Mental wellbeing
Activities and resources to maintain a healthy mind
There's a huge amount of resources out there to help everyone improve their mental health and you can start now!
In life-threatening emergencies, always call 999.
When help is needed urgently and professional help is required, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust have a comprehensive list of support.
Take the quiz to help create your own personalised mind plan. Every Mind Matters offers tips and advice to deal with social isolation, getting a better night's sleep and improving mental health. There are also resources for children and young people.
The NHS Mental Wellbeing Audio Guides are available to help boost your mood, sleep and confidence.
It is very common to feel worried or scared in the current situation but talking about how you’re feeling can really help. As well as reaching out to friends or family members there are also professionals available to talk, check out this list NHS recommended helplines
Physical health through exercise and eating well directly links with our mental wellbeing.
NHS Better Health is here to kickstart your health. Whether it's to quit smoking, get active, lose weight or look after your mental wellbeing - they've got online tools to help.
Download apps to plan weight loss, eat healthier, quit smoking, complete couch to 5k and more. There's plenty of online class programmes and support...so let's do this!
Help and support others within the Borough or in the county. Think about how you could help the people around you; check in on your family, friends and neighbours. Volunteering can boost confidence and mood, as well as keeping the mind busy on constructive tasks.
The Borough's SportWorks, HealthWorks and Sustainable Transport teams have many projects and opportunities for everyone:
- Health Walks
Organised walks led by a qualified walk leader. We organise walks every week throughout the year come rain or shine.
- Activities in your area
For children and families, young people, and adults. - Referral programme and classes
For those with health conditions who need extra support - This Girl Can Eastleigh
A celebration of active women doing their thing - time to get moving how you damn well please! - We Are Undefeatable (Eastleigh)
When you’re managing a long term health condition, being active is about finding what works for you.
The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust have some ideas of how to help and learn about wildlife from home.
Visit local country parks and go for a cycle or walk in the many beautiful places across the Borough. Listen to and feel your surroundings to be in the moment and separate from your worries.
Mental Health First Aid England have put together some guidance to support your mental health whilst working from home. As more of us are working at various 'desk spaces' around the home and in between childcare and homeschooling responsibilities, it's unfamiliar territory for many. It's worth taking a look at their animation/PDF to keep connected and aware of the support out there.
Have you only got 5, 30 or 60 minutes to boost your wellbeing? The County Council have created Five Ways to Wellbeing, regardless of how pressed time is.
- Download the SolentMind app - "Keeping on top of your mental health is something everyone can benefit from. This app supports users to take positive steps in their lives and to take control of their emotional wellbeing in fun and engaging ways, such as guided breathing activities and an interactive mood tracker. It is a tool to be used alongside other therapies or to complement ongoing support, allowing users to strengthen their mental wellbeing."
- The MIND charity have brought lots of useful information and resources together around staying at home and staying on top of things.
- CALM are offering a free resource pack from soothing sounds and audio guides (including for children), mindful movement exercise videos and a lot more.
- Rethink Mental Illness have created an online hub to help people with mental illness and those who support them.
Eden Project Communities is funded by the National Lottery and has designed a number of eCards and social media cards with which to reach out to friends and family.
Sometimes just letting someone know you're thinking of them can brighten their day.
Use them to offer support, remind them to take care of themselves or simply say "Hi!".