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Posted by Francis Whitehead on October 10, 2023
World Mental Health Day takes place on the 10th of October each year and has been celebrated since 1992.
World Mental Health Day is a chance to openly discuss the topic of mental health, spread awareness as well as educate, share experiences, and reinforce the importance of looking after our mental health.
The theme of 2023's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, was 'Mental health is a universal human right', and that it most certainly is!
We are very lucky to think that over the recent years, so much awareness has been brought to light over the topic of mental health and there is a greater understanding and compassion regarding ill-health, gradually eliminating the stigma.
We are also lucky to be able to access research done by charities like the Mental Health Foundation, with tips on wellbeing and mindfulness able to greatly benefit you.
As mental health is something that affects us all, we’d like to share some tips of our own on this World Mental Health Day.
The brain is an organ, much like our hearts and our digestive system, and it deserves to be looked after as best as we can, like any other part of our body.
Protecting our mental health is a pro-active undertaking, and it’s all about preventing problems in the long run and making things easier for ourselves.
In the same way certain actions can have a detrimental effect to your physical health, they can also affect your mental health too. This is why it’s important to be aware of your lifestyle.
Make sure you’re getting a sufficient amount of physical activity every week, be it sport, household chores, anything that gets you moving! After all, an active body means an active mind.
Even 10 minutes of brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy, and positive mood!
Regular physical activity in any form can increase our self-esteem and release “feel good” hormones that reduce stress and anxiety. This means it's a pro-active solution in preventing the development of mental health problems and improving the quality of life of people with existing difficulties with their mental health.
Adults need between 7 and 9 hours' sleep a night, including enough dreaming sleep and enough deep REM sleep (no, not the alternative rock band!). We’ve all had moments where our sleep has suffered, but if this quota isn’t filled over a period of time, then our brains can’t function to their full potential, leaving our mental health can suffer.
If you’re struggling with your sleep, think about making a few simple changes.
For example:
The food and drink we give our bodies can affect the way we feel too.
Food and drink high in sugar, or ultra-processed food like white bread can give us a temporary “high” and can become dangerously tempting or addictive. But they soon leave us feeling exhausted or jittery, as it metabolises in a quick burst, denying our bodies and brains some slow-release, stable energy.
A balanced diet with lots of fruit and veg is essential for good physical and mental health.
Cooking your own meals can be a rewarding experience too and keeps you up and going in the kitchen!
This is the most important one of all. It’s often said that doing good for others can help you feel good yourself, so make sure you do a random act of kindness today!
It can be something as simple as letting someone go first in a queue, walking your neighbour’s dog or taking someone out to lunch.
You can get involved with World Mental Health Day by openly discussing the topic of mental health, checking in with your friends and asking them how they are and how they feel. This is especially important if you’ve noticed any changes in their behaviour or if they’ve seemed more absent than usual.
If you want to spread awareness of the importance of looking after our mental health, you can wear a Green Ribbon with pride.
You can also share a post on social media, including statistics about mental health you feel passionately about, or maybe some of your own experiences with mental health.
Be sure to donate to a good cause like the Mental Health Foundation, as their research can greatly benefit the ways we approach and benefit our mental health for years to come.
Adding on from our wellbeing and mindfulness tips, here’s some handy gadgets that can you follow our handy advice.
To help wash those nighttime worries away and help aid a good, quality sleep, the Lifemax Dreamlight can be of great assistance. It projects a gently illuminating and dimming light on your ceiling, allowing you to synchronise your breathing to encourage relaxation and a deep sleep.
It features six soothing sounds including rainstorms, crashing waves and white noise to help clear distractions from your mind. Put one on your bedside table today and feel the benefits!
To easily incorporate some lovely, nutritious fruit and veg into your tasty homemade meals, this Food Chopper is for you. It houses the ingredients within the container and, using the plunger handle, neatly chops them into small pieces, reducing the risk of cutting your fingers on a sharp knife.
No more faffing around trying to remember how to dice an onion! For a proper mood-boosting meal, you can try these Dopamine Diet recipes from BBC Good Food.
After a long rainy day, the last thing you want is to be heading back outside again. As a way to get some physical activity in at home, this Motorised Electric Mini Exercise Bike can be the perfect addition to your life. This handy exercise aid can be used from a seated position, lying down or on a table to exercise your arms as well as your legs.
This means you can sit on your comfiest chair and catch up on your favourite show at the same time!
How will you be celebrating this year’s World Mental Health Day? Ability Superstore would love to know! If you have any questions or enquiries about any of the products on our website, please do get in touch. We will be more than happy to help!
