1.Talk about our feelings

Talking about our feelings can help us stay in good mental health and deal with times when we feel troubled.

2. Keep active

Regular exercise can boost our self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and our other vital organs healthy, and is also a significant benefit towards improving our mental health.

3. Eat well

Our brain needs a mix of nutrients in order to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for our physical health is also good for our mental health.

4. Drink sensibly

We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.

When the drink wears off, one feels worse because of the way the alcohol has affected our brain and the rest of our body. Drinking alcohol is not a good way to manage difficult feelings.

5. Keep in touch

There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face to face, but that’s not always possible. We can also give them a call, drop them a note, or chat to them online instead. Keep the lines of communication open: it’s good for us!

6. Ask for help

None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things don’t go to plan.

If things are getting too much for us and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Our family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear. Local services are there to help us.

7. Take a break

A change of scene or a change of pace is good for our mental health.

It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress us. Give ourselves some ‘me time’.

8. Do something you’re good at

It is often helpful to ask ourselves “What do you love doing”? “What activities can you lose yourself in”? “What did you love doing in the past”?

Enjoying ourselves can help beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means we’re good at it, and achieving something boosts our self-esteem

9. Accept who you are

We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that each of us are unique than to wish we were more like someone else. Feeling good about oneself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps us cope when life takes a difficult turn.

10. Care for others

‘Friends are really important. “We help each other whenever we can, so it’s a two-way street, and supporting them uplifts me.”

Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to us. It can even bring people closer together.

1. Pray. Light a candle, if safe, and pray for hope, faith and strength to keep loving and caring for each other during this time of struggle.
2. Talk about how you feel. This may be difficult if you are self-isolating, but do use the telephone, internet, and social media. Talk to your Parish Nurse by telephone, via Facetime, or by email.
3. If you need to contact a counsellor this can be arranged by your GP, or via local agencies, or privately. Samaritans are there 24 hours a day, every day, and it’s free to call them on 116 123.
4. Focus on the things that you can change, not on the things you can’t.
5. Look after yourself – physically, emotionally, spiritually. Plan to do things that you enjoy at regular intervals during the day – a TV programme, a phone call, a book, a favourite dish, a game, a short walk.
6. Look after others. Even if only in small ways, do what you can: A smile, a kind word, writing a letter or an email can work wonders.

Psalm 18:1 ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer’