If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health call the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 24/7 NHS mental health response line on 0800 038 5300. It's free to access by anyone, any age, any time, day or night.
There are many ways you can keep your mental health fit and well, just as you would your physical health. Having a healthy mind and recognising what to do if you start to have a wobble can help you to avoid getting in to a crisis.
If you feel like you're struggling with your mental health head to our help me feel mentally stronger page.
Every Mind Matters
We don’t need to wait until we are struggling with our mental health; there are lots of things we can do to protect ourselves and prevent problems escalating, just as we do with our physical health.
Try the Every Mind Matters tool to create an action plan to help you keep feeling good.
5 ways to wellbeing
Connect
Staying in touch with people or making new friends is just one way to give your mental health a boost. Humans are social, so to prevent us from feeling down or lonely it's really important to make sure we're staying in touch with people. There's more information on the NHS moodzone webpage.
Be active
Being active isn't just good for our physical health, it's great for your mental health too. Head outside for a walk to a place that makes you feel good, and connect with friends if you want some company. There's plenty of ways to get active including dancing, running or going for a swim to name just a few! If you want some more inspiration the How Do You Get Yours campaign has local information on activity. There's also information on the NHS moodzone webpage for being active.
Keep learning
Why not try something different or learn a new skill? You could learn to cook something new in your own kitchen, or sign up for classes to learn a new language or maybe learn to play an instrument. It's also a great way to connect with others or find a new way to be active. Cornwall's Adult Education service has hundreds of courses to pick from. Or why not go try your local library for a wealth of information. If you can't make it to a library try their app Borrowbox to download ebooks and audio books to your phone.
Give
Giving doesn't have to be about finances, it can be about giving your time. It can help you make new friends, keep active, gain new skills, get a job or just to make a difference to someone else. Volunteer Cornwall can help you find the perfect opportunity to suit you.
Take notice
Try to be mindful of what is happening around you, take some time to notice something like the weather. We live in a fast paced world and it's good for our mental health to slow down and just absorb what's happening in the present moment. There's plenty of mindfulness apps such as Headspace or Calm which you can download on a smart phone. For more ideas try the NHS be mindful moodzone webpage.
How Are You Really Feeling?
Another way to improve mental health is to talk about it. If people are less scared of opening up then it will help to stop people getting to crisis point.
If you're not sure how to get started asking a friend how they are then we have a helpful little leaflet, and some top tips to get the conversation started. Head over to our campaign webpage for more information.
Mental Health Safety Plans
A Mental Health Safety Plan is a preventative tool designed to help support those who struggle with mental wellbeing. It may be difficult to think clearly when you’re feeling really low, or feel incredibly overwhelmed, and it may be difficult to ignore these feelings. Safety plans are best created when not in crisis.
By having a safety plan, you’re making sure that there are strategies you can use to keep yourself safe and can help you feel more in control when everything feels out of control. Think of your safety plan as your ‘mental health first-aid kit’; it includes different things that will help you through a crisis.
For more information and to download your Mental Health Safety Plan please see our Mental Health Safety Plan page.
Other support
To find out about other support in your local area visit the following:
- Family Information Service - for you and your family
- Community Directory - for adults
- Information for Carers - for those looking after others
