Brain Awareness Week
It is brain awareness week this month on the 12th to the 18th of March and we at Teenage Mental Health thought this presented a good opportunity to write a blog about brain functions and the importance of these for good mental health. Brain Awareness Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of the brain and its functions. The human brain is truly one of the most amazing and complex organs in the body, responsible for everything from our thoughts and emotions to our ability to move and respond to the world around us.
One of the most important functions of the brain is the ability to process and interpret information. The brain receives input from our senses (such as sight, sound, and touch) and then interprets that information to create our perception of the world. This process allows us to make sense of the world around us and react to it appropriately.
The brain is also responsible for controlling our movement and coordination. The motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for controlling voluntary movement, while the cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movement and maintaining balance.
Another important function of the brain is the ability to store and retrieve memories. The hippocampus, located in the temporal lobe, is responsible for creating new memories, while the neocortex is responsible for storing and retrieving them. The brain is also responsible for regulating our emotions and mood. The limbic system, which includes the amygdala and the hypothalamus, is responsible for regulating our emotional responses to different situations.
The brain plays an important role in maintaining our overall mental health. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and good sleep habits can all help to promote optimal brain function. Additionally, managing stress and practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, can also help to promote mental well-being.
It’s also important to note that the brain can change and adapt throughout life, a process known as neuroplasticity. This means that we have the ability to improve our cognitive abilities and even recover from brain injury or disease through brain training and learning new things.
In conclusion, Brain Awareness Week is an important reminder of the incredible functions of the brain and the importance of taking care of our brains for optimal mental health. By understanding the brain’s functions and how to promote optimal brain health, we can improve our overall well-being and quality of life.
Reading To Your Child
Many parents and children’s care givers reading this article will know that book week is soon to be upon us and globally we focus on the importance of books on our children and wider families. We at
Teenage Mental Health know first-hand how important it is to build a healthy love of reading and books and wanted to highlight in this article the impact it has on your child and their long term mental health. Reading to children is a crucial step in promoting their mental and emotional well-being. Research has shown that reading to children at a young age can have a significant impact on their cognitive development and can set the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Reading to children helps to develop their language skills and improves their ability to understand and express themselves. This, in turn, can lead to better communication skills, which are essential for building strong relationships and navigating the world around them.
Reading also helps children develop their imagination and creativity. When children are exposed to different stories, characters, and settings, they learn to think outside the box and come up with their own ideas. This can help them to be more creative problem-solvers and better thinkers in the long run.
Reading also helps children to develop empathy and emotional intelligence. When children are exposed to different characters and their emotions, they learn to understand and relate to others. This can help them to be more compassionate and understanding in their interactions with others.
Reading to children also helps to promote relaxation and a sense of calm. Listening to a story can be a soothing and calming experience, which can help children to relax and sleep better at night.
Furthermore, reading to children provides an opportunity for bonding and connection with a parent or caregiver. It is a special time that allows children to feel safe and loved while they learn and grow.
In conclusion, reading to children is an essential step in promoting their mental and emotional well- being. By reading to children at a young age, we can set the foundation for a lifetime of learning and emotional intelligence, and promote the overall mental health of our children.
Book suggestion
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma Kindle Edition by Bessel van der Kolk. An excellent read for anyone interested on the impact of trauma on physical functioning.
Ask a question
Someone asked why therapy is so expensive and why cant it be cheaper?
Answer:-
Many people assume that the hourly rate that you pay for therapy goes straight into the therapists pocket minor the deduction a few pounds to cover overheads. However it might surprise you to find that these over heads actually make up over half of what you pay for therapy.
Every therapist has to pay for personal insurance, continued professional development, membership to a regulatory body, accountants fees, day to day materials and equipment, professional supervision as well as pay back student loan fees and their own personal therapy. In fact a therapist charging £65 per hour is lucky to see £25 once they have made all these deductions. Given also that most therapists never see more than 20 patients a week and more realistically only 10-15 their actual income is often only £300 per week.
Do you know many masters qualified professionals who earn only £300 per week and that is if all their patients turn up, whenever you are off sick or on holiday and refuse to your therapist has no income but still has the same overheads, that is why they insist on payment whether you turn up or not. Therapists do the job they do because they truly care about their patients and want to make a difference, and are never financially driven.
Top-Tip
Work your strengths. Do something you’re good at to build self confidence, then tackle a bigger task. This works well with children and helps them to build better self confidence and esteem.
