Looking after your own wellbeing
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This section provides guidance on how to look after your own wellbeing and provides details of training courses available to improve your knowledge of mental health and suicide
5 steps to Mental Wellbeing
Scientific evidence points to five steps that we can take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from your life.
If you approach them with an open mind and try them, you can judge the results yourself. To find out more about the 5 steps to mental wellbeing visit the NHS Choices website
Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.
You don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find the activity that you enjoy, and make it a part of your life.
Keep learning
Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?
Give to others
Even the smallest act can count whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.
Take notice
Be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this heightened awareness “mindfulness”, and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
Training Courses
In addition to MHNE's own training offer, there are some excellent training courses available to help you to learn more about Mental Health issues and/or Suicide.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
MHFA and YMHFA help participants to spot the early signs of mental health problems and be able to provide help on a ‘first aid’ basis. Visit the MHFA website to find out further information as well as details of courses taking place in the North East.
These pages have been sponsored by the Office of the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner