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thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat
6200 posts

Mental wellbeing
Mar 25, 2020, 09:49
I know many of us will find the extraordinary situation hard to deal with, particularly if you can't get outside or have particular health or finance worries.

My employer has sent us a "mental health toolkit". A lot of it is work-specific, but the following may be of use to someone here, so I hope the Mods don't mind me sharing this (sorry I don't know how to do the links properly):

Self help

Looking after our mental health is just as important as looking after our physical health. Even with a mental health condition there are still things you can do to look after your mental health. The five ways to wellbeing gives some ideas on how to improve wellbeing. Sometimes seen as
the equivalent of eating five portions of fruit/vegetables for physical health, the five ways to wellbeing (https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/five-ways-to-wellbeing/) encourages actions to maintain good mental health in the following areas:

· Connect – with people around you. Building relationship which will support you be it with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.

· Take Notice – being aware of your thoughts and feelings. Being in the moment.

· Be Active – building activity into your daily life. Not just exercise but simple things like going for a walk.

· Keep Learning – learning new skills or trying new things. Could be as simple as reading a book.

· Give – Giving back to others such as volunteering or doing something for someone else.

It’s just as important to look after our physical health too as that can also impact on our mental health. Keeping a healthy weight (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/) , eating well (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/), being physically active (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/) and getting plenty of sleep (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/) are just as key for helping our mental health.

GP

If you are concerned about your mental health, you should seek advice from your GP at the earliest opportunity. They will be able to discuss your symptoms and concerns and provide the appropriate advice and treatment if required.

Samaritans

SAMARITANS (call 116 123) – can provide a safe space for you if you need someone to talk to. You don’t have to be suicidal to contact the Samaritans (available 24/7, 365 days a year). https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Information about conditions:

NHS choices https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/low-mood-and-depression/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

Looking after your mental wellbeing: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/

NHS Audio Guides in the’ Mood Zone’ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/moodzone-mental-wellbeing-audio-guides/

Mental Health foundation

How to Look after your Mental Health https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health

How to overcome fear and anxiety https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/overcome-fear-anxiety

Support for specific groups (LGBTQ, BAME, Older people, younger people and children) https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/peer-support/peer-support-for-specific-groups/#.XFKwetJLG-t

Online Apps Headspace – https://www.headspace.com/ Insight Timer – https://insighttimer.com/ Has more than 4,000 guided meditations alongside talks and podcasts. Also includes an option to set a timer for quieter meditation with ambient music or bells.

Aura – https://www.aurahealth.io/ A new personalised, three minute meditation every day (it never repeats). The initial set up asks for some basic personal information to enable the personalisation, and you can save any meditations that you like.

Simple Habit – https://www.simplehabit.com/ A meditation App for busy people. Five minute meditations to reduce stress, improve focus, improve sleep and relax faster.

Enso – http://www.ensomeditationtimer.com/ Meditation timer with bell.

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