NMU and Mental Health Awareness Week 18th-24th May

Authored by NMU

As part of our partnership with Mind we are campaigning towards prioritising mental health and breaking the stigma around it.

Many of us are worried about coronavirus and how it will affect us and those we love. This is why we are encouraging you to #SpeakYourMind and reach out to someone who needs a friend with a positive message, or share with them your own tips for coping to make sure they don’t have to face this pandemic alone.

We can get through this together

Based on a recent survey with over 10,000 people, conducted by Mind, the most common coping strategies many of us are using during these times is connecting with friends and family online. And for Mental Health Awareness week, it’s more important than ever that we use our own experiences to help each other.

For those of us with existing mental health problems, we may never have felt more lonely or isolated. We believe that nobody should have to face a mental health problem alone.

That’s why, this Mental Health Awareness Week, we are encouraging you to speak your mind and share your stories so others can see that they’re not alone in the challenges they’re facing.

We can get through this. Together. One day at a time.

SpeakYourMind

#SpeakYourMind and reach out to someone who needs a friend with a positive message, or share with them your own tips for coping to make sure they don’t have to face this pandemic alone. Sharing our stories helps others to see that they’re not alone in the challenges they’re facing.

• Download the Mind templates for your Instagram and Facebook stories and encourage others to join encourage others to do the same using the hashtag:
  • Your top tip for keeping well
  • A nice message for someone
  • One, two, three wellbeing check-in
  • How I’m feeling now
  • Self-care in lockdown bingo
• Join the Mind Tik Tok Challenge and send a message of kindness to someone.
• Download and fill in a poster to share a message with others – either to provide some support, or to share how you are coping.

10 tips for your mental health during the lockdown

With a coronavirus ‘lockdown’ in effect across the UK and many of us working from home, it’s very easy to neglect our wellbeing.

We believe that it is important for us to do our bit by helping and reaching out to those of you who are isolated at home, especially when it comes to managing your own mental health. With that in mind you’ll find our 10 top tips for wellbeing while you are in the lockdown in our recent blog here.

Tips from others

In the research, Mind asked people to share some advice to others to manage their mental health at this time of uncertainty. Here are some of the things that have been shared:

Try to keep to a routine as much as you can – eat and sleep at normal times if possible.

Go for walks if you are able. Take photos of nature. Smile and say hello to passers-by.

I have found that being creative has helped me so much.

Try to remember, nothing lasts forever. You can get through this difficult time.

Speak out about how you feel, you will be surprised at who is willing to help you.

Be kind to yourself. Take it hour by hour – not even day by day.

I find minimising watching bad news on the TV helpful.

Do something creative.

It’s okay to feel however you feel, people cope and react to things in different ways.

Try not to put pressure on yourself to be too productive.

In aid of Mind – For better mental health

We hope to kick-start conversations about mental health, get active and have an ambitious fundraising target for our events of £10,000.

If you’re unable to participate in events with us but would like to make a contribution, you can donate to Mind through our Justgiving page or to our specific events pages here:

• The 2.6 Challenge
• Three Peaks Challenge
• 100 Mile Cycling Challenges

Mind need people like you; people who give their time, money, energy and passion to make sure Mind can be there for everyone who needs them. We hope as many of you as possible will be able to support this fantastic charity and help us achieve our fundraising target.

Authored by NMU