What is mental health & wellbeing and why is it important?
Mental health and well-being is about how we think and feel. Good mental health and well-being help us enjoy life and cope well with life’s challenges.
Our mental health and well-being 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.Tips for improving your mental wellbeing
There are lots of things we can try to take care of our wellbeing. But it’s not always easy to start. You might find it helpful to:
– only try what feels comfortable
– give yourself time to figure out what works for you, going at your own pace
– take small steps. Pick one or two things that feel achievable at first, before moving on to try other ideas.
5 steps to mental wellbeing
Most of us know when we are mentally and physically well, but sometimes we need a little extra support to keep well.
There are five simple steps that may help maintain and improve your wellbeing. Try to build these into your daily life – think of them as your ‘five a day’ for wellbeing.
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5 ways to wellbeing
Websites
5 steps to mental wellbeing – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
5 Ways to Wellbeing | Mind – MindConnect
Connect with the people around you: family, friends, colleagues and neighbours at home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these relationships as the cornerstones of your life and spend time developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day. Try to do something different today and make a connection.
– Talk to someone instead of sending an email
– =Speak to someone new
– Ask how someone’s weekend was and really listen when they tell you
– Put five minutes aside to find out how someone really is
– Give a colleague a lift to work or share the journey home with them.
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5 ways to wellbeing – ConnectBe active
Go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden or dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Exercise is essential for slowing age-related cognitive decline and for promoting well-being. Today, why not get physical? Here are a few ideas:
– Take the stairs not the lift
– Walk into work – perhaps with a colleague – so you can ‘connect’ as well
– Get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the final part of your journey to work
– Have a kick-about in a local park
– Do some ‘easy exercise’, like stretching, before you leave for work in the morning
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5 ways to wellbeing – Be activeTake notice
Be observant, look for something beautiful or remark on something unusual. Savour the moment, whether you are on a bus or in a taxi, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you. Here are a few ideas:
– Get a plant for your workspace
– Have a ‘clear the clutter’ day
– Take notice of how your colleagues are feeling or acting
– Take a different route on your journey to or from work
– Visit a new place for lunch.
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5 ways to wellbeing – Take noticeKeep learning
Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. Take on a different responsibility. Set a challenge you will enjoy. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do. The practice of setting goals, which is related to adult learning in particular, has been strongly associated with higher levels of wellbeing.
Why not learn something new today? Here are a few more ideas:
– Find out something about your colleagues
– Sign up for a class
– Read the news or a book
– Set up a book club
– Do a crossword or Sudoku
– Research something you’ve always wondered about
– Learn a new word.
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5 ways to wellbeing – Keep learningGive
Do something nice for a friend or stranger, thank someone, smile, volunteer your time or consider joining a community group. Look out as well as in. Seeing yourself and your happiness linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you.
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5 ways to wellbeing – Give
NHS Mental health
Find information and support for your mental health.
Website
NHS: Mental healthKooth
Free anonymous online chat for young people to discuss their mental health issues.
Website
KoothSamaritans
Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Call Samaritans free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Phone
116 123
Website
Samaritans
Email
jo@samaritans.orgRethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness provide expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.
Phone
0121 522 7007
Website
Rethink Mental Illness
Email
info@rethink.orgMind
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Phone
0300 123 3393
Website
MindHealthy Young Minds
Our aim is to improve the resilience, emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. We want to make it easier for them, their families and the professionals who work with them to access advice, help and support when they need it. We want to improve the standard of mental health services for children and young people across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Website
Healthy Young MindsYoung Minds
Parents’ Information Service gives advice to parents or carers who may be concerned about the mental health or emotional wellbeing of a child or young person.
Website
youngminds.org.uk
Phone
0808 802 55 44NSPCC
Abuse can happen at any time of the day or night. And when it does, it’s vital that children have someone they can talk to – no matter the hour.
Website
NSPCC | The UK children’s charity
Phone
0800 1111 (children and young people)
0808 800 5000 (adults concerned about a child)CAMHS Resources
Helpful resources that are available to help support your mental health and well-being.
Website
camhs-resources.co.ukThe Mix
The mix is an under 25’s helpline, online, social or telephone service for any challenges young people might be facing – from mental health to homelessness or money problems.
Website
www.themix.org.ukChild Bereavement UK
We help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.
Website
Child Bereavement UKPapyrus
Support for those dealing with suicide, depression or emotional distress – particularly teenagers and young adults.
Website
papyrus-uk.orgCampaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) works to prevent male suicide and offers support services for any man who is struggling or in crisis.
Website
thecalmzone.netLancashire Women
Projects to improve your mood, build confidence, feel better about your mental a health and have better relationships.
Phone
0300 330 1354
Website
lancashirewomen.orgEvery Mind Matters
Practical advice to – from how to deal with stress and anxiety, to boosting our mood or sleeping better.
Website
nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-mattersTogetherall
Togetherall is an online counselling service accessible to over 18s.
Website
togetherall.comAnxiety UK
Help for those suffering with anxiety disorders.
Phone
08444 775 775 (weekdays 9am – 5.30pm)
Text service
07537 416 905
Website
www.anxietyuk.org.ukThe Silver Line
The Silver Line is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Phone
0800 4 70 80 90
Website
thesilverline.org.ukNo Panic
Organisation which helps people who suffer from panic attacks, phobias, OCD, and other related anxiety disorders.
Youth helpline
0330 606 1174 (Weekdays 3pm – 6pm)
Website
www.nopanic.org.ukAge UK
Age UK can help older people who are at home and need a little extra support with their wellbeing.
Phone
0800 678 1602
Website
ageuk.org.ukInspire
Inspire works with individuals and their loved ones, empowering them to reduce or abstain from alcohol or drugs.
Website
changegrowlive.org
Phone
01254 495 382Family Line
Family Line provides a listening ear, answer particular parenting questions or help with guidance around more complex family issues.
Phone
0808 802 6666
Website
www.family-action.org.ukRed Rose Recovery
Supporting adults recovering from addiction or with mental health/dual diagnosis.
Website
redroserecovery.org.ukReading Well’s shelf-help
Free-to-borrow library books to help you cope with the pressures of life.
Website
Access the Lancashire County Council libraryLancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) Wellbeing and Mental Health Line
The Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline is a freephone, out of hours, person-centred listening environment for people requiring emotional support in relation to their own mental health or that of someone they know.
Phone
0800 915 4640
Website
lscft.nhs.uk/Mental-Health-HelplineMy Place
Myplace is an exciting and innovative ecotherapy project delivered by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside in partnership with the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
Myplace empowers people and their communities to connect with local environments in order to learn new skills, build resilience, meet new people and improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.
Website
MyplaceGrowing Well
We provide activity-focussed, practical mental health support and training to people in South Cumbria and North Lancashire through volunteer work, confidence-building courses, and horticulture training at out organic fruit and vegetable farm near Kendal. We welcome self-referrals as well as referrals from health professionals.
Website
www.growingwell.co.uk