Importance of Mental Well-being
To take care of ourselves, it’s essential to create a positive mental environment; making simple changes to how you live doesn’t need to be drastic or take up too much time. Whether it’s going for a walk, learning a new skill or doing something creative, find something you enjoy doing and make a little time to add it into your day.
Below are some more tips on how to stay well when you find you are struggling:
Talk About Your Feelings
Research shows that communicating with and gaining support from friends and family is invaluable. But you can reach out to others, too, including someone with specialist knowledge, an impartial person, or a person who promises confidentiality, such as a counsellor.
Eat Well
Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.
Stay Active
Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy and is also a significant benefit towards improving your mental health.
Take a Break
Taking a moment away, exploring a change of scenery or pace is beneficial for your mental health. Even just a few minutes can be enough to de-stress and give you the time to recuperate.
Ask for Help
It’s important to remember that we are not superhuman; we sometimes feel overwhelmed by our thoughts, especially if things do not go the way we expect. Your family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear to help you process and gather your thoughts.
Mental Health First Aid
First aid for mental health is the initial support provided to a person experiencing a mental health problem until professional help is received or until the crisis is resolved. With the aim to:
- Preserve life where a person could be a danger to themselves or others.
- Alleviate suffering by providing immediate comfort and support.
- Promote the recovery of good mental health by signposting and obtaining professional support/
- Prevent the condition from developing into a more serious problem.
First Aid Action Plan for Mental Health
- Check for significant risk of suicide or harm – When someone is in immediate danger to themselves and to others, or they are actively suicidal, dial 999 for an ambulance or go directly to the nearest A&E department.
- Apply non-judgemental communication skills – Let the person tell you how they are feeling and listen to what they are saying with your full attention.
- Reassure and provide information – Let the person tell you how they are feeling and listen to what they are saying with your full attention.
- Encourage professional support and self-help strategies – recommend someone to speak to their local GP, a trained therapist, charity organisations or certified peer support specialists.
For more on Mental Health Awareness, click here.
