Supporting our wellbeing on World Mental Health Day

Tomorrow is World Mental Health day and the theme this year is ‘mental health for all’. This year has been a very challenging year for many of us, which is why it is more important than ever for all of us to prioritise our mental health. Research conducted by The New Economics Foundation (2008) suggests there are 5 key areas we can focus on to support our well-being.

This year, within the current coronavirus restrictions, we might need to think a bit more creatively about how to support our wellbeing. Here are some ideas…

1. Connect

• Schedule a virtual coffee and a catch up with a colleague or friend
• Send a letter or a card to a loved one
• Make a phone or video call to a friend
• Plan an activity with members of your household and be present (turn your phone and emails off!)
• Join an online community around an area of interest

2. Be active

• Go for a 30 minute walk daily
• Use your Fit Bit or a steps tracker to check your daily movement – you could compete against other members of staff
• Do an online gym classes or freely available YouTube work out

3. Take notice

• Take breaks away from your phone and laptop
• Try mindfulness activities
• Notice the signs that you may be struggling with your wellbeing and reach out to someone you trust for support or reach out for professional support

4.  Keep Learning

• Listen to free TED Talks on YouTube
• Use apps such as Duo Lingo to learn a new language
• Access freely available courses online
• Learn to cook a new meal

5.  Give

• Give a small amount of money to a local charity
• Think of a creative way to fundraise as a staff group

Have a look at your Emotionally Friendly Settings manual (pages 42-59 in both our new Primary manual and our brand-new Secondary manual) for more ideas and for a directory of agencies who can offer support to school staff where needed.

Comment below and let us know how you already support your own wellbeing across the 5 areas and something new you might try!