Over the past 2 weeks I have started to evangelise in my role as a Mental Health First Aider. With 2 main messages. The feedback has been pretty good so I'll summarise the key points here.
Know how (mentally) healthy you are?
Tough question but it's absolutely one we should ask ourselves regularly. It's tough because mental health is a continuum; it can change slowly or gradually with no diving lines. The best model I have found to make this question easier comes from The Mental Health Foundation of Canada.
If you are fortunate to be Healthy then work to stay that way. How? My top tips are:
Exercise - ideally every day.
Eat well
Value your sleep
Do a little of what makes you feel good
Spend some time each day doing nothing. No screens, books, music, podcasts, people....nothing. Call it meditation if you like.
If you are Reacting is time to take action. The most useful and productive way of doing this is to develop a Wellness Action Plan
If you are Injured then find somebody to talk to...anybody. A Mental Health First Aider, your Employee Assistance Programme, family doctor a friend...anybody.
If you are Ill please get help
For urgent help & support NHS 111 Call: 111
For somebody to speak to Samaritans Call: 116 123
Not just for Men Campaign Against Living Miserably Call: 0800 58 58 58
For children Childline Call: 0800 1111
For mental health information Mind Call: 0300 123 3393
Look out for others?
If you see indicators in people that they are anything other that Healthy then ask them how they are. They will probably tell you they are "fine" even if they aren't. So....ask them again...like you actually want to know.
Research released by Time to Change reveals that, when asked, over three quarters (78%) of us would tell friends and family we are "fine" even if struggling with a mental health problem.
Ask twice with interest. Listen and take what is said seriously. It can really show that you care and can play a huge part in preventing someone from reaching a crisis point.