Mental Health Awareness Week

Top tips to cope with Loneliness – Gehad Mursi – Counselling Lead, The Junction

Many people can feel lonely for various reasons. Some individuals may feel lonely as the result of the restrictions and the lockdown of Covid-19, or moving to a new school and struggling to make friends, while others may feel lonely even when having lots of friends/people around them.

Here are some tips to help cope with loneliness:

·         Practise positive self-talk: Self-talk can determine how you feel about yourself – whether positive or negative. Firstly, notice any negative self-talk, then replace such negative self-talk with positive messages. This takes practice. The more you do it,  the easier it gets to change your mindset. So, notice, replace, then practise.

·         Express feelings: There is no one-rule-fits-all to expressing feelings. You may like to journal to express your emotions, or talk to a close friend you trust, or you may even like to express how you feel through music.

·         Take part in a hobby: If you don’t have a hobby yet, explore some options and try them. Find something fun to occupy your time. Netflix or sleeping isn’t the answer here 😊

However, taking pictures around nature or joining an Art workshop, for example, are good options.

·         Reach out: At The Junction, we provide professional Counselling to help young people overcome life’s challenges. Talk to us if you are struggling. We are here to provide you with the support you need.