How Can We Improve Our Mental Health?

Written by on 23/05/2022. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on How Can We Improve Our Mental Health?

How Can We Improve Our Mental Health?

It’s important to take care of yourself and your mental health. In addition to impacting how you feel, your mental health can affect the quality of thoughts, how you cope with stress and how you relate to other people.

You might find it helpful to only try what feels comfortable, figure out what works for you and go at your own pace, and take small steps.

Here are some tips that can help you elevate your mood, become more resilient and enjoy life more.

1. Physical Activity

Staying active is as good for the brain as it is for the body. Regular exercise can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health.

Keeping active, whether it’s playing sport, going for long walks, going to the gym, or running, will help lower stress and anxiety levels, as well as help you improve your self-esteem and lift your mood.

2. Talk Positively To Yourself Throughout The Day

Perceiving your life negatively means you’ll be seeing yourself through a negative lens. Some positive words you can begin to say to yourself daily include:

I am proud of myself
My hard work pays off
I can do this
I can make a difference in the world

Express gratitude and set aside time each day to think about the good things in your life can change your outlook and help you enjoy life.

3. Connect With Others

Humans are social beings. It’s important that you have strong and healthy relationships with others. Make plans will friends and family members, and/or seek our activities where you can meet new people.

No matter how much time you devote to improving your mental and emotional health, you will still need the company of others to feel and function at your best.

4. Eat Healthily

When you eat an unhealthy diet, it can take a toll on your brain and mood, disrupt your sleep, sap your energy, and weaken your immune system. The food and drink you consume affects the development and day to day maintenance of your body. Ensure you eat a well-balanced diet will help you manage stress, positively impact your ability to concentrate and help you feel better day to day.

5. Do Something You Enjoy

What do you enjoy? Reading? Painting? Dancing? The possibilities are endless but it’s very important for your emotional well-being that you spend time doing something you love to do.

Having fun, smiling and laughing can help alleviate stress and focus your mind on something that brings you joy.

6. Ask For Help When You Need It

There is nothing wrong with seeking help for your mental health and well-being. Whether you just want to confide in a trusted friend or feel the need to engage the services of a professional, seeking help is the healthy thing to do.

Our society still carries a stigma in regards to mental health and seeking help, but this is changing. People are beginning to understand how prevalent mental health issues are and how important it is to seek help.

Look after your mental health. You don’t need to do this alone!

For more information or advice about Mental Health, check out the Mental Health Foundation or feel free to send us a message.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Written by on 11/05/2022. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

For Mental Health Awareness Month this year, we’re joining the mission to let everyone, especially young people, know that they are not alone.

Did you know…

“10% of children and young people (aged 5-16) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.” (mentalhealth.org.uk)

Being a parent, guardian or teacher of a young person who is struggling with their mental health can be very worrying, and you may be feeling unsure of how you can help. Remember, you are not alone, and there is help for both your young person and you.

How can you help children and young people with their mental health?

Make sure they don’t feel judged.

Even though mental health problems are very common and can affect all of us in different way, there is still a stigma that can lead to discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes forming.

Thoughts and feelings can be hard to make sense of, and your young person may have new ones that they don’t understand. They may be reluctant and have difficulty talking about how they are feeling due to fears that other people will find out. Unfortunately, this results in them suffering in silence. You can help by making sure you encourage openness and reassure them that you are a safe space for them to talk.

Focus on listening to them.

It is essential to be mindful of listening when they are opening up to you. Sometimes as a parent or guardian, you can feel angry that your child is not opening up to you about what they are feeling and thinking. However, the most helpful thing you can do is keep calm, let them know you are hearing them out and empathise with them. This can help them feel understood, encouraged and acknowledged.

Create a positive, health environment for them.

When children and young people are experiencing a mental health problem, you will very likely notice changes in their sleep and appetite patterns. To help with this, encouraging them gently to eat regular healthy meals, take part in light physical exercise and develop a self-care night routine.

Be mindful that difficulties with mental health can impact their physical energy levels and motivation, so building in activities they enjoy doing and creating a new routine will be big help.

Tag: mental health awareness