Clear Your Head
Things You can do to Help Clear Your Head
These are worrying and uncertain times.The coronavirus outbreak has changed daily life for us all in Scotland and has had a real impact on how many of us are feeling. It’s ok to not feel yourself right now, and we have some great tips to help get you through it. To find out more, click here.
Covid-19 (Also known as Coronavirus) & Mental Health
The World Health Organisation has published guidance on considerations during the outbreak of COVID-19. We all have mental health. Mental health relates to how we think, feel, behave and interact with other people.
Just as we can develop problems with our physical health, mental health problems will be experienced by many of us over the course of our lives. One in four people will experience a mental health problem each year
Resilience is the ability to cope with life’s challenges and to adapt to adversity. Your levels of resilience can change over the course of your life. Resilience is important because it can help to protect against the development of some mental health problems. Resilience helps us to maintain our wellbeing in difficult circumstances.
Improving wellbeing There are a whole range of ways that we can improve our wellbeing and resilience. Here are five things that we can all do to improve our wellbeing….
Connect – With the people around you. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be active – Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take notice – Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Notice the changing seasons. Savor the moment, whatever you are doing. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Give – Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger.
Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Keep Learning – Try something new. Rediscover an old interest.
Sign up for that course. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Suicide, don’t hide it, talk about it
On average, two people die in Scotland every day from suicide. In partnership with others, including the National Programme for Suicide Prevention, we are working hard to reduce this appalling statistic by continuing to raise awareness, skills and capacity in individuals and the community to recognise suicide risk. When someone feels suicidal and isolated it is good to know others care and can listen. Then ask the person to call one of the helpline numbers. Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87 Samaritans: 116 123 If you are a friend or relative, you can call too – you can get advice on how you can help your family relative or friend.
Useful Contacts
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web-based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, anxiety or depression. Breathing Space Phoneline is for anyone living with mental health problems and those experiencing emotional distress or family members, partners and friends who are concerned about their own wellbeing and that of people they care about.
Helpline: 0800 83 85 87 | breathingspace.scot
MIND provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Info Line: 0300 123 3393 |www.mind.org.uk