It’s Mental Health Awareness Week from Monday 13 May – making time for mental wellbeing and self-care is important.
Embedding small things as part of your routine can help you feel better and more resilient.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple steps that you can take to help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
Here in Devon, you can find plenty of inspiration for making changes that are good for you.
Connect
Good relationships and connecting with others are important to build a sense of belonging and self-worth and give you an opportunity to share positive experiences.
As well as the benefits of connecting with others, connecting with the natural world around us can help us to feel revived and relaxed, helping our mental health and wellbeing by reducing our stress and anxiety levels. Naturally Healthy May is the perfect time to get out and explore.
Check out Bloom Festival on Sunday 12 May – a free day of activities to promote mental health & wellbeing, or the Recovery Devon mental wellbeing event at Exeter Library on Wednesday 15 May
Be active
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness – it can also boost your mood, and Devon has plenty to offer if you want to build a little more movement into your daily life.
Active Devon works together with local communities and partners to connect, advocate and enable people to move more. Active Devon offers fun and healthy ways to get and stay active with activities, campaigns and events for everyone.
Changing the way you travel can bring benefits to your wellbeing and the environment. If you are looking for top walking tips, local walking & cycling trails and car sharing opportunities then Travel Devon has it all.
Learn
Learning new skills and doing new things can improve your mental wellbeing by boosting self-confidence and helping you to build a sense of purpose.
Connect 5 training aims to improve population mental wellbeing by changing the way we have conversations about mental health & wellbeing. Training provides participants with tools & techniques that can be applied within your own everyday life.
Give
Acts of giving and kindness can help to improve your mental wellbeing by creating positive feelings, a sense of reward and self-worth.
Devon Connect is an online community hub, connecting people to their community and promoting social action. Search the Volunteering Opportunities page for a range of ways to get involved in a wide range of projects in your local communities.
Notice
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”.
Taking notice of the nature and wildlife around you while you are out and about is a good place to start. This Naturally Healthy May find out more about opportunities to get involved, including online webinars to learn more about the wildlife and nature you can spot from your doorstep
Suicide prevention – everyone’s business
The popular and well used ‘It’s OK to Talk About Suicide’ leaflet has had a refresh. Developed in collaboration with Devon Partnership NHS Trust, The University of Exeter, Parental Minds and people with lived experience, the leaflet includes advice on how to have a conversation with a friend, colleague or loved one who you are worried may be feeling suicidal, as well as signposting information, and information and support for looking after your own Mental Health and Wellbeing. It is now in a handy ‘Z-card’ format to fold down and be kept in a wallet or purse in case it is needed.
You can order hard copies by emailing [email protected]
Support and advice
Our mental health and wellbeing can be affected by many things. We can all struggle sometimes, and it is important to seek support when you need it.
There are local and national organizations that offer advice and support:
Search Every Mind Matters for free, NHS approved advice and simple tips to help you look after your mental wellbeing
Local mental health support, including crisis support
