Think4Brum members and FTB experts share their advice on World Mental Health Day
We’re proudly supporting World Mental Health Day (10 October) and members of our Think4Brum young person’s group have offered their own personal advice on looking after mental wellbeing.
Mental health affects around one in four people any given day of the year. World Mental Health Day offers the opportunity to focus attentions and show your support, educate and raise awareness.
Suicide prevention is the primary focus for 2019. Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK with latest figures showing the number is now greater than it has been for the last 10 years.
Here’s some simple advice from our Think4Brum members that could help you or a loved one:
- Engaging in self-care can be the simplest of things but makes the biggest difference. Set some time aside to write if you are feeling overwhelmed or have a bath or shower.
- Sometimes getting out of bed can seem like an impossible task, listen to music, podcasts or watch something you enjoy.
- Social activities can be helpful when dealing with poor mental health as it can make you feel socially isolated. Surround yourself with people; it could be anything from popping to the shops where there are people or meeting up with your friend for a chat.
- Exercising is proven to boost your mood. It could be as simple as going for a walk, swimming, cycling or anything that raises your heartbeat. Exercise is a form of self-care, which looks after your mind as well as your body.
Experts from our Forward Thinking Birmingham team have offered the following advice:
- Replace difficult thoughts with activities that keep your mind busy such as saying the alphabet backwards.
- Do something kind for someone else – this will keep your mind occupied and it feels good to make others happy.
- Put a distraction timetable together; include activities that will help distract you. Try and think of activities to do for at least 20 minutes.
- Create and keep a running list of coping skills that work for your child or young person.
- Help your child or young person to identify what they are feeling and how big those feeling.