Most of us are aware of the National Campaign to raise awareness and get rid of the stigma that has been associated with every kind of mental illness for generations.

This is being supported all over the Country. Foresight’s Mental Capital and Wellbeing has drawn on research from across the world and commissioned the Centre of Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation(nef) to develop ‘Five ways to wellbeing’ that will improve personal wellbeing.

Each of the five ways has been printed in detail on a string of perforated postcards.

Did You Know?

The cards:

‘Five ways to wellbeing’

were distributed and proved to be so popular that stocks were soon exhausted. A reprint has been put in hand.

Under each of the five headings here is what the cards advise:

CONNECT
Connect with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstone of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

BE ACTIVE
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

TAKE NOTICE
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

KEEP LEARNING
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

GIVE
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

IF WE PUT OUR MINDS TO IT, THESE ACTIONS ARE ALL SIMPLE AND EASY TO ACHIEVE. IMAGINE WHAT THE EFFECT WOULD BE ON OUR SOCIETY IF EVERYONE ADOPTED THEM AS A GUIDE TO THEIR LIFESTYLE!

‘Your wellbeing in mind’ appears on the new logo for the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and is part of the new image they are projecting.

The Anti Stigma and Awareness campaign is backed by the Government, the Lottery, the Media, Comic Relief, Rethink, Foresight, nef, time to change and many more including everyone working to improve the lives of those suffering and the people caring for them.

valley lad – [SEVENTYONE]