We are very proud of the amount raised at the recent fundraiser for the Samaritans Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Category: Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Week
We at Thaliwal and Veja Solicitors shall be supporting, Mental Health Awareness Week, which starts from today until the 21st May 2023.
Time To Talk Day
We are pleased to support the upcoming Time to Talk Day on the 2nd of February 2023.
Mental Health Awareness
It is always important to raise awareness regarding Mental Health matters.
Daily Habits to Boost Mental Health
Tags – Boost Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health, but unfortunately, it is often overlooked.
Many people think that they don’t need to worry about their mental health until they start experiencing problems.
However, this isn’t the case.
Daily habits can play a huge role in maintaining your mental health, and in this blog post we will discuss some of the best ones!
The Importance of Good Mental Health
Mental health plays an important role in how you handle stress, relate to others and make key decisions – it encompasses how you think and feel and how well you cope with difficult situations.
When you don’t look after your mind, things can go out of control and cause issues in all areas of your life.
To put it simply, caring for your mental health can help to:
- Improve mood
- Reduce anxiety
- Think clearly
- Deepen connections and relationships
- Improve self esteem and confidence
However the effects aren’t just mental either: it can help manage physical health conditions that are worsened by stress such as heart disease.
Hence why building habits for better mental health will make a huge difference to your life overall.
5 Daily Habits to Boost Your Mental Health
Here are 5 daily habits you can incorporate into your life to keep yourself as healthy as possible, and help fight against the pitfalls of everyday stress.
1. Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is just as important as eating, drinking and breathing, and even going a couple of nights with bad sleep will have an impact on your mood, memory and thinking abilities.
As obvious as it sounds, sleep is important because it gives your body the opportunity to rest and your mind to reset.
So make sure you have an established sleep routine and stick to it – this means going to bed at a set time, and no TV or mobile phones!
In fact, keep the screens out of the bedroom all together – the brain is great at making connections, so your brain needs to connect your bedroom with sleep.
2. Think Positive
When we’re feeling down, it may seem as if being positive is an impossible task, but there’s a lot of evidence that suggests that positive thinking can have a significant impact on your mood, making you feel more cheerful and therefore enhancing your mood even more!
It’s a wonderful, blissful cycle that we should all do everything possible to join in.
Start small.
Every morning, affirm to yourself out loud that today will be a good day.
And when something good happens, notice it!
We’re all great at remembering the bad and forgetting the good, so focus on the positive events in your life, even if they’re minor.
Take notice of people and things that make you smile, a particularly delectable sandwich, or even something as little as washing the dishes.
Pay attention to them and remind yourself that they exist.
3. Eat Well and Exercise
As cliche as it sounds: “healthy body, healthy mind” is completely true.
As biological machines, if we use the wrong type of fuel or allow our joints to rust then everything else will be affected.
Now we’re not saying enter a triathlon, or eat an only-green diet. But even getting outside in the fresh air for 10 minutes to start with and getting your body moving will have a huge impact – exercise helps to release the feel good hormones serotonin and dopamine.
In terms of diet, try to avoid junk food and cut down on sugar and eat foods that are full of vital nutrients that will increase your overall well being and reduce anxiety and stress.
4. Find a Connection With Others
Social interaction plays a big part in being human.
And forming connections with others, be it family or friends, can help you combat the stressors of daily life.
However, it can sometimes still feel difficult to be honest about your mental health; we don’t always know how people will react, and that can be worrying.
But being honest with yourself, putting yourself out there, and seeking assistance is a significant component of remaining mentally healthy.
In other words, the best thing you can do for yourself is to be honest and open, and this could be as small as calling a friend to talk – but if you don’t feel comfortable doing so – finding an anonymous support group online.
Regardless of the path you choose, getting in touch with other individuals and seeking advice, support, and direction can be a gratifying and fulfilling experience.
5. Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude
Mindfulness is a strategy that helps you to attempt and focus on how you’re feeling right now; it focuses on physical sensations as well as emotional responses.
