This month is Stress Awareness Month and the theme is ‘Community’. The Stress Management Society says that “Lack of support can cause loneliness and isolation, which in turn lowers people’s wellbeing, impacts mental health and can lead to mental illness. Social isolation is an important risk factor… As we emerge from the pandemic, it’s vital that the community support experienced by many people during this challenging time continues.” (Stress Management Society).

The rate of mental health problems in people with a learning disability and/or autism is up to double that of the general population (according to Mencap and Mind).

At bemix, Our Vision of a world where everyone can be seen, be heard and belong aims to reduce the isolation and segregation that many people with a learning difficulty and/or autism face. Until we achieve this vision, people with learning difficulties and/or autism continue to face these higher than average rates of mental ill health. 

Supporting and nurturing people's wellbeing is an important element of the work we do at bemix. Our Peer Support groups were set up in response to the pandemic (Read our news piece ‘Peer Support - Mental Health and Wellbeing’). Renamed in 2020, our ‘WellBEing Group’, meet online weekly. The time is spent supporting one another to share good news, discuss worries, and is an opportunity to relax and unwind with friends.

For Stress Awareness Month, we caught up with the group and asked how they felt about ‘community’, as well as isolation, stress and mental health.

When discussing the benefits of being in the WellBEing Group community, one group member said: "Not only do I feel comfortable letting out what I'm feeling, I feel heard, because if I'm being heard for what I'm expressing, it gives me more comfort and freedom to be open with what I want to say, which give me more confidence to speak without being judged."

 "Not only do I feel comfortable letting out what I'm feeling, I feel heard, because if I'm being heard for what I'm expressing, it gives me more comfort and freedom to be open with what I want to say, which give me more confidence to speak without being judged."

Reflecting on the relationship between Mental Health and isolation, one group member said "If I haven't had a good day I end up staying in my room."

When reminiscing about lockdowns during the pandemic, one person said "The restrictions were so tough."

One group member spoke about how he joins clubs to reduce the boredom of being on his own, such as swimming. He also volunteers, works and is involved with bemix.

Another person in the group had a recent experience of staying in hospital. When talking about how she coped during that time, she said "At the hospital I felt lonely… [I coped] through being open and honest [with the nurses] and having something to do to distract me."

Group Facilitator, Jess, said “Probably my favourite part of facilitating the WellBEing and Peer Support Groups is watching a community form between all of us. Each time the community is a little bit different, as different members join and leave the group, but one thing that is consistent is that, if we all practice non-judgement and leave space for one another to speak, people feedback that they feel heard and supported.  We may not be able to take each other's stress away but through listening and talking we can find new ways to cope and look at it in a different light.”

"We may not be able to take each other's stress away but through listening and talking we can find new ways to cope and look at it in a different light."

In line with our EPIC values, at bemix we are Equal, People, Involved, Co-Workers. Everyone feels heard, seen and that they belong and are valued as an individual. This is also our vision for the world. When people feel heard, seen and that they belong within a community, feelings of isolation and associated stress can be reduced. As per our Wider Values “Protecting people’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing is essential. We work in a way that protects people’s independence and choice, and encourages shared responsibility for health and safety.” By supporting each other through community, stress and linked rates of mental ill health, can be reduced.

Learn more about Wellbeing at bemix

Take a look at our Wellbeing News Stories