Mental wellbeing
Everyone has mental wellbeing. Life events can affect your mental wellbeing, just as they can affect your physical health.
Taking small, positive steps can help you look after yourself. You can also support the wellbeing of your friends, family and colleagues.
We work with other organisations to raise awareness of mental wellbeing and the importance of looking after it.
Five ways to improve your wellbeing
The New Economics Foundation developed five ways to wellbeing. These are simple actions you can include in your daily life.
Connect with other people
Build relationships with your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
You can connect with people at home, at work, at school or in your local community. Strong connections can support and enrich you every day.
Be active
Find an activity that you enjoy and that suits your ability. You could:
- go for a walk or run
- spend time outside
- cycle
- play a game
- do some gardening
- dance
- exercise
Being active can help you feel good.
Take notice
Be curious about the world around you. Notice beautiful or unusual things and changes in the seasons.
Take time to enjoy the moment and recognise how you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences can help you understand what matters to you.
Keep learning
Try something new or return to an old interest. You could:
- join a course
- take on a different responsibility at work
- learn how to fix a bike
Learning can be enjoyable and help you feel more confident.
Give to others
Do something kind for a friend or someone you do not know. You could:
- thank someone
- smile at someone
- volunteer your time
Helping others can be rewarding. It can also strengthen your connection to the people and community around you.
Signs that someone may need support
Mental health problems affect people in different ways. However, some changes may suggest that you or someone you know needs support.
Signs can include:
- changes in sleeping patterns
- changes in appetite
- feeling low, sad or anxious
- feeling hopeless, helpless or negative
- losing interest in things you usually enjoy
- feeling tired or having little energy
- finding it difficult to concentrate or make decisions
- having thoughts about death or suicide
- feeling restless or irritable