It’s World Mental Health Day on 10 October and there are plenty of resources available to help yourself and your loved ones with your mental wellbeing.
We all feel stressed, anxious, have low mood or suffer from sleep problems from time to time. New research reveals the pandemic had a negative impact on the wellbeing of nearly half (49%) of adults in England, with a higher reported impact on ethnic minorities groups (55%). It has also highlighted the effects of inequality on health outcomes.
Sadly, more than a third (34%) said they did not know what to do to improve their wellbeing because they felt overwhelmed, or they didn’t know where to start.
Your Every Mind Matters Mind Plan
People are being urged to find “what works for me” to support their mental wellbeing as part of the latest Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign.
The campaign empowers people to look after their mental health by directing them to free, practical tips and advice. By answering five simple questions through the Every Mind Matters website, people can get a tailored ‘Mind Plan’, giving them personalised tips to help deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better and feel more in control.
Get your own tailored Mind Plan
10 Mental Health Tips
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are promoting 10 tips on being kind to yourself and looking after your mental health with their Ten4Ten campaign.
World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education and advocacy against social stigma. The Ten4Ten campaign is designed to promote awareness, understanding and conversations about the things we all need to do to look after our mental health and wellbeing, along with some practical advice and information.
- Remember it’s normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or angry during a crisis
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle as far as you can, including diet, sleep and exercise
- Keep connected to people by phone, email and social media
- Be kind to others and yourself
- Use skills you already have, and have used in the past to deal with stress
- Limit worry by watching or listening to media coverage less
- Don’t smoke, drink or use drugs to deal with your emotions
- Get the facts to help you determine the risk and protect yourself
- Structure your day with things that you can realistically achieve
- Seek advice you can trust from the NHS and the Government
Find out more or search #ten4ten on Twitter.
Other resources
There’s also a wealth of information on the East Sussex County Council website – check out the directory of mental health services and support. Whether you’re struggling with loneliness, or just feel like you need some help with your mental health at the moment, there are plenty of resources out there, so make sure you take time for you and seek out the help you need.
Good mental health helps us at work, at home and in the way we feel about ourselves. It helps us feel more relaxed and enjoy our lives more. Research shows that a fifth of UK adults (22%) took up a new hobby such as enjoying nature (46%), brisk walks (41%), gardening (34%) and cooking (33%) to help them manage their mental health during the pandemic.
Urgent help for your mental health
The Sussex Mental Healthline is there to offer urgent help and crisis support and advise you where to get help for yourself or someone you are concerned about. Call them now on 0800 0309 500 to speak to an experienced operator. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Samaritans is a national charity that offers emotional support for people who are distressed. They are available day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
If you’re under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Phone 999 if you’re concerned about an immediate risk of harm, either to yourself or someone else.
