Friday 19 September 2025 at the Doubletree by Hilton just off junction 16 of the M4.
The events will coincide with the anniversaries of the end of the 2nd World War in Europe
and the Far East.
Further details to follow.
How to tell if social media is harming your mental health
Emma Harper writes: With mental health awareness becoming a strong focus globally, it's becoming increasingly important to assess the role social media plays when we consider our mental well-being. With much of the younger generation spending hours each day online, it’s vital that we educate both ourselves and our children about the potential dangers of spending too much time on social media.
Learning how to curate your social media feed and set healthy limits on your exposure is one of the best ways to protect yourself from seeing inappropriate content, feeling unworthy in comparison to others, and beginning unhealthy online habits.
Often, it can be hard to notice when harmless social media use begins to turn into a pattern of unhealthy behaviour, which can lead to feelings of insecurity, anxiety and even depression. There is also the risk of cyber bullying through social media platforms, but luckily there are ways to protect ourselves.
In this informative resource from Zocdoc, you can find the risks and benefits of social media, as well as useful information about the ways in which we can recognise unhealthy habits around its use. The guide also provides the signs to look out for if you are concerned about someone's social media usage, plus tips for encouraging healthy online behaviours.
Ideas into Action
What is it?
A free 7-month programme of specialist workshops, advice and coaching supporting people from a refugee background living in the UK to get their social business up and running.
For further information about this enlightening project please download the attached PDF:
Children's Health and Wellbeing
If I have done anything even a little, to help small children enjoy honest, simple pleasures, I have done a lot of good.
Beatrix Potter
Here’s something really easy you can do to improve your child’s chance of future health and success, make sure he or she spends plenty of time playing outside. Throughout my childhood I would play outside cricket, football at the local park in Winchester or playing on a beautiful beach in Northern Ireland with wonderful views of the Mourn Mountains. Remember going “walkies” with the family pets.
Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School based in Boston USA states outside play is essential key for everyone’s development - children as well as adults. Is it not better to explore the great outdoors of the British countryside rather than challenge robots on a computer? Forest Holidays encourage children on the their website fifty ways to enjoy playing in the countryside:
https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/outdoor-education-and-child-development-guide/
or contact Emma Harper
emmaharper.medical@gmail.com
Three of the ways to enjoy the outside the holiday group suggests are:
- The building of a fort in the woods is a great idea which helps with creativity and action planning. Good thought distraction and for children encourages group cohesion and dynamics.
- Playing shifting stones say across a pond is a really good fun. What a sight - seeing a flat stone skimming and bouncing across the water.
- Riding a bike through the woods is an excellent form of exercise which involves good co-ordination skills.
The Forest Holidays link page is very useful, particularly the mention of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. This year’s Bird Watch has been very successful and so very encouraging that most birds have increased in numbers.
For Harvard Medical School please visit Harvard University website:
https://hms.harvard.edu/
Richard- Chair STG
New Home for Swindon Trauma Group
As from Friday 18 June 2021 Swindon Trauma Group is delighted to have a new virtual home:
Swindon Trauma Group
Kingston House
Lydiard Fields
Swindon
SN5 8UB
www.swindontraumagroup.org.uk
info@swindontraumagroup.org.uk
Telephone: 07505476139
Kingston House is just off the M4 (junction 16) at the Royal Wootton Bassett roundabout on the first exit to the left heading towards Swindon
NHS Staff to be Offered Mental Health Support for Covid-19 ‘Shell Shock’
Rebecca, a big supporter and friend of Swindon Trauma Group, has recommended this article. It is the Guardian’s excellent perspective of how people at the front line will need psychological support through these unpredictable and anxiety provoking times. Trauma risk management, or debriefing or Mental Health First Aid post Covid-19 will also be required. They will need emotional support at the end of each shift to chat through the technical and as well as emotional challenges people will have faced.
Dick and Rob on duty at our information stand at ASDA West Swindon
Site Updated: 26th November 2024