There is a mountain of evidence that suggests that regularly practising mindfulness allows us to let go of negative events from the past and future worries, as well as focus on our current experience.
Consider the actual feelings, noises, scents, or tastes of your daily routine; pay attention to how they make you feel and how your body and mind react.
Don’t attempt to conceal or flee from your feelings – simply acknowledge and understand them, and then move on.
If it doesn’t work right away, don’t worry; mindfulness is a skill that needs practice and time to master, but if you persevere, it will benefit you greatly.
On the other hand, gratitude is all about remembering the things you are thankful for in your life and helps you get in a positive mindset when you are feeling low.
That said, make some time each day to think about all the positives in your life (you could even write these down to refer back to).
Wrapping Up
By practising these daily habits, you’ll be on the right path to boost your mental health and reduce some of the stress that bogs you down every day.
But whilst these tips above can improve mental well being, they can’t “cure” any conditions, so if you are struggling, seek help – working with a therapist can be a powerful way to improve your mental health.
Finally, when it comes to adopting new habits, it’s more helpful to start with just one or two at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Want to know more? Please get in touch today.
In the meantime, take a look at our Court of Protection solicitors.
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Warning Signs of Depression: How to Spot the Symptoms
Tags – Signs of Depression
Depression is a serious mental illness that can impact people of all ages.
It’s not just about being unhappy; it can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair that can last for weeks or months at a time.
Unfortunately, depression can also lead to problems with concentration, sleep and appetite, and in severe cases, suicide.
If you are worried that you or someone you know may be suffering from depression, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms.
In this blog, we will take a look at some of the common warning signs of depression and how to get help if you need it.
6 Warning Signs of Depression
1. Helpless Outlook
Depression can affect the way someone feels about life in general, and having a helpless outlook on life is a very common symptom. Other similar feelings include:
- Not feeling worthy
- Self hate
- Inappropriate guilt
2. Issues With Sleep
You may stop doing things you like because you are tired.
Depression frequently comes with a loss of energy and an overpowering sense of tiredness and this might cause you to sleep too much.
On the other hand, depression and insomnia are frequently linked, with one occasionally leading to the other; they can also make each other worse.
Plus, other mental health disorders like anxiety may be worsened by a lack of good, restful sleep.
3. Feeling Irritable
People who are depressed may become irritated or furious over minor or insignificant issues. This frequently relates back to a person’s level of tension and fatigue, which makes it difficult to get through the day.
Irritability symptoms in men and women may manifest differently. Women often report experiencing anger one second, and then tearful the next.
Men’s depression may make them appear volatile or combative. A man’s failure to “get it together” and overcome depressive symptoms due to his gender-specific societal obligations might cause him to show irritability.
4. Lack of Concentration
From time to time, everyone has brain fog and forgetfulness.
Depression, on the other hand, frequently causes a person to be completely unfocused.
The inability to accomplish basic chores at work and at home is common among people who live with depression.
Plus, there may also be periods when the individual makes more mistakes than usual or has difficulty making decisions.
5. Change in Appetite
A person’s appetite may be significantly impacted by depression.
For some, depression can cause them to eat more, but for others, depression may cause them to lose their appetite entirely.
A change in appetite is a symptom that can have a detrimental influence on a person’s physical health, regardless of how depression affects his or her hunger.
Regardless of whether someone is able to reduce weight during a depressive episode, this method isn’t healthy. Keep in mind that depression may cause an increase in appetite and weight gain for some individuals.
6. Unexplained Pain
Not only does depression have an impact on a person’s mental health, but it may also have a detrimental influence on his or her physical health.
For instance, common warning signs of depression are the physical symptoms of unexplained aches and pains, with the most common complaints including joint pain, bloating, and backaches.
How to Get Help
If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of depression, it is important to seek help from a GP.
Depression is a serious condition that can be effectively treated with therapy, medication or a combination of both.
If you think you may be depressed, the first step is to schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms.
