The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day on 10th October is ‘Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority’.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, build relationships and make decisions. Globally, mental health conditions are widespread, undertreated and under-resourced. The World Mental Health Report suggests that 1 in 8 people globally live with a mental health condition, but only 2% of health budgets, on average, go on mental health. In 2019 (pre-pandemic), an estimated 970 million people in the world were living with a mental health disorder, 82% of whom were in low and middle income countries.
A staggering 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. For that reason, mental health awareness is one of the most pressing issues we’re facing as a nation today.
World Mental Health Day provides us with the opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health.
Here’s some ideas you could try at home…
Self Care
Like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others, self-care is the little things we do to look after our own mental health. It’s about trying to listen to how we are feeling and understanding what we need, even if it’s difficult, so we can care for ourselves.
This could mean taking time out when you’re feeling overwhelmed; it could mean making time to do an activity that you know makes you feel good; or it could be as simple as making sure to do the basics like eating and sleeping well when we’re struggling.
The important thing with self-care is not what it looks like, but what it does for you and how it makes you feel. When it comes to self-care it’s about what works for you- everyone’s version of self care might look slightly different. The important thing is that we listen to what you need, not what we think the world needs from you.
Connect with other people
Building positive relationships are a cornerstone for mental wellbeing. These positive connections can help you build a sense of belonging and self-worth as well as giving you an opportunity to share positive experiences, provide emotional support and allow you to support others.
Build specific times into your day to be with your family (mealtimes for example), or consider arranging a day out of the house to switch off from screen time. It’s also important to connect with friends,colleagues or other family members, especially if you live far apart.
Get active
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness, evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing. Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression.
As a family, getting active together could be as simple as a short walk around your neighbourhood, or committing to discovering new hobbies together. When the whole family is more physically active together, everyone benefits from helping to maintain a healthy weight, reducing stress, and lowering the risks of heart disease and other serious conditions.
Make time for mindfulness
Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present in the moment, and has been shown to improve mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Children and young people can benefit from mindfulness just as much as adults as the practice promotes happiness and relieves stress.
Get back to nature
Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity and can facilitate concentration. Being more connected with nature is also associated with improved mental health, particularly lower incidences of depression and anxiety.
Getting back to nature can offer a sense of tranquillity and is a fantastic way to engage all of your senses (sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste), which can be a very grounding experience.
Being outside can also be a welcome break from technology and a chance to step away from screens.
Find out more about World Mental Health Day and download more tips and resources for your mental health and wellbeing here
Where to get support
If you need more support, here’s a list of organisations that could help.
Looking for more ways of focusing on your mental health? Try out our worksheets, or read some more of our blogs.
