Page 20 - QARANC Vol 19 No 2 2021

18 The Gazette QARANC Association
Tea and Toast – the military act of kindness... reducing isolation
You may recognise the expression ‘it is better to give than receive’ but did you know this is backed up by research?
People who are kind and compassionate see clear benefits to their wellbeing and happiness. They may even live longer. Kindness can also help reduce stress and improve our emotional wellbeing (Curry 2018, Post 2014). We all have so much going on in our lives, which is only made worse by the current COVID-19 pandemic. This can see kindness pushed to one side, in favour of what is urgent or trending now.
It can be easy to signal kindness by posting online and following a trend, but harder to commit to kindness in our daily words and actions. But if we take the time to be kind to other people, we can reap the emotional dividends. It can
really make a difference and especially for people who are vulnerable or struggling.
So why would sharing
tea and toast help
with mental health?
‘Tea and Toast’ is a social
activity that reduces
isolation and we all know that in the military it is where the real business is done. According to researchers from University College Dublin (2012), socialising can reduce symptoms of depression: ‘Increased social interaction helps sufferers to rebuild their self-esteem which in turn enables them to maintain and develop positive relationships and friendships.’ Decreased social interaction produces the counter effect, as it leads to a state of stress and unhappiness which can prove to be detrimental to our health.
Making connections with people, on the other hand, can reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation and anxiety. There is nothing more comforting than knowing that you can confide in someone you trust when you’re feeling low. Unleashing your deepest worries, angers and fears can prove to be extremely therapeutic, and let’s admit it; we all enjoy a good rant (it’s the soldier’s prerogative!). Feeling supported by others can do wonders for our confidence and self-esteem, which allows us to feel happier overall.
Tea is of course, best drunk from a QA mug!
Kindness can also help reduce stress and improve our emotional wellbeing
Now who wouldn’t want that?
As well as the social aspect, tea and toast is one of the most enjoyable and easy things you can eat, and
drink and this enjoyment influences your body too. Think about it. Your brain works hard 24/7. It is always ‘on.’ It takes care of your thoughts and movements, your breathing and heartbeat, your senses, even while you’re asleep. This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That ‘fuel’ comes from the foods you eat, and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.
Eating food that you
enjoy stimulates the release
of Serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that helps
regulate sleep and appetite,
mediate moods, and inhibit
pain. Since about 95% of
your Serotonin is produced
in your gastrointestinal tract,
and your gastrointestinal
tract is lined with millions of
nerve cells, it makes sense
that your digestive system doesn’t just help you digest food, but also guides your emotions.
This may sound implausible, but food affects your mood and energy level.
‘Tea and Toast’ is a cornerstone of military management. It is also an effective socialising tool that can help improve the emotions of those in attendance by the release of Serotonin. It is still the one place where things get done! Let’s hope that, as we see an easing of restrictions and the chance of social interactions increasing, the time-honoured tradition of ‘Tea and Toast’ returns!
Captain Neil Gilbert
Senior Nursing Officer, Sennelager
References:
Curry O S, Rowland L A, Van Lissa C J, Zlotowitz S, McAlaney J, Whitehouse H. Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2018, 76:320–9. Post S. (2014) It’s Good To Be Good: 2014 Biennial Scientific Report on Health, Happiness, Longevity, and Helping Others. Int J Pers Cent Med. 2014, 2:1–53. University College Dublin. “Socialising helps to alleviate symptoms of depression.” www.ucd.ie, 2012, https://www.ucd.ie/ news/2012/06JUN12/130612-Socialising- helps-to-alleviate-symptoms-of- depression.html. Accessed 26th March 2021.
Further Reading:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/kindness-
matters-guide https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional- psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626
what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood