2020 has been a challenging year for many: seemingly endless uncertainty, change, loss, and worry have left a great many people in a poor state of mental wellbeing. According to a recent study, rates of depression have doubled and more than half of adults said their mental health got worse during lockdown. This is why we’ve decided to donate £500 to mental health charity, Mind, and shine a light on mental wellbeing as an alternative use of our time and resources to sending out physical Christmas cards this year – an action we hope will have much longer-lasting impact at a time when it’s most needed.
Empowering Those With Mental Health Problems
Did you know that every year 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem? It’s these people that Mind is on a mission to empower: providing advice and support that enables those experiencing difficulties to make the best choices for themselves and their wellbeing. The charity does so through the provision of information and assistance via its confidential call lines and certified publications; operation of localised community services from talking therapies to crisis care; development of campaigns calling for changes in legislation and health services; and so much more. This wide-ranging work towards improving lives at both a national and local level is invaluable to many. In fact, Mind’s mental health information was accessed a staggering 16 million times last year – and that’s before COVID-19 changed almost every aspect as our lives as we knew them.
Mental Wellbeing Amid the Pandemic
The mental health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic must not be underestimated. Month after month of staying indoors, reduced social contact, economic pressures and ongoing worries about the health and wellbeing of those around us have led many people to experience mental health issues for the first time. Moreover, it comes as little surprise that those who struggled before the pandemic have seen their symptoms worsen as a result of the challenges this year has brought with it.
Fortunately, there are steps that individuals can be take to improve and maintain mental wellbeing; even the smallest of positive lifestyle changes can be particularly beneficial to adopt amid the lingering uncertainty of COVID-19. A quick internet search for tips and advice on the subject will bring back thousands of results and a plethora of recommendations at the click of a button, but Mind has compiled a succinct and simple self-help guide. The charity suggests considering some of the following steps in an effort to improve mental wellbeing:
- Stepping outdoors
- Connecting with others (even virtually, for now)
- Looking after your physical health
- Prioritising sleep
- Getting creative
- Managing stress
It’s never been more important than now to prioritise looking after ourselves and one another as we ride the wave of uncertainty surrounding us all. To read Mind’s self-help guide to mental wellbeing in full and to access information and support for mental health problems, click here.
