Supporting you on World Mental Health Day

The five steps to wellbeing are a set of activities that have been proven to help boost our mental wellbeing if we practice them regularly, they are:

Keep learning

Starting a course when you’ve not studied for years isn’t easy – but the confidence and satisfaction is worth it and you’ll meet new people. Study something you think you’ll enjoy. It’ll help you to set goals and look forward which will help as part of your recovery plan.

Take notice

We all get bogged down in our own thoughts and feelings. Stop and take notice of what’s around you, enjoy the moment. Being aware of what’s around you can make you think more about what’s really important in your life – and make decisions based on what you want from life

Connect

Feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need and makes you function better. Talking really does help. Try taking five minutes to get in touch with someone. Talking instead of texting or emailing ask how they are and really listen when they tell you. If you’re out talk to someone new,

Give

It’s official - people who give to others rate themselves as happy. Become a volunteer, maybe at a charity shop, through your local Council for Voluntary services or with Mersey Care.

Be active.

Can a walk to the shops or mowing the lawn really be that good for you? The researchers say yes, the chemicals it releases called endorphins actually make you feel better and more positive. If you meet someone while you’re out even better.

You can do it at work too, walk to someone’s desk instead of calling or emailing. It’s simple but it works.

Watch our animation to find out more

As the winter nights draw in many people can be gripped by stress, anxiety and loneliness.

Feeling lonely isn't in itself a mental health problem, but the two are strongly linked. Having a mental health problem increases your chance of feeling lonely, and feeling lonely can have a negative impact on your mental health.

To help people cope with loneliness we have produced a short animation, with handy tips and advice on how to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.

Self care is about keeping healthy and active, as well as knowing how to take medicines, treat minor ailments and knowing how and where to seek help if you need it.

Please watch our animation about self care and stress management.

A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. It often involves a sudden or continued worsening of your symptoms. You may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, feel you can't cope with day-to-day life, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices.

Please watch our short animation which describes what to expect if you, or someone you know are experiencing a Mental Health crisis.

The following organisations can also help your health and wellbeing:

MIND tips for staying well
Big White Wall
CALM: Campaign Against Living Miserably
Family Lives: support and advice
Mental Health Foundation
Mind
Rethink Mental Illness
Samaritans
Turning Point
Young Minds