Healthy Living
Healthy Living
Mental Health
Positive Mental Health and Well Being
Many areas of our lifestyle affect our mental wellbeing. Following sensible guidelines about alcohol, smoking, diet and physical activity can all help.
Many areas of our lifestyle affect our mental wellbeing. Following sensible guidelines about alcohol, smoking, diet and physical activity can all help.
Looking after your Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Talk about your feelings - Sharing your feelings with others and being listened to can help.
• Keep physically active - Research shows that being physically active has a positive effect on mental health and enhances feelings of wellbeing. It can give you a sense of achievement, improve your
self esteem and help you meet people.
• Drink alcohol in moderation - Alcohol is something to be enjoyed and most of the time drinking does not cause any problems. Drinking too much or drinking at the wrong time can be harmful. The
important thing is to remember where the benefits end and the risks begin
• Eat well - Following a healthy diet helps to reduce stress and improves your overall feeling of wellbeing and quality of life.
• Help yourself - If you find it hard to speak about your feelings to those around you, you can use counselling services or help-lines to explore your feelings. They provide a private place separate from your daily life where you can explore issues or feelings which are causing you difficulty, and will assist you in the task of finding your own way forward.
• Do something creative – Creative activity relaxes us whilst also challenging us to learn new things, provides exercise for the body and mind and it can help build self-esteem and confidence. Studies show that the creative process can even slow the heartbeat and reduce blood pressure.
• Take a break - Learn stress control techniques and be aware of your own moods
• Learn new skills - Learning a new skill can increase your confidence – whether it’s for pleasure, to make new friends or to improve your chances of a job. Trying new things can also make you feel good about yourself.
• Get involved and make a contribution - Wellbeing is about an active engagement in life and with others. Research shows that intimate friendships, strong family networks and belonging to some kind of community or social group all have beneficial effect on wellbeing.
• Care for yourself and others - Invest in your mental health and wellbeing by maintaining friendships and hobbies that help you to meet people and stay socially active.
Want to know more? Want more help?
• NHS Choices Live Well
• MIND - 0845 7660163
• Young Minds - 0207 3368445
• Web Ref: Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundations Trust
