Walk in My Shoes (WIMS) is delighted to announce that we are holding our sixth annual #MindYourSelfie Day on Thursday, 27 May 2021.
#MindYourSelfie Day is a social media campaign designed to open up conversations about and encourage positive attitudes towards mental health.
We’re inviting you to share your photographs and experiences of how you’ve learned to #MindYourSelfie during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’d love as many people as possible to use and see the hashtag so that we can spread positivity and show support for one another as we go through these strange times together.
Taking to social media
In 2020, #MindYourSelfie’s upbeat message reached over 5 million people on social media – and, this year, we want to go even bigger!
On 27 May, join us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to tell us about who, what and where have helped you to mind your mental health and stay resilient during the challenges of a global pandemic. Simply tag our accounts and use the hashtag #MindYourSelfie to join in the conversation and be in with a chance to win in our draw for a €200 One4All voucher.
From living through lockdown to missing our friends and family or dealing with ill health and grief, we have faced a lot of sudden changes over the last year. Now, as we prepare to ease restrictions and begin returning to a more normal way of life, it’s time to celebrate how far we’ve come together.
Our Project Manager, Amanda McArdle, said:
“Who has boosted your mood when things felt tough? Where did you go when you needed to clear your head? What hobbies or activities have helped you let go of worry? We’re inviting you to take part in #MindYourSelfie so we can look back on all we’ve learned in the last year and the wellbeing tips and tricks we’ll be taking with us”.
Learning from others
After a difficult year, lots of us are looking forward to coming out of lockdown and re-engaging with all we’ve been away from. At the same time, many of us will be feeling nervous or uncertain about going back to old ways or being around new people and places again.
So, to mark #MindYourSelfie Day and to help us prepare for this new stage, we’ve invited a range of young people’s organisations and interest groups to come together in a live event at 11am on 27 May. We’ll be exploring some of the key learnings from the last year and the tools and resources you can use to #MindYourSelfie and readjust to change in the weeks and months ahead.
Speakers include:
- Caroline O’Sullivan, Director of Services, Irish Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Timmy Hammersley, Head of Engagement and Participation, SpunOut
- Mary Mooney, Coordinator, Comhairle na nÓg
- Sinéad Kane, Communications and Advocacy Manager, BelongTo
- Amanda McArdle, Project Manager, WIMS
- Dr Aideen O’Neill, Clinical Psychologist, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS)
- Brian Boyle, Coach, Shelbourne Youth Academy.
Ryan Klatt, a graduate from our most recent Transition Year Programme, will moderate the discussion on the day.
Tickets are free but registration is essential; book your place now.
Speaking about the event, Paul Gilligan, Chief Executive Officer of SPMHS, said "the easing of restrictions will bring new, and much anticipated, opportunities to reconnect with friends and family. It may also create feelings of anxiety about getting back to socialising and being outside of the home. This may be especially likely for those who have experienced anxiety related to social situations before the pandemic."
"We have all had to adapt rapidly to varying levels of change. Control over our own lives has been significantly reduced since the start of the pandemic, and we will need to rediscover our confidence and preparedness to take risks. For anyone who is finding the anticipation of increased social activity stressful, please be assured that this is normal, and that the psychological journey to recovery will take time.”
Preparing for life after lockdown
To help with #MindYourSelfie's aim of helping us to prepare for life after lockdown, we're sharing some advice for those who are feeling worried or anxious about the weeks ahead.
You can find our tips below. If you have any questions about #MindYourSelfie Day or want to find out more about how you can get involved, please email info@walkinmyshoes.ie.
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Adjust at your own pace
Set achievable tasks for yourself each week to adjust your current routine. This may mean saying no to others’ requests at times, or asking to do things differently. This will also give you the space to build confidence in being around others more.
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Talk to friends and family about how you're feeling
Talking to friends or family about feelings of anxiety is a vital part of looking after our mental health. It is especially important if those around you are more at ease with relaxing restrictions. If you still feel more comfortable meeting friends and family in a socially distanced way, being open about this will let them know what to expect of you during this time.
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Recognise what you can control, and what you can't
Recognising what is and isn’t part of your control is an important part of managing anxiety, and something that we must re-establish for ourselves as we move forward with an increased sense of freedom. For example, things that we can control include seeking information from reliable sources and sticking to the recommended guidelines for each phase.
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Reflect on what has been beneficial
We all have an opportunity to readapt with a new focus on what we value. Some of the changes in our lives have been positive: for example, the benefits of reduced commuting times; spending more time with immediate family; or finding new and creative coping mechanisms. Holding onto and drawing on these positive changes will be essential as we move towards creating a balance between where we are now and where we want to be.
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Be kind to yourself
The challenges of recent months naturally will have affected us in different ways. Many of us may feel less productive than we usually do, and perhaps need more rest and downtime. While opportunities will open up to do different things and go to different places over the coming weeks, it’s just as important to remind ourselves of the continued need for self-care during these challenging times.
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Look forward with confidence
We are all a bit out of practice when it comes to social interaction, and what may feel daunting now will likely be much easier than we anticipate. Be confident that you will once more realise and enjoy the benefits of socialising and intimacy which are so essential to our wellbeing.
