Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
Mental Health Awareness Week.
This year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 is nature; many of us have found ways to connect with nature during lockdown over the last year and have seen the positive impact this can have on mental health.
It is really important to look after your mental health after crime, therefore in support of Mental Health Awareness Week we have compiled our top five ways to wellbeing. Take a look at our list below to find helpful ways you can support your own mental health.
Top five ways to wellbeing.
- Giving.
Acts of kindness create positive feelings and can also help towards your mental wellbeing; giving to others can be very rewarding. There are lots of ways you can give your time, presence or appreciation.
- What could you do for someone you know? Or a complete stranger?
- Smiling is infectious. Simple compliments or giving thanks.
- Volunteer your time doing something for someone, your community or a charity.
- Join a community group or support a good cause.
- Be active.
Being active is not just good for you physically but can help with your mental wellbeing too. Don’t let it feel like a chore, find a happy balance and enjoy what you choose to participate in. Do what you can, small achievements are still achievements.
- Go for a walk or run.
- Connect with the nature around your local area.
- Take up a hobby; cycling, running, tennis etc
- Join a club or team
- Try a new sport out
- Connect with others.
Find ways to connect with others (whilst adhering to government guidelines), this can be through a phone call, messages, video calls, apps; however you like to communicate make sure you keep talking and keep communicating. Invest in your connections.
- Phone calls, emails, messages, apps, video
- Talk and listen to the people around you
- Be there, be present
- Family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, support groups, trained professionals
- Your home, work, school, local community
- Try new things/keep your mind active
Trying something new, learning a new skill or taking time to explore or develop a current interest can help you connect with new people, build your confidence as well as enhance fun and interest in your life. Be kind to yourself and do not overstretch; this can be as simple as trying out a new recipe. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving; take a leap and surprise yourself.
- Cooking, languages, crosswords, sewing, online learning etc
- Embrace new experiences/change
- See or seek opportunities
- Time for you/take notice
Take time to stop what you are doing or thinking to appreciate the things around you. Be curios; take in the nature around you and its beauty. Take notice of how you feel, be present in the moment; it’s your time and your presence.
- Savour the moment
- If you are unable to get outside find ways to create a visual image in your mind or find a video online to recreate sights and sounds you like
- Literally ground yourself with bare feet on the ground in a park or garden
- Nurture some seedlings or have a gardening project that you can watch change and grow through each season
- Take varied and different routes on your walk
- Watch the sunrise/sunset
- Be curious
- Look at the nature around you
Specialist support services are available through our Priority Team. Crime can impact mental health in many ways, we are here when you are ready. You can find out more about our free and confidential support by calling us on 0808 178 1641
