Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but the 10th of October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your wellbeing.
We all need to take care of our mental health and wellbeing whether we have a mental health problem or not. Mental wellbeing describes how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day-to-day life. It can change from moment to moment, day to day, month to month or year to year.
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life:
Connect
Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. You can learn more about connecting for mental wellbeing here.
Keep Learning
Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?
Be Active
You don’t have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
Give To Others
Even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. More significant acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.
Be Mindful
Be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
If you would like to know how you can get involved and make a difference for World Mental Health Day, check out the Mental Health Foundation Website.