Once you have been diagnosed with depression, your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific needs.
If you are worried about someone close to you, there are a few things you can do to help them get the support they need.
First, try talking to them about how they are feeling and see if they are open to discussing their mental health. If they are not ready to talk about it, there are other ways you can support them. You can offer to go with them to their doctor’s appointment or help them look for resources and information about depression.
For more information, please get in touch today.
In the meantime, check out our Court of Protection Solicitors here.
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How to Make Payments under a Lasting Power of Attorney
Tags – Making Payments under a Lasting Power of Attorney
When you’ve been appointed as someone’s Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), there are two main sides.
On one hand, you have the authority to make very critical decisions on that person’s behalf – something which could be detrimental if they can’t do this themselves.
On the other hand, you have a wide range of responsibilities, where you’re expected to act in that person’s best interests and not to abuse your powers.
If you have been named as the power of attorney for a loved one, it is important that you know how to make payments and manage their affairs.
After all, your friend or family member who has granted the LPA has put all of their trust in you. This can be a lot of responsibility, but with the right information, it can be a breeze.
In this blog post, we will outline the basics of making payments and managing affairs under a lasting power of attorney.
Lasting Power of Attorney
An LPA differs from an ordinary power of attorney as:
- you can make separate LPAs: one which looks after the health and care decisions and one to look after property and financial affairs
- an LPA has to be registered before it can be used
- an LPA allows you choose people to look after your affairs if you lose mental capacity
When to Make a LPA
Anyone can make an LPA if they ever suffer mental impairment, but this can only be made whilst you are still capable of making your own decisions.
If you have been diagnosed with, or believe you may develop, an illness that might prevent you from making decisions for yourself at some point in the future, you should also complete an LPA.
The following are examples of illnesses that might prevent you from making your own decisions:
- Dementia
- Mental health problems
- Brain injury
- Alcohol or drug misuse
- The side-effects of medical treatment
Types of LPA
There’s two types of LPA:
- Property and finance; and
- Health and welfare
Property and Financial Affairs
A property and financial affairs LPA has the authority to make decisions about things like:
- Buying or selling property
- Bank, building society and other financial accounts
- Welfare benefits or tax credits
- Tax affairs
- Debts
- Making payments or gifts
Property and financial matters can be delegated, such as giving them power of attorney to manage all of your property and financial affairs or just certain things, such as operating a bank account, buying and selling real estate, or changing investments.
If you want to create an LPA that only deals with specific issues, make sure it’s drawn up.
Before you can make use of a property and financial affairs LPA, it must be filed with the court. You do not, however, have to wait until someone loses their mental capacity before using it.
As soon as a property and financial affairs LPA is registered, it becomes effective. This means that the attorney will be able to take action regarding your property and financial affairs immediately, even if you are still capable of making your own decisions. If you don’t want the attorney to have power over your affairs immediately, make sure the LPA allows it.
Making Payments or Gifts
In addition to selling Attorneys selling property, making payments or gifts is arguably one of the most common powers to abuse.
However, if you don’t fulfil your responsibilities, it might result in significant financial and legal ramifications.
Furthermore, a lack of understanding of these obligations is no defence – all attorneys are held accountable to the highest standards.
As such, it’s all the more vital to understand what is expected of you. It should be noted that the powers you have as an attorney depend on the type of LPA you’ve been granted; remember there are two kinds:
- Property and finance; and
- Health and welfare
In order to make payments or gifts on the donor’s behalf, you need to have been granted a property and finance LPA. If you have only been granted a health and welfare LPA, you do not have the authority to make any decisions regarding the donor’s money.
Sometimes, both types of LPA are granted, so check the terms under which you act to determine how much you can do.
Your Duties as an Attorney
As we mentioned earlier, an attorney must always act in the best interests of the donor.
Therefore, any payments or gifts made must be sincere and in their best interest.
By best interests, this doesn’t mean “self-interest”; there are more things to take into account than simply what would benefit the donor.
For instance, giving gifts to people who the donor may have been expected to support. The rules governing gift-giving are far more stringent than those that apply to paying for goods or services, i.e. gifts can be made on occasions like births, marriages, or birthdays etc., and only to those people who are closely connected with the donor. The amount should also be appropriate in terms of the circumstances of the gift and the donor’s financial position.
Please contact us today to find out more.
Check our Court of Protection Solicitors here in the meantime.
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Mental Capacity (Welfare) Accreditation
We are delighted to announce that Rakesh Veja has completed the accreditation process and is now an Accredited Legal Representative (ALR) for health and welfare proceedings in the Court of Protection. This means that he can be appointed by the court to represent those assessed as lacking capacity.
What Every Caregiver Needs to Know About the Mental Capacity Act 2005
Tags – Caregiver Mental Capacity Act 2005
If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, it is important that you understand the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Briefly speaking, this act was put into place to protect the rights of adults who may not be able to make decisions for themselves.
In this blog, we will discuss what the Mental Capacity Act 2005 covers and how it can help caregivers and their loved ones.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a law that protects the rights of adults who may not be able to make decisions for themselves.
Simply, it applies in England and Wales where an adult (aged 18 or over) lacks capacity because they have a disability, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
And this means they are unable to understand information given to them by others, or retain this information long enough to use it when making decisions on their own behalf.
Unfortunately, mental impairment can be caused by illness or accidents, which makes communication difficult.
For example, stroke victims with aphasia; deaf people without hearing aids; blind people etc. Here, such persons can still give valid consent if prompted appropriately, but will need help working out what might happen in any given situation before they make a decision about what happens next.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Caregivers
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 protects people who are unable to make decisions for themselves and allows them to be helped or looked after by others, including their caregivers.
In addition, this act also sets out when someone can legally give consent on behalf of another person (e.g. if it is not possible for the person to do so).
In these circumstances, a carer needs to have permission from an attorney acting in accordance with a Lasting Power Of Attorney, registered at the Court Of Protection in order to provide such assistance as may be required.
Sometimes, this may mean actually making some decisions which might normally require personal direction by law.
For instance, where there is no living will, registering advance decisions about end of life treatment preferences or to agree with medical treatment.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Court of Protection
Lasting Powers Of Attorney registered at The Court of Protection under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005, allow a carer (or other named attorney) to manage the affairs of an elderly loved one who may not have capacity in certain circumstances.
For example, where they are disabled from making some types of decision due perhaps having dementia or Alzheimer’s disease which makes communication difficult
Best Practices
To ensure that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is used correctly there are some key principles to follow when making decisions on behalf of someone else:
- The person has been offered all reasonable assistance to do so; this could include offering practical support or using aids such as hearing aids etc.
- They have been given all relevant information about what will happen and why
- They have been given a chance to discuss things with those involved and understand what is happening
- They are able to refuse any treatment or decision
- Their decision must be independent and acted upon, unless you are acting as an attorney appointed through Lasting Power Of Attorney or Enduring Power Of Attorney document registered under Mental Capacity Act 2005
The Mental Health Act 2005 allows those with mental illness which impairs communication ability despite having capacity (or lack of it) to be detained under the Mental Health Act for treatment until such time as they may regain mental capacity.
Please get in touch to find out more.
Take a look at our Court of Protection Solicitors, in the meantime.
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8 Easy Ways To Practice Self-Care for Your Mental Health
Tags – Self-Care for Mental Health
With work, friends and family commitments usually taking priority, it’s very easy to focus your energy on making sure everyone around you is happy and forgetting about yourself.
However, it’s critical you set aside some time to focus on number one: YOU!
Otherwise you risk compromising your mental health, and may find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, depressed and so on.
That said, it’s important to practice self care every day.
To put it simply, self-care is where you can identify your needs and desires, then take small steps to meet those.
And this can range from something as simple as taking a shower to something a little tasking like working out.
Whilst this may sound simple, if you’re suffering from mental health, doing this seems a lot harder.
