Putting your mental health first at the march

As we prepare for the Hardest Hit march and lobby of Parliament on

Wednesday 11 May 2011, Mind has developed a simple guide to looking after

yourself and your mental health on the day.

If you or someone you know has a mental health problem and is planning to

protest on Wednesday, it’s worth reading through the following pointers, as

well as thinking about coping techniques that have worked for you in the past,

ahead of the march.

We want everyone to enjoy the day, but there are a number of psychological

stressors – crowds, queues, noise – that could trigger distress, as well as the

possibility of people becoming physically unwell on the day. Hopefully with a

bit of preparation and awareness, we can minimise the chances of marchers

experiencing mental distress on the day.

Remember that there will be plenty of stewards available on the day to

answer any questions. Some of the Mind stewards have specialised mental

health first aid training. Speak to any steward if you’re feeling unwell: they’ll be

wearing high-visibility jackets so you can spot them easily in a crowd.

There will also be a number of Mind staff at the event, recognisable by their

blue Mind t-shirts. You’re welcome to come and say hello – they will have a

good knowledge of mental health issues, and are also able to help you out if

you’re not feeling great.

Meet up with Mind staff before the march if you want to protest but don’t want

to go on your own. Mind staff Anna Bacciarelli and Vicki Ensor will be in

Embankment Gardens, right next to Embankment tube station, 11am –

11.45am. Anna and Vicki can give you a free Mind t-shirt at the meeting point,

if you want one.

1. Be sure to carry food and drinks with you

Standing, queuing and walking will use up energy, and you need to make

sure you have enough fuel for the day. If it’s a hot day, bring a bottle of

water. Make sure you have a hearty breakfast and take time to have lunch

and regular snacks as you need to.

2. Know your triggers, and act accordingly

Crowds, noise, having someone behind you – if those are the sort of

things that unsettle you, maybe being in the middle of the march is not the

best place to be. You might decide to march at the back it will be less

crowded. Be aware that you’re going to be in a new and different

Putting your mental health first

The Hardest Hit

environment. If you want to march with some friendly faces, meet up with

the Mind staff beforehand (11-11.45am, Embankment Gardens).

3. Know where your friends/ family/ contacts are, and make sure your

mobile phone is charged

You need to keep in contact with your friends, carers, support workers if

you’ve travelled down together, so make sure you have their contact

numbers in case you get split up. If you get lost, head to Methodist

Central Hall which can act as your central meeting point.

4. Don’t forget your medication

Ensure you bring your meds with you. You might want to bring spare

medication so you’re not caught short, if you end up staying out longer

than expected. If you have any medication that you take as-and-when

required, keep it on you at all times. For some of these it may be

advisable to keep it in the packet with the prescription label on it, to avoid

over-zealous attention from security staff at Parliament.

5. Look for quiet areas that you can escape to for a chill-out and get

your head back together

A place of (relative) peace and quiet that you can nip out to if it’s all

getting too much is another thing that sounds easier said than done, but

they do exist. There will be a quiet room at Methodist Central Hall so head

towards there if you need to. Stewards will be able to direct you if you’re

unsure of your bearings.

6. If in trouble, approach a steward

If you can feel yourself going into crisis or become physically unwell, and

you don’t think you can reach medical help, then go to a steward and

explain your situation to them. It’s their role to keep participants happy

and safe, and they’ll be able to radio some help for you or get you to

where help is available. All stewards will be wearing high-visibility jackets

so you can find them easily.

For any further information please contact Tom Pollard, Mind Policy and

Campaigns Officer at t.pollard@mind.org.uk or on 020 8215 2275.

http://www.mind.org.uk/assets/0001/3119/march_survival_guide_2011.pdf