Mental Health Awareness is not something to just think about for one week of the year and is not just about mental ill health and diagnosed conditions. It is about maintaining our mental wellbeing; managing stress, taking time for ourselves and generally feeling good.
This affects all of us, but many people fail to recognise that and so fail to look after their own mental wellbeing. In the worst case this could lead to an eventual breakdown or period of ill health, but for many it means we are not functioning at our best and not feeling as good as we possibly could do.
Mindful Employer is an NHS initiative supporting mental wellbeing at work. They have produced a short film that explores how anxiety affects the ability to work and carry out other day-to-day activities, and highlights key ways to aid recovery. The film considers how it feels to experience generalized anxiety, panic attacks, OCD and PTSD and some practical ways in which to aid and achieve recovery. Check out the video on YouTube.
Just as there are steps you can take to look after your physical health, there are practical ways to improve your wellbeing; the Five Ways to Wellbeing:
- Connect with your community
- Be Active
- Take Notice
- Keep Learning
- Give and Volunteer
There are many local organisations like Oxfordshire Mind that offer practical ways to help you build the five ways into your life. Try some of the activities below; make a positive difference to how you feel and Thrive in Oxford!
Connect with your community
Talk to the people around you; with your friends, family, colleagues and your neighbours:
- discover your neighbourhood with Next Door. Or of course you could just say hello, wave or smile at a neighbour!
- join any local group/activity - your local Community Centre will have a lot going on for all ages
- join an Oxfordshire Mind Peer Support Group or Restore Recovery Group
- find out about how the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are supporting the Heads Together Campaign and encouraging conversations about mental health
- Age UK Oxfordshire run a telephone befriending service for over 50s
- find Counselling Services in your area.
Be Active
Find an activity you enjoy; go for a bike ride, take up dancing, do a spot of gardening or just step outside for a walk!
- GO Active can signpost you to where you can do more sport or physical activity
- Active Body, Healthy Mind offer supported sport and physical activity sessions for people experiencing mental ill health
- find out about swimming, the gym and classes at your local Fusion Leisure Centre
- Generation Games is an activity network for over 50s run by Age UK Oxfordshire
- Access Sport provide opportunities for 5-25 year olds to experience and enjoy the power of sport
- move more with advice from the NHS
- swap your drive into work with a walk or cycle in perhaps? Or try getting off the bus a few stops earlier and strolling the final leg in
- take the stairs and ditch the lift!
- see our timetable of local activities below for some suggestions
Take Notice
Be curious and savour the moment whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends:
- start a mindfulness course with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre
- take a lunchtime walk with a colleague
- simply take some time to enjoy the moment
Keep Learning
Try something new or re-discover an old interest. Sign up for a course and learn how fix a bike, cook a new dish or start a new career:
- check out Adult Learning courses at City of Oxford College or Abingdon & Witney College
- sign up Oxfordshire Mind’s Practical Ways to Wellbeing courses
- find a recovery-focused workshop at Restore
- get some tips on eating healthy and cook a new recipe from Healthier Families
Give and Volunteer
Do something nice for a friend or stranger; could just be giving them a big smile or volunteer your time to do something worthwhile:
- volunteer locally with:
- find other opportunities through Oxford Community and Voluntary Action
More information on mental health
For more information visit the Oxfordshire Mind website.
