Five steps to wellbeing - people reminded how to improve mental wellbeing on World Mental Health Day

People are being reminded of how they can take steps to improve their wellbeing for World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

Earlier this week Wiltshire Council launched the Wiltshire Health Improvement Hubwhich will assist people who want to improve their health and mental wellbeing.

The Wiltshire Health Improvement Hub will use Health Improvement Coaches to support people to make practical changes to improve their health and mental wellbeing through one-to-one support.

The council also continues to work with partners including supporting Public Health England and the NHS's Every Mind Matters programme which has been endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RGCP). It enables people to create a personalised action plan recommending a set of self-care actions to deal with stress, boost mood, improve sleep and feel in control.

As half term approaches Every Mind Matters also has a range of information to support children and young people and their parents/carers to talk about mental health and the current situation and how to navigate the COVID-19 situation.

People can find ideas and simple accessible resources, on the Wiltshire Council website at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-mental-health. The page contains a link to the Every Mind Matters Platform

The page also includes five evidence-based steps people can take to improve their mental wellbeing:

• Keep connected. We all benefit from good relationships - do you know someone who would like a chat over the phone?
• Be active, look after your physical health
• Take notice and appreciate what you have. Take time to look around you, what do you hear and see? Take a moment to relax and enjoy the autumnal colours.
• Keep learning. Make time for hobbies and interests
• Get involved in your community. Give to others. A smile goes a long way!

People can explore a variety of ways to exercise and try new things by looking at the active communities page on our Active Communities page on our website .

Cllr Simon Jacobs, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Public Protection said: "COVID-19 has had an impact on all of us and during these challenging times it is so important we all take better care of our mental health. We are trying innovative ways to stay in touch with each other and these five ways to wellbeing provides us with further steps we can all follow to make changes for the better."  

Dr Andrew Girdher, Clinical Chair, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

"Mental health is every bit as important as physical health and, in the same way you would ask a friend if they were OK if their leg happened to be bleeding, it's important to check how they are when they seem distant, quiet or upset.

"As friends and relatives, we can only do so much, but there are a number of resources out there, many of which are listed on the CCG website, that can help a person in need.

"GPs can also signpost people to local support services, while also sharing their own insight, knowledge and experience."