The importance of mental wellbeing
One in four adults and one in ten children experience mental illness during their lifetime. Improving your mental health and wellbeing is associated with a range of better outcomes such as:
- Improved physical health and life expectancy
- Better educational attainment
- Increased skills
- Reduced risk of suicide
- Improved employment rates
- Higher levels of social interaction
Having a brief healthy conversation about mental wellbeing
Ask
Use open discovery questions to make the most of conversations by recognising an opportunity to discuss health and wellbeing. This could be 'How are you?' or 'How are you finding everything at the moment?'
Acknowledge
Acknowledge the response by using healthy conversation skills such as active listening, reflecting or showing empathy. This will allow for a joint understanding of the support a person needs.
Act
Take appropriate action to either give information, signpost to a local service or refer them yourself. Remember that the solution must be person centered and they must want to change.
Local support
Across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland there are services in place to support those with their mental health.
Start a Conversation - www.startaconversation.co.uk is an online hub committed to supporting mental health and wellbeing within the community. Providing advice, guidance and information covering a range of topics and connecting you with local services.
Perinatal Mental Health - Around 1 in 5 women will experience mental health problems during or after pregnancy and 70% will hide or underplay the severity of their illness.
The Perinatal Mental Health Service team in Leicestershire provides personalised and specialist care to people living in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland who have complex or severe mental health problems relating to pregnancy, childbirth and the first year following a child's birth.
Useful resources
Start a Conversation - www.startaconversation.co.uk/
5 ways to mental wellbeing - www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing
About mental health - www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/about/
Every Mind Matters - https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
Being outside enjoying nature, green space and blue space offers many benefits to our emotional and mental wellbeing. To find information on local parks, open spaces and cycling routes nearby please visit - https://www.active-together.org/myway
Health for Under 5's - https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/leicestershire/services/specialist-support/mums-mind-perinatal-mental-health-support-service/