Coping with Covid - Diane Youdale (Jet from Gladiators) Discusses Managing Mental Health and Wellbeing in a Crisis

Covid19 has had a widespread impact on our lives. From the obvious fears of catching and hopefully recovering from Coronavirus to perhaps loss of work or change in pattern by working from home.

Restrictions on travel and ability to see and hug loved ones also proved to be difficult adjustments but one thing that’s quietly growing whilst all of this “strange new World” has developed around us is the impact on our overall state of mind and wellbeing.

BMA mental health policy lead Dr Andrew Molodynski has said: “Covid-19 has meant a sudden and stark change in the way people live their lives but as we return to some semblance of normality, we are faced with the longer-term impact this pandemic will have on mental health.

As we know prior to Covid19 the UK’s mental health services were literally at breaking point, with an expected uplift in mental health issues following the pandemic the nation could be in for a very difficult time.

This growing concern is hitting large proportions of the population and it’s important that we all understand how we can be affected and what to do to prevent, mitigate or treat the symptoms and underlying causes of poor mental health.

Today we are delighted to welcome Diane Youdale who’s going to help us understand the common symptoms that manifest when we’re not coping and offer some useful tips and advice on better managing ourselves and essentially others, this is important for our HReSource listeners many of whom are responsible for the wellbeing of their staff.

In this episode we cover:

• Becoming aware of the problem and ability to recognise symptoms
• Most likely causes for having poor mental health
• Tips and techniques to help ourselves better cope with these challenges
• Suggestions on how to approach others who are causing concern, family, partners or colleagues
• Thoughts on how you could help a colleague who you’re worried about
• How we can identify those at highest risk and appropriate action to take
• Ideas on taking a more positive and proactive approach to prevent the development of low mood, stress and anxiety
• Practical steps to ensure the wellbeing of staff is taken seriously and not just a “tick box” compliance exercise

Our Guest - Diane Youdale

Diane is of course the artist formally known as “Jet” from TV's Gladiators. As many of you will remember she was one of the original and I think true to say one of the most popular Gladiators. Diane arrived on ITV’s primetime show following careers in gymnastics and then as a choreographer, dancer and fitness professional.

Whilst she is no longer “Gladiating” she is still very active in choreography plus teaching both dance and physical fitness programmes. Diane is also a qualified and practicing Psychotherapist/Counsellor and Coach. It’s this area that we’ll be exploring today and as Diane says herself adding Psychotherapy to her skills has helped round off her understanding of the challenge’s humans face in their lives, both physical and mental.