COVID-19 has impacted the whole country; for almost everyone, life has had to change fundamentally. Research shows that since the start of the pandemic there has been an increase in a range of mental health conditions for adults, from low wellbeing, sleep problems and anxiety to depression.
But there are things that people can do to support their mental health and wellbeing at this time.
On 18 January Public Health England will launch the Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign to support the nation’s mental wellbeing with the encouragement that “When things aren’t so good out there, make inside better”.
Approach: This “Make inside better” 2021 phase of the campaign will run across across PR, radio, social and digital encouraging people to create a free NHS-approved ‘Mind Plan’. Over 2.6million people have already created one of these personalised plans that provide practical steps they can take to help manage the current external pressures on their mental health and wellbeing.
The Every Mind Matters platform has also been continuously updated to support people during the COVID-19 outbreak, and has a COVID-19 hub that includes tips and support on how to deal with change, cope with money worries and job uncertainty and how to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home. It also includes practical tips and videos from experts on dealing with stress and anxiety, boosting your mood, sleeping better and what you can do to help others – including advice for parents and for children and young people.
How have you been feeling lately? If you’ve been struggling with your mood, stress, anxiety or sleep take the #EveryMindMatters mind plan quiz to get your personalized mental wellbeing action plan.
There are simple things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing. Take the short Mind Plan Quiz from Every Mind Matters to get a free NHS plan, full of tailored tips and advice to help you manage stress, sleep better and boost your mood. #EveryMindMatters, also see below videos:
| Breathing exercises | Mood journal | Staying active |
Children and young people
The past few months have been hard on everyone, including our kids. But there are lots of things we can do to support them at this time.
Better Health – Every Mind Matters will help you find what’s right for your children – whether it’s listening to them talk about the challenges they’re facing or helping them develop skills to cope with their emotions.
Better Health – Every Mind Matters provides tips and advice to help parents and carers support children and young people when coping with stressors including starting new schools or colleges and building relationships with friends again.
The new NHS-approved guidance on the Better Health – Every Mind Matters website will help parents and carers to spot signs that their children are struggling with their mental wellbeing, understand how to support them with managing their emotions and deal with unhelpful thoughts.
The NHS-approved advice includes:
- Be there to listen: Ask the children and young people you look after how they are doing regularly so they get used to speaking about their feelings:
- Stay involved in their life: Show interest in their life and the things that are important to them
- Support positive routines: Be a positive role model and support positive behaviours including regular bed routines, healthy eating and getting active
- Encourage their interests: Being active, creative, learning things and being a part of a team are all good for mental health. Support children and young people to explore their interests
- Take what they say seriously: help the children and young people you look after feel valued in what they say and help them work through difficult emotions.
Parenting can be tough, and it’s important to make sure you look after your own mental wellbeing as well as your family’s. Along with the benefits for you, doing so can also help you support others when they need it.
Better Health – Every Mind Matters is here to support you.
Call to action:
- Search Every Mind Matters for expert tips and advice to support children and young people with their mental wellbeing.
- Every Mind Matters shows parents and carers the steps they can take to look
- after their children’s mental wellbeing, visit https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/everymind-matters/.
- Every Mind Matters will help you find what’s right for the children and young
