Mental Health Awareness Week runs from Monday 10 May to Sunday 16 May 2021. This year, join the fight for mental health.
Since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic, millions of us have experienced a mental health problem or have seen a family or friend struggle during these unprecedented times. We want to share with you some hints and tips that may help you or a loved one to maintain their positive mental wellbeing.
Find a way to escape!
Finding ways to escape from reality on a daily basis can be anything from watching films that have been on your list of ‘films to see’ or a boxset that someone once recommended, reading a book that has been sat on a shelf gathering dust or beginning a project that you have been looking forward to start. Use your time in a way that you enjoy and suits you and you will feel more invigorated for doing so.
Keep talking!
Now more than ever, it’s so important to reach out and contact others. Sharing our thoughts and worries with people we trust can be helpful, also remembering to enjoy moments of laughter can be very therapeutic too. At Bristol Rovers Community Trust, we are delighted to be working in partnership with a mental health programme for men called Talk Club. Talk Club was created after one of its Founders, Ben Akers, lost his childhood best friend, Steve Yates, to suicide in 2014. Struggling to process his grief, Ben set out to make ‘Steve’, an award-winning documentary about male mental health and Talk Club is a legacy of that project. Click here to find out more about this inspiring programme.
Look after yourself
Being active and eating well are important for both our mental and our physical wellbeing. Keeping our bodies moving and making the most of our daily outdoor exercise allows us to enjoy the environment around us, boost energy levels and reduce stress. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be training for the London Marathon. A 30-minute walk within the local area can be beneficial to your physical and mental wellbeing.
Make sleep a priority
Sleep is essential for clearing the mind. It helps you to process everything that you have learned the day before and is essential to rejuvenate your mind and body. It is especially important for those who have participated in heavy fitness earlier in the day, as it gives your body time to recover overnight. In the morning you will feel far more refreshed and ready for the day.
Keep learning
Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. Take on a different responsibility, fix a bike, learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.
More information on looking after your mental health and the support, which is available, please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/
You can also talk to your GP for advice.