The two wolves

If you haven’t seen “Our mental health crisis’ on BBC iPlayer then this is a must watch for anyone with teenagers, in healthcare or in the education space.

Alex George is an A&E doctor and the first youth mental health ambassador. His programme ‘Our mental health crisis’ on BBC iPlayer is a frank and honest report of the crisis that is going on in young people and the importance of early intervention.

This is something we are so passionate about.

Stopping things early.

Giving young people a tool box for their teenage years and dealing with any issues as they emerge not once they have taken hold.

Lack of resources, a stretched education sector , an overwhelmed healthcare system and difficult access are meaning that is often only in a crisis or when a problem is so deep seated that young people are accessing help. 

This is really important stuff.

During the programme you get to meet his incredible family who live just down the road from us in Carmarthen.

I am a GP literally half an hour from where they live. They could be my patients and I have many like them

This was the last photo of them as a family before his younger brother very sadly took his own life.

This extract spoken by his mother is a powerful story. Read, read and read again.

“Within each of us there are two wolves.

A wolf that lives on the plains with the wind in its face and the sun on its back and a wolf that lives in the forest in the darkness the shadows and the doubts.

Each day, within each of us these two wolves meet at the edge of the forest and fight.

Which one wins?

That is easy.

The one that you feed.

If you find yourself dwelling on what you can’t do, past mistakes, worries about the future or doubting yourself you are feeding the wolf from the forest. STOP.

Feed the wolf from the plains with positivity, living the day, exercise, practicing mindfulness.

Watch out for the black wolf with your friends and family and share this story with them and stay away from the forest yourself.”

This is a great illustration of understanding our immediate emotions to try and make healthy choices in our thoughts.

We all feed both of these wolves everyday and they both need feeding in the right way to keep balance.

Recognising, acknowledging and giving the basic needs to the wolf in the forest keeps it in check as it is only trying to protect you. The last thing you want is for him to be hiding around every corner ready to jump out and fight, steal food and fight even more.

We can choose how to interact with these wolves, these opposite forces, mind monkeys, inner critics or whatever you want to call them.

Keep them in check and give them a wide berth.

Look after yourselves and those around you.

Watch here. BBC iPlayer 'Our Young Mental Health Crisis'