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Looking after your mental health
   Last updated: 28.10.05
 
There is a lot you can do to look after your own mental health.

Take care of yourself

  • Make sure you get enough to eat, and try and take pleasure from food.

  • Getting a good night’s sleep is very important to both your physical and mental health, and not getting enough sleep can trigger emotional and mental health problems.

  • Take some exercise that you enjoy.

  • Drinking too much alcohol and recreational drug use can also contribute to emotional and mental health problems.

  • Try and deal with work, relationship, money or housing problems as soon as possible.

  • Allow yourself some pleasures from life.


Be kind to yourself

  • Don’t hate yourself for being who you are.

  • Don’t judge yourself harshly.

  • Set yourself achievable goals and standards, reward yourself if you achieve these, and don’t punish yourself if you do not.


Talk to somebody

  • Don’t bottle up worries or concerns.

  • Don't isolate yourself.

  • Join in with activities.

  • Try something new.


If you find things too much

  • Ask for help – there will be somebody who can help you.



Supporting somebody with mental health problems
Family members, partners and friends can be a very valuable source of support for people experiencing mental health problems.

But to effectively provide this, you need to make sure that you are looking after yourself and not neglecting your own mental health needs.

Providing support

  • Accept that mental health is as important as physical health and that your partner, family member or friend cannot just 'snap out' of their mental health problems.

  • Talk to your partner, family member or friend about what they’re going through.

  • Take an interest in their physical and mental health.

  • Provide encouragement to seek help and treatment and to remain on it.

  • Understand that mental health problems can be debilitating and that recovery can take time and is likely to involve both good and bad periods.

  • Ask before making plans – accept that activities which you think me be pleasurable can seem overwhelming to a person who has mental health problems.



Provide for your own needs

  • Make sure you take care of your physical and mental health.

  • Make sure you talk to people about how proving support is affecting you.

  • Be honest with yourself about the level of support you can provide.

  • Seek help if you find you cannot cope.