Mental health and wellbeing is about how we think and feel. Good mental health and wellbeing helps us enjoy life and cope well with life’s challenges.
Our mental health and wellbeing goes up and down. It can be affected by life events including work stress or problems with family or friends.
It is normal to feel happy when something good happens, feel angry or sad when something bad happens, or to be scared or anxious if something is worrying you. Part of keeping good mental health is being aware of the difference between your normal emotions and feelings, and those that you may need extra support with for example major life events.
No matter what challenges we face, there are simple things we can all do EVERY DAY to look after and improve our mental health & wellbeing and build coping skills.
There are many reasons why physical activity is good for your body – having a healthy heart and improving your joints and bones are just two, but did you know that physical activity is also beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing?
Our Recommendations
Good sleep doesn’t just mean lots of sleep but the right kind of sleep. Sleep affects our ability to use language, sustain attention, understand what we are reading, and summarise what we are hearing; if we compromise on our sleep, we compromise our performance, mood, and interpersonal relationships.
Our Recommendations
Many of us have learned to bottle things up inside us and try to ignore uncomfortable feelings. It can take a lot of courage to tell someone else about how we’re really feeling. Just talking things through with someone we trust can help and feel like a relief.
Our Recommendations
Taking time off for relaxation is vital to help your mind and body switch off from the pressures of school, college, work or home and family. A break can be really helpful to refocus your attention if you experience brain fog or feel absent-minded. Taking a moment to recharge alone gives you time to reflect on yourself and understand why you are feeling the way you are.
Our Recommendations
Make time for doing the fun things you enjoy. If you like going for a walk, reading or watching a favourite TV show, try to set aside time to do this regularly. If we don’t spend time doing things we enjoy, we can become irritable and unhappy.
Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Group activities like team sports can improve communication skills and relationships too.
Knowing what foods we should and shouldn’t be eating can be really confusing, especially when it feels like the advice changes regularly. However, evidence suggests that as well as affecting our physical health, what we eat may also affect the way we feel.
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We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.
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There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face to face, but that’s not always possible. You can also give them a call, drop them a note, or chat to them online instead. Keep the lines of communication open: it’s good for you!
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Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closers together. Helping others isn’t just good for the people you’re helping: it is good for you too! Doing things for other people can raise your self-esteem.
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Sometimes things can get on top of us and we find it more difficult to cope. It is important not to try to cope on your own. We all need help sometimes. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Some of the people you can turn to may include family and friends, people you work with, your GP and support helplines.
Once you have decided who you feel most comfortable talking to choose a good time and a place where you will not be interrupted. It may help to make some notes about what you want to say to help you remember.
There are various other supportive organisations; please refer to the support directory on our website.