Top tips for looking after your mental health It is important to take care of yourself â both physically and mentally. Below are some tips to help you. â˘K eep active and get regular exercise â this helps you sleep, concentrate, look and feel better. Regular exercise is good for your mind and body. â˘D eal with practical problems when they arise â this prevents them from being overwhelming and unmanageable. â˘B uild and maintain friendships â friends and family give us support and comfort. â˘C are for and help others â this helps us to feel good about ourselves.
⢠Recognise the signs of poor mental health and ask for help â ignoring problems only makes them worse. None of us are superhuman. If things get too much, family, friends or health professionals can offer help. ⢠Talk about your feelings â this helps us digest and process whatâs going on so that we can begin to find solutions. Bottling up worries just makes things worse. ⢠Accept who you are â this is an important part of valuing and taking care of yourself. ⢠Take time to relax and unwind â this helps our resilience and helps us to get a good nightâs sleep. ⢠Do something youâre good at â enjoying yourself can help you fight stress and boost your self-esteem. ⢠Eat and drink healthily â our brains and bodies need a mix of nutrients to stay healthy. A good, balanced diet is good for your physical and mental health. Drinking too much alcohol is not a good way to manage difficult feelings â once the drink wears off youâll feel worse.
Useful contacts If you would like more information or support with a mental health issue, here are some useful contacts. â˘C ambridgeshire and Peterborough Psychological Wellbeing Service: 0300 300 0055 ⢠Lifeline out-of-hours number for mental health service users: 0808 808 2121. This is available 7pm-11pm, 365 days a year. ⢠CPFT website: www.cpft.nhs.uk â˘N HS 111 service: Dial 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but itâs not a life-threatening situation. ⢠Samaritans: Call 116 123 ⢠Mind infoline: 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am - 6pm) ⢠Saneline: 0845 767 8000 (everyday 6pm - 11pm) ⢠Childline: 0800 1111
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