Make your mental health and wellbeing a priority this World Health Day

At Everymind, we believe that everyone has the right to, and capacity for, optimal mental health and wellbeing. Being mentally healthy and living well is important to every single one of us.

Sometimes it can be so easy for us to take our mental health for granted; to prioritise other things; to put it off until next week. It can also seem too big and too hard. But it’s not.

This World Health Day, we’d like to encourage everybody to take some time to focus on their mental health; reflect on how they are feeling and what they can do to look after themselves now and in the future.

To help you get started, here are 10 great things you can do today:

• Get enough sleep and rest: sleep affects our physical and mental health, but can be the first thing we trade in when we get busy or stressed
• Take time out for things you enjoy: balance in life is important, so taking time out for things you enjoy can make a difference to how you think and feel
• Be active and eat well: our physical and mental health is closely linked, so adding exercise and nutritious food every day can make us feel better
• Nurture relationships and connect with others: our connection to others is what builds us up and keeps us strong
• Learn to manage stress: if you have trouble winding down or managing your thoughts, you may find relaxation, yoga or writing your feelings down helpful
• Get involved and join in: being part of a group with common interests provides a sense of belonging so find out about sporting, music, volunteer or community groups locally
• Build your confidence: learning improves your mental fitness and taking on a new challenge can build confidence and give you a sense of achievement
• Be comfortable in your own skin: everyone is unique and should be celebrated. Know who you are and what makes you happy
• Set realistic goals and deal with tasks one at a time: it is good to be specific when you set a goal to help keep you on track
• Reach out for help when you need it: everyone needs support from time to time. Talking to a family member, a friend, your doctor or one of the many services available can make all the difference.

Mental health and wellbeing is important to individuals, families, schools, workplaces and communities. There is a role for everyone to play.