Health & WellbeingMindMental Health Awareness Week 2019
image

Mental Health Awareness Week 2019

By Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor May 13, 2019

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week – a UK-wide initiative to help raise awareness about a range of mental health issues.

While it was once considered a taboo topic of conversation, today more and more people are being open about their struggles with mental health, making it easier for people to recognise and seek help when they need it.

Not just surviving, thriving

Good mental health is as important to our wellbeing as physical health – it’s an asset that helps us not just to survive but to thrive as well.

In an age where our lives are increasingly taken over with stress and busyness, it’s easy to assume ongoing stress is the price we have to pay.

This year, charities like the Mental Health Foundation are hoping to help challenge that assumption and encourage people not just to survive, but to thrive, by prioritising good mental health for Mental Health Awareness Week.

It couldn’t come at a better time; a recent study revealed only a small minority of people (about 13%) reported living with high levels of good mental health.

Looking after your mental health

Good mental health is about more than just the absence of a mental health problem.

While modern medicine has made incredible strides to improve the health of our bodies and increase our life expectancy, we also need to prioritise good health for our minds.

Looking after your mental health doesn’t need to cost a fortune or take too much time. Here’s some practical steps you can take to promote good mental health in your life.

  1. Talk about your feelings
    Sharing your feelings with others can help you stay in good mental health and navigate difficult times. Don’t be afraid to open up to your friends and family and talk about your feelings as a way to cope.
  2. Eat well and stay active
    Looking after your body also has a positive effect on your mind. Eating well, getting enough sleep and staying active can all promote a strong, resilient mind.
  3. Drink sensibly
    We often rely on alcohol to change our moods. If you drink to deal with fear, stress or loneliness it can make you feel worse in the long run – while you might feel a temporary boost, alcohol can also leave you feeling low and depressed as the effects wear off.
  4. Accept yourself
    Accepting yourself and feeling good about who you are can give you the confidence to learn new skills, make new friends and cope better when life is difficult. Pursue things you enjoy and prioritise activities that can give you a sense of wellbeing and achievement, as these can all help boost your self esteem.
  5. Foster connections
    Caring for others, staying in touch with friends and being able to ask for help when we need us helps foster good connections and feel a sense of community, which are all important for thriving mental health.

 

How do you look after your mental health? Do you feel like you’re thriving or just surviving? Share your experiences in the comments below.

 

 

The following two tabs change content below.

Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor

Hello there! I’m Rachel and I’m the Assistant Editor for Silversurfers. I work behind the scenes to bring interesting, informative and entertaining subject matter to the Silversurfers community. I hope you enjoy the features we have shared with you. Please feel free to comment below and share your thoughts with us, we love to hear from you!

Latest posts by Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor (see all)

Leave a Comment!

Loading Comments