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Category: Friends

Exercise, mental health and social distancing

Posted on by eve

Exercise is good for our physical and mental health. It has been really important to look after all aspects of our health during the pandemic.

For some of us, the word exercise can be off putting. However, it simply means to be active. It doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or taking part in competitive team sports.

We can view exercise as any activity that gets our body moving, increases our heart rate and breathing. Read more about how exercise can impact mental health.

However we choose to be active, it’s really important we remember to follow the guidelines on social distancing.

Coming out about your sexuality

Posted on by eve

Whether it’s your first time coming out, or your hundredth, it can be both a daunting and liberating time.

Coming out begins with coming out to ourselves. We need to allow time to explore and discover who we are physically, romantically and sexually attracted to. Here are some tips that can be helpful to remember.

Watch: Concerned about being left behind

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When a group of friends head off in different directions after finishing school, it is easy to feel concerned about being left behind.

Jigsaw volunteers Sam, Nicola and Rachel, with Youth and Community worker Sinead, talk about how they feel about leaving their school friends as they head off on new adventures.

Watch: Worried about making friends

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After not clicking with people in first year, Jess, Jigsaw Volunteer talks to Conor, Jigsaw Clinician about heading back to college and being worried about making friends all over again.

Conor explains that when we have had bad experiences with friendships, picking ourselves back up it can be challenging. We might be feeling rejected, or a bit hopeless about meeting new people.

Watch: How to start a conversation

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Eimear, Jigsaw volunteer, asks for advice about how to start a conversation in a new situation, for example when starting a new course.

Jigsaw works with many young people who go to a class, society meetings or football training and still feel lonely. This is because they find it really hard to talk to someone. So they’re going, but not connecting. That can be really hard and there’s not a simple fix.

When we’ve gone through difficult experiences like being bullied, or have had negative relationships, we can start to believe unhelpful things. We can start to believe “no one would want to speak to me” or “I’m not good enough for people to talk to”.

Being there for friends while social distancing

Posted on by eve

Disruptions caused by the pandemic changed life as we know it. We were challenged to accept the uncertainty of the moment.

Focusing on what is within our control helped with the stress we may have felt.

We can, fortunately, control how we maintain our connections and friendships with others. Covid may have made us more aware of our vulnerabilities. However, we have also been able to find new ways to connect and care for the people in our lives. 

From singing across balconies to neighbourhood volunteer groups, people across the globe found ways to connect.