How we can all start supporting each other and looking after our mental health?
As you may know 1 in 4 adults are believed to experience a mental health condition each year. This means that it is likely that somebody you know will experience a mental health condition at some point in their life, this could be a family member, friend or colleague. Being able to support others may help them to feel comfortable to talk about their mental health and to get the support that they need.
How can you support somebody with their mental health?
Listen- If somebody comes to you and starts to talk about their mental health you can help by simply listening, it is important that you try not to interrupt and let them talk. You can help by creating a positive environment that is free from distractions and is private so that they feel that they can be open and honest. It is also important that you are non-judgmental so that the person feels that they can talk freely. It can also help if you repeat some of what they have been saying back to them so that they know that you are listening and are interested in what they are saying, this may also encourage them to tell you more.
Ask them how you can support them:
Once somebody has opened up to you about their mental health you should ask them how they would like you to support them. It might be that the person simply just wanted to talk about their mental health and does not want support with anything else. In this case you could just check up on them and let them know that you are here if they would like to talk. If a person states that they would like to get help then you could support them to do this such as helping them to make an appointment with a GP, you could even go with them to the appointment so that they have that support.
Talk about well-being:
This can be useful for when somebody has opened up to you about having difficulties with their mental health but it is also important for everybody to do so we can continue to look after our mental health and well-being. Here are five ways to manage your well-being;
Relaxation:
Spend time doing something relaxing such as meditation or mindfulness. There are great books and apps to help you with meditation and mindfulness or why not join a group!
Go outdoors:
This could be going for a walk or taking part in an activity. Being outside and being active is believed to be a great factor for maintains good well-being.
Focus on your diet:
Studies are suggesting that having a healthy diet can be beneficial to our mental health and well-being as well as our physical health. Recent studies have suggested that having a diet that is rich in fruit, vegetables can have a significant impact on mental health and well-being.
Spend time with peers:
Social isolation can be a big factor towards having difficulties with your mental health, having face to face contact with others is believed to actually improve our mental health. You could do this by spending times with friends, family or simply join a group that you are interested in and spend time with others there.
Exercise:
Being active can help our physical health by making us fit and healthy but it can also have great benefits to our mental health such as increasing our energy levels, being more mentally alert and improving our mood.
Want to learn more about mental health? Why not become a community ambassador for Visyon and take part in our free mental health awareness training and learn about what we do as a charity to support children and young people. Call us on 01260 290000 to find out more!