CADET'S GUIDE TO

National Healthy Minds Officer Lt Col Keith Walters shares

five ways that Army Cadets helps support happiness, wellbeing and good mental health.

Build connections

Feeling close to and valued by others is a basic human need; social relationships are critical to our wellbeing.

‘Being part of the Army Cadets is a good chance for you to build new friendships and a sense of belonging and camaraderie through teamwork activities,’ says Keith.

Stay active

Regular exercise releases stress and a feel-good hormone which can improve your mood and boost energy levels. It also helps you sleep better and can lower levels of anxiety and depression.

‘You don’t need to be a gym bunny or super fit to feel the positive benefits of exercise.

'Walking, dancing, skipping and team sports can all elevate your mood and Army Cadets keeps you active through drill, fieldcraft, shooting, navigation, expeditions and physical training.’

Take notice

We live in a digital age where many of us use our devices to socialise with friends, browse social media, watch TV and play games. The trouble is, we sometimes spend so much time online that we lose connection with the real world around us.

‘Army Cadets promotes mindfulness by encouraging you to live in the moment. You get absorbed in a wide range of different activities,’ says Keith. 'This helps your mental wellbeing by rooting you in your environment and focusing your brain on the job in hand.'

Healthy Minds

When we feel good on the inside, we are better prepared to handle stress or pain that comes our way.

Army Cadets understands the value of adopting a positive mindset and building personal resilience, which is why we focus on building Healthy Minds awareness into our adult training and cadet syllabus.

‘Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing,' says Keith. 'It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Through Army Cadets Healthy Minds we want to break down barriers, reduce stigma and promote mental health awareness.’

Army Cadets has collaborated with Young Minds to develop Healthy Minds Awareness courses for CFAVs which focus on supporting the mental health of young people. There’s also a senior cadet course about peer-to-peer mentoring. Look on Westminster for upcoming courses and book via your county or contingent.

Learn new skills

Army Cadets gives you the chance to learn new skills, such as drill and shooting, as well as externally accredited recognition through BTECs, awards and certificates. You also learn life skills like integrity, loyalty, teamwork, leadership and selfless commitment.

‘Army Cadets is a chance to learn new skills that will help boost your self-esteem, self-reliance and resilience,’ says Keith. ‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t excel in any specific subjects or sports: our syllabus gives you the chance to achieve, regardless of your background or ability.’

Research suggests that acts of kindness and giving can promote happiness and increase wellbeing. The Army Cadets community has over 72,000 cadets and 10,800 CFAVs committed to helping others. Community events you can get involved with include fundraising, helping local food banks, acts of remembrance, and learning and using first aid skills.

‘Giving is also about showing yourself self-compassion and being kind to yourself,’ explains Keith. ‘Avoid comparing yourself to others on social media as this can negatively impact your self-esteem. And remember, people only share their best moments on there – it’s not reality.’

Go further

Sometimes we feel we don’t have control over what we think or how we feel. The important thing is not to try and cope on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask your family, trusted friends, CFAVs or a professional service like Young Minds for help. Click here or scan the QR code to find out about Young Minds.