JustMates

According to the NSPCC, “Bullying is behaviour that hurts someone else. It includes name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening or undermining someone. It can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.”

Hosts: Sam Mitchell & Nafees Akhtar 

Maintaining positive energy involves more than merely thinking happy thoughts. It is the anticipation of good and it is the belief that all things will work out favourably in the end. In this episode we focus on the positive elements of life and how bad things...well... don’t always end up so bad after all. There’s lessons to be learnt around every corner. Instead of saying, “why is this happening to me?”, try to think “why wouldn’t this happen to me?” We know in most difficult situations that this is mostly quite hard to turn into practice. We struggle to take our own advice and that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up.

Hosts: Sam Mitchell & Nafees Akhtar 

We must issue this episode with a warning that content in this podcast is explicit and may be unsuitable for some viewers.

This podcast was majorly difficult to record for both of us.

When people look at us doing a podcast, they might assume that we know all the tips and tricks to keep on top of mental health. The reality is, we are equally as ill prepared as the majority of people when it comes to dealing with these issues. It takes a lot of courage to come forth and speak about these issues, which in return helped one of us begin to heal from trauma. This episode details an experience of recent self-harm and the reason as to why it came to that point. Please do not think that this episode is a cry for help, it's not. We recorded this to show our audience that it's ok to speak up and get help. It's ok to not feel ok. Some days are bright and some are dark. There's always light at the end of the tunnel. Share your experiences with others and seek professional help when necessary. Message us if you are also struggling with self harm.

Hosts: Sam Mitchell & Nafees Akhtar 

Setting goals trigger new behaviours, helps guides your focus and helps you sustain that momentum in life. Whether your goals are short or long term, they will deliver you structure to help shape you as an individual. Simply put, goals give you a starting point and a destination. To reach that destination, you often have to make sacrifices in other areas. Therefore it is vital to set goals that align with who you want to become. We hope you enjoy this episode! 

Hosts: Sam Mitchell & Nafees Akhtar 

We can't believe we're at episode 20! Celebrations all round 🎉🍾 It feels like just yesterday that we came up with the concept of Just Mates Podcast 👀 Now we're 20 weeks in and have been consistently uploading every single Friday! 📆 It's been a crazy journey so far, but we've only just begun 📈 We've had some truly amazing guests and discussed numerous crucial topics in the world of mental health 👥 To keep things simple, this a video which encapsulates the past 19 episodes👌 Use this video as a focal point to discover any video content you might like! 📱 If you've been tuning in every week, we'd really appreciate if you'd be an advocate for our cause and share our page! We could be just one share away from breaking the internet, you never know 😉

As most of you know, being a parent is no easy task. According to the CPAG, the cost of raising a child (excluding housing, childcare and council tax) from birth to 18 is now: £75,436 for a couple family. £102,627 for a single parent/guardian. That may seem black and white, but it is something potential parents must consider before bringing a life into this world. We always want to make improvements to our child's life based on our childhood experience.  We suggest you must be in a positive mental state before having a child. Perhaps you want to be in the perfect location to raise children so that their environment is safe and supportive. Maybe you want your relationship with your spouse to be solid enough so that your kids learn what a loving family truly can be. Obviously, there is no perfect time to have kids. But we strongly suggest you are in the right state in your life to make that decision. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Just Mates Podcast.

Hosts: Sam Mitchell & Nafees Akhtar

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. SAD can affect you during any season or time of year, but it is most common during the winter months as there is less sunlight. Interestingly enough, when light hits the back of your eye, messages go to the part of your brain that controls sleep, appetite, sex drive, temperature, mood and activity. If there isn't enough light, these functions can slow down and gradually stop. This leads to a disrupted body clock, high melatonin levels and being uncomfortable in colder temperatures. If you have SAD, you might experience some symptoms such as lack of energy, finding it hard to concentrate, sleep problems, diet changes and other symptoms of depression. What can you do to help alleviate these symptoms? Expose yourself to as much sunlight as possible during the day. Peer support, talk therapy and keeping a diary of your mood can be a huge support. Include a structure to your day and create tasks for yourself. Eat and sleep well, maybe even purchase a light clock or seek medication such as SSRIs (Anti-depressants). Remember that this coming Autumn and Winter will be increasingly difficult, bearing in mind the situation with COVID. It is vital that you look after yourself and prepare for the months ahead. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Just Mates Podcast.

Buildings and the environment can affect our senses, moods, emotions and behavior. This is exactly why good quality design, colours and the use of nature is so important for our mental health.

Hosts: Sam Mitchell & Nafees Akhtar

Overthinking is just part of everyday life. You might worry about things like health, money, or family issues. Excessive thinking is linked to numerous psychological problems, like depression and anxiety. Thus, it is at the core of many mental health issues we face today. We often fail to recognise that we are addicted to thinking. Your mind will have a tendency to snowball one thought into another, causing more excessive thinking which exacerbates to original issue presented in your head. Think of your mind like a balloon. Your thoughts represent the air and the physical material (the balloon itself) being your head. If you fill that balloon with too much air, it will eventually pop. This is not to say you're going to actually explode... but in real terms, it could mean you have a mental breakdown or other issues consequentially become present such as depression. It is therefore up to you to let go of some of that air (thoughts) and ensure your head doesn't get overwhelmed. So, what can we do about it? We recommend finding a focus point to concentrate your mental energy so your mind doesn't wander into oblivion. Whether this is meditation, a hobby, going for a walk or even socialising, you might find that a distraction once in a while can help put your mind into order. We acknowledge that the topic is rather broad, but the core of the topic is something that needs to be addressed. Now, for a philosophical question... who is it that is aware that I am thinking? Are you really your thoughts? Let us know your thoughts. We hope you enjoy this episode.

The rise of social media has meant that we are now connected more than we have ever been before. The speed and exchange of information has numerous ways of benefitting us. From keeping us updating with what's going on in the world, from sharing our ideas, to connecting with the right people. However, social media can be counterproductive to our mental health. Issues such as anxiety, isolation, self-esteem, flash connection, sleep and desensitisation. As young males, we must become aware of the raising concern regarding instant gratification stemmed from consistent use of social platforms. It's hard to recognise that some of the most beautiful and rewarding things in life take patience. Let's be aware of how social media can impact your mental stability and move forward.