Breaking Myths About Neurodiversity
The benefits of cognitive diversity at work The term neurodiversity is a relatively new concept at work. Although challenging, establishing a neurodiverse workplace offers significant benefits. What is neurodiversity? Neurodiversity at work Neurodiversity for competitive advantage Applicable legislation for employers Neurodiverse hiring Supporting neurodiverse employees Neurodiversity is a relatively new expression that refers to variations in how a typical human brain responds to sociability, learning, mood, and other mental functions. It’s...
read moreYour home and your wellbeing: how to achieve a work-life balance while working from home
When the pandemic began, it was also the start of a significant change in how people work. In 2020, the Office for National Statistics confirmed 25. 9% of the UK population were working from home. This was an increase from 2019, when just 12.4% of the country did the same. And although the world has opened up since then, not everyone has gone back to the office full-time, with the most recent government data showing that 85% of adults working from home would prefer a hybrid approach of both home and office working in the future. It seems some...
read moreHow to help someone with depression, by Katie Howe
Depression can touch lives without those closest realising it. If you have a friend or loved one you suspect is suffering, knowing what to do is hard. Should they attend support groups, speak to someone, or call a helpline? Let’s look at how to help someone with depression, so you know what to do. 13% of men and 24% of women will be diagnosed with depression during their lifetime 90% of people beat depression in less than one year of being diagnosed Depression can be a lifetime condition which comes and goes several times throughout your...
read moreBook Review: Is that Clear? Effective communication in a neurodiverse world, By Jane McNeice
According to the National Autistic Society and UK Adult Psychiatric Morbidity data, over 1 in 100 people are diagnosed as Autistic. This figure is likely to be a gross under-estimate of actual Autistic people given the number of non-diagnosed Autistic people. Females are particularly under-represented in the statistics for various reasons resulting in the thousands of ‘Lost Girls’, of which I am one. I was late diagnosed Autistic on 22nd June this year at the age of 45. A recent online survey undertaken by renowned Autism researcher Simon...
read morePerson-centred Care, not just for Health & Social Care
Person-centred care is often a term referred to in health and social care. It is a difficult term to pin down because there are various definitions and what it looks like for one will look different for the next. The Health Foundation defines four principles of person-centred care Personalised care Coordinated care Enabling care With a thread of dignity, compassion, and respect through all. Now I think it is fair to say that health and social care are no longer viewed as the sole guardians of health care in our society. The growth in...
read moreA Book to Save Lives; a book we should ALL read! By Jane McNeice
If I was having suicidal thoughts, this is a book that I really hope the person supporting me has read. If so, they will be well equipped to save me, or at the very least, keep me safe until a professional can help me. Joy Hibbins does not hold herself, or her suicide crisis centre, to a ‘zero suicide’ standard, but nevertheless, her service has achieved it… Let that thought sink in for a second… Yes, ZERO suicides. Joy knows the proven tools to save lives. She shares those in this book. You do not need divine intervention,...
read moreThe challenges for Autistic people at Work, by Jane McNeice
Most adults will consider themselves extremely lucky if they successfully traverse their working lives without ever encountering a time when they don’t feel supported, under too many demands, or other challenges. Anyone who faces these issues often feels stressed, and some develop related health conditions – mental, physical, or both. For Autistic adults, the likelihood is greater still. Some Autistic adults might find it incredibly difficult to sustain gainful employment in neurotypical environments. Neurotypical is the term...
read moreTo Open Plan, or Not to Open Plan? by Jane McNeice
The case for and against open plan offices continues to be debated and I truly feel the reason for this is because we believe it must be one or the other, and in some way, one will win out. What is more unusual is that we expect the black or white outcome. Why would we? Human beings are all different. I could find you one person who will make a very convincing case for open plan workspace and the benefits of this, and I can find you another who could make an equally good case for a more closed environment. The issue with this is any of the...
read moreFlower 125 Health Programme
Do you work with children between the ages of 7-16? Mind Matters is partnering with Flower 125 Health CIC to bring you the Flower 125 Health Programme an innovative evidence based mental health training for staff who work with young people. Flower 125 is an interactive, action-based programme and the training involves: Three x 3 hour online sessions (including a comfort break) Refresher session after or during first delivery 1:1 sessions for each participant Peer supervision groups A secure, online environment on Zoom A resource pack...
read moreWhy are People Rude? by Jane McNeice
Definitions of rude centre around behaviours that are not regarded as acceptable, pleasant, or are ill-mannered. Given global and cultural differences, some of this can be defined as what is acceptable within the culture in which we reside. Outside of what we accept in our culture, we regard as rude. There are a few other considerations in this picture. It isn’t just in the delivery, i.e. the person being rude to us, it is also about how we are feeling at the time and how we have chosen to interpret the behaviour, and it’s important to...
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