How are wellbeing and mental health problems connected?
If you begin to experience low mental wellbeing over a long period of time, you are more likely to develop a mental health problem.
If you already have a mental health problem, you're more likely to experience periods of low mental wellbeing than someone who hasn't. But this doesn't mean you won't have periods of good wellbeing.
Here are some steps you can take to manage your mental wellbeing:
Learn something new.
Learning a new skill such as sport, art or cooking can help boost your confidence and give you a sense of achievement. It will give you a purpose and something you can look forward to. It doesn't have to be something big, it can be as little as trying a new recipe.
Do something you enjoy.
Whether it's taking a long walk, playing an instrument or going to the cinema, it's positive for your wellbeing to do something that makes you feel good. Get yourself into a routine and regularly do things for yourself to improve your mood and mental health.
Try relaxation techniques.
Doing something that you find relaxing, such as listening to music, colouring in or having a bath can help to reduce stress and improve your mental wellbeing. Below is a video from Mind with 8 ways to relax.
Five ways to Wellbeing
These five steps have been researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation. This claims that using these steps in day-to-day life can improve and maintain good mental health and wellbeing such as being active, taking notice of things and acts of kindness.
- Connect – Make sure you take time to connect and build on relationships with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
- Be active – This can be something little like going for a walk or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
- Keep learning – Developing a new skill can give you a sense of purpose and achievement as well as new confidence.
- Give to others – An act of kindness can go a long way, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new relationships.
- Take notice – Be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. This is otherwise known as mindfulness.