The reason being, people suffering with mental health can often experience poor motivation, low energy and fatigue.
Other symptoms include withdrawal, isolation, lack of desire to do pleasure things, poor focus, concentration and memory.
And with all these symptoms, a mental health cirsi can prevent you from engaging in positive acts of self care.
Before we jump into how you can practice self care, please keep in mind that it doesn’t mean spending lots of money on yourself or making huge life changes.
Rather, it can be as simple as remembering to get fresh air or eating properly.
So, here are 8 easy ways you can practice self-care for your mental health.
1. Establish a Sleep Routine
When you’re super busy, it’s very easy to let your sleep go.
However, a good night’s sleep is essential for your wellbeing, as well as boosting your physical performance, regulating your appetite, improving your focus and productivity.
That said, make sure you prioritise your sleep, rather than binge-watching a TV show, and if you can go to sleep at the same time every night – even better!
2. Eat Healthily
Eating well is the best form of self-care.
When you’re running around all day, it’s very easy to miss important meals.
And if you go too long without eating, you’re not feeding your body enough nutrients, which means your brain won’t function at its best.
Plus, if you cook your own meals, this is a great way to relax and unwind.
Simply, nourish your body and mind by learning to cook foods you enjoy, and eating 7 portions of fruit and vegetables has been proven to boost happiness and mental wellbeing.
3. Take Breaks
It’s important you set some time out of your day to focus on yourself.
Even if it’s just a quick 15 minute walk alone, getting some fresh air can work wonders for your mood.
On the other hand, it’s also good practice to plan a minibreak as well – even if it’s something as simple as heading to the nearest beach or nature reserve.
Simply, having something to look forward to can help keep your eyes on the horizon and spirits up.
4. Exercise
It’s no surprise that exercise has a positive effect on both physical and mental health.
Studies show that people who exercise daily report 1.5 fewer days off a month.
And if exercise is not your thing, don’t worry!
You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic to benefit; just 20 minutes of walking or riding a bike will release hormones like serotonin and endorphins, which can immediately boost your mood.
5. Indulge in Essential Oils
When you inhale essential oils, this stimulates the olfactory system; the part of the brain connected to smell.
And this influences the limbic system, which is responsible for your behavioural and emotional responses.
In particular, citrus scents have been found to soothe stress and anxiety.
So consider buying a diffuser bottle, or add a few drops to a hot bath for a steaming effect.
6. Meditation
Meditation is very popular for a reason: it can have a huge impact on your wellbeing, both while you’re practicing and in your day-to-day life.
To start off, you don’t need to sit in a trance for hours to start reaping the benefits.
Rather, start off with just 10 minutes a day, which will help to release any stress or tension you may be feeling.
The same can be said for yoga too; learn a few simple salutations and practice them each morning.
7. Learn to Say No
When you prioritise everyone but yourself, you’ll probably find yourself constantly saying yes.
And often you don’t actually have the capacity to help them.
But saying yes all the time can lead to anxiety, stress and eventually burnout.
Unfortunately, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
So, learn to say no.
And once you practice declining, you’ll not only feel empowered, but you’ll have more time to focus on yourself.
8. Crack a Joke
You may have heard the saying before: laughter is the best medicine.
And it’s not a lie!
A good laugh can help boost your immune system and release the body’s feel-good chemicals, endorphins, as well as relieving tension and stress.
If you don’t want to do this alone, laugh with others which can help you feel more connected to them, and as a result, have a profound effect on your mental health.
Wrapping Up
To wrap up, practising self care is an effective way to combat poor mental health, and it’s a crucial part of recovery and rehabilitation.
After all, managing your mental health is not just about medication or therapy. There are many triggers that vary between people.
So if there are small things you can do every day that will help manage feelings of anxiety, stress or anger, then this will go a long way in helping you feel more control of your life and your mental health.
Get in touch today to find out more.
Take a look at our Court of Protection Solicitors, in the meantime.
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