Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us
As the organisation’s Mental Health Champion, I see every day how mental wellbeing underpins everything we do. Promoting mental health awareness isn’t just about talking openly; it’s about taking meaningful action in the areas where it matters most.
For Yorkshire Adoption Agency (YAA), this means supporting adopters, empowering staff, and equipping families with the knowledge they need to thrive.
Caring for Yourself: Supporting Adopter Wellbeing
Supporting our adopters to prioritise their self‑care is a vital starting point. Parenting, particularly through adoption, requires emotional resilience, patience and consistency.
We know that adopters who struggle with their own wellbeing can quickly feel overwhelmed. Within our REAL (Resilient, Empathic, Accepting & Loving) Therapeutic Parenting training course, we actively encourage adopters to reflect on their self‑care.
We reinforce the message that looking after your mental health is not a luxury – it’s part of being kind to yourself and having the permission to listen to what your mind and body needs. Resilient adopters are better able to respond to challenges, manage stress and offer the stability children need to feel safe and secure. You can’t pour from an empty cup!
Supporting Each Other: Creating a Culture of Care at Work
Equally important is creating a workplace where staff feel genuinely supported. Our team at YAA are passionate and committed, often working in emotional situations. That’s why wellbeing check‑ins are a core part of staff monthly supervisions.
When line managers routinely ask how someone is really doing, it normalises conversations about mental health and helps identify issues early. These check‑ins are simple, but powerful. They signal that mental health matters and they help create a culture of trust, openness and compassion.
Supporting Children: Building Confidence Around Mental Health
Finally, YAA is committed to building adopters’ confidence in supporting their children’s mental health. Children may not always have the words to express how they feel, which is why recognising early signs of depression, anxiety or food‑related difficulties is so crucial.
I created our Mental Health Awareness module to give adopters practical knowledge and clear guidance on what to look for and how to respond. By increasing understanding and confidence, we empower adopters to act early, seek support when needed and reduce the risk of mental health difficulties escalating.
From Awareness to Action: Making Wellbeing Part of Everyday Practice
Mental health awareness must be lived, not just discussed. By embedding it into how we support adopters and manage staff, I feel we are creating an organisation that truly puts wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Leonie