Welcome to World Mental Health Day. In these challenging times, it’s even more important that we support and help each other. The theme for this year is ‘do one thing’. So what one thing you could do to help your mental health? This can be something very simple – spending 5 minutes outside before and at the end of your day perhaps having a quick walk around the block or standing in your garden; taking a long shower; sitting and listening to your favourite song and doing nothing else. Finances are tight for many of us right now but this doesn’t need to cost. It could be something you are already spending money doing but may be you aren’t benefitting fully due to being distracted by worries. Try to do your one thing in a focused way – just being in the moment. Noticing any distracting thoughts and bringing your attention back to the one thing. Trying to focus every one of your senses on it – if it’s something you like to eat or drink – smell it, look at it, taste it, savour each mouthful. If it’s something you like to do – focus on different parts of your body when you do it, breathe it in and out with each movement if exercising. It may be reading or watching something – again notice your focus of attention and when your mind wanders off; put your book down and do a few stretches if you are struggling to concentrate, take a breath and recall where you are up to. Then restart the paragraph.

Relationships are under pressure more than ever before and we wanted to focus on the one thing for those of you in partnerships as well. What is the one thing you know that matters most to your partner or a close friend? Investing time in your relationships and yourself communicates self-worth and signifies that you value others too. Perhaps sitting down with your partner for 15 minutes on your own for a chat before you start making a meal without other distractions.

Sadly there has been an increase in relationship breakdown over the last few months. When we are struggling to cope, our tolerance level for each other lowers and what we may brush off with a laugh or shrug of the shoulders may seem more significant. We may find ourselves being more critical of our partner. Think back to what qualities we admire in them and what they add to our lives. Perhaps look back at photos of times when we felt happier, sharing our memories of a holiday or fun day out together. Make a commitment to do something with our partner or a close friend this week.

Top tip – treat yourself as you if you were your best friend, Watch this short video on simple tips for mental well-being:

Helpful Links

https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/world-mental-health-day

Amanda Lloyd and Rachel Wesley