HEALTH & WELLBEING There’s an ancient proverb that: “The mind can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven.” Both good health and poor health so often begin in the mind – whether we know it or not – that it clearly makes sense to
nurture our mental health. That way we can feel good more of the time and help others do the same. There is an abundance of advice available to help people live well, not least from the Mental Health
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Look after your physical health. Stay active. Eat a diverse diet rich in fruit and vegetables and drink lots of water. NB cakes, biscuits and white bread do not appear in the recommended list.
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Stay connected with other people, through visits, calls, social networking, emails, letters and video links. Care for others, too. Feeling needed/valued aids healthy selfesteem and also supports theirs. Reach out to the vulnerable.
Foundation, which has been championing the cause since 1949.The organisation’s ‘mantra’ is: “Prevention is better than cure,” and it offers some great tips that everyone can follow. These include:
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Talk about your feelings. Share them as part of your normal conversation. Take breaks/’me-time’. Do things you’re good at or enjoy, be kind to yourself and practice frequent mindfulness, being fully in the present moment rather than fretting about what did or might happen.
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Seek support as needed, don’t struggle on alone. There are many professionals, support groups, advice agencies and others who can help, including your own GP.
For more information visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk
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