This year for World Mental Health Day, the theme of 'Make mental well-being for all a global priority' was set by the World Federation For Mental Health.

Mental health has been becoming more of a focus over recent years as the increase in people experiencing mental illness has been on the rise. Around 1 in 8 adults have experienced mental illness, whether it's depression, anxiety or more complex issues. In the UK alone, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50, as research shows men are less likely to seek help.

Mental health is just as important as physical health and there are some things you can try to do to look after your mental health.

5 Ways To Try And Stay Mentally Healthy

Connect With People

Good relationships are so important for mental well-being and this is often something overlooked in todays technology based society. Having good relationships with people, be them friends or family, can help you build a sense of belonging and self-worth, provide opportunities to share positive experiences and provide emotional support. It's important to not rely on technology solely to grow good relationships as this can sometimes leave you feeling disconnected.

Physical Activity

Not only does being active improve your physical fitness but it releases endorphins which can improve your mood, raise your self-esteem and help you set and achieve goals or challenges. If you don't feel able to leave the house, you can easily achieve a simple workout at home following online guides and videos to achieve an endorphin boost. For those that are feeling able to go out and about, the gym or local parks can be a great place to exercise.

Learning New Skills

Learning a new skill is important in so many ways and it doesn't have to be an abstract skill but a practical one. Learning a new skill can help boost your confidence and self-esteem, help you build a sense of purpose and help you connect with others with an interest in the same skill. If you don't have much time on your hands between life and work, learning a new recipe to cook can be an achievable challenge or even trying a DIY project following online tutorials. Taking on new responsibilities at work, signing up for a course to attend on site or online or something such as writing and painting, can all contribute positively to your mental wellbeing. Most importantly make sure it's something you enjoy or have an interest in.

Give To Others

Acts of kindness can hugely improve your mental well-being as they can give you a sense of reward, feelings of purpose and self-worth and help you connect with other people and improve relationships. They don't have to be grand gestures or giving away everything you own to others, but something as simple as saying thank you, really listening to your friends and family when they talk, spending time to support friends and family who need it, offering help or offering your time to support a cause.

Be Present In The Moment (Mindfulness)

Focusing on the present and not being stuck in the past with your thoughts, feelings, body and world around you, can improve your mental wellbeing. This is an awareness that is meaningful and on purpose. Some people call this 'mindfulness' and it can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can improve the way you feel about life and approach challenges.

It's important to remember to seek help and speak out if you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing. Asking for help isn't always easy, but it is always okay.

For those wishing to seek help, we have some helpful contact information below.

UK

• Emergency Services - 999
• Samaritans - 116 123
• HopeLine UK - Suicide Prevention
• MIND - Advice and Help
• SHOUT - Text SHOUT to 85258
• Hub Of Hope - Advice and Support
• CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably

USA

• Emergency Services - 911
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - 988
• Crisis Test Line - Text SIGNS to 741741
• HopeLine - online chat

Canada

• Emergency Services - 911
• Crisis Services - 1833 456 4566 (free)
• Mental Health Mobile Crisis-902 429 8167
• Suicide Prevention - 819 339 3356

Australia

• Emergency Services - 000
• Samaritans - 135247
• LifeLine - 131114

New Zealand

• Emergency Services - 111
• LifeLine New Zealand - Auckland - 09 5222 999 - Rest of NZ - 0800 543 354

Europe

Italy -

• Samaritans - 900 86 00 22

Germany -

• Crisis Support Line - 0800 111 0 22

France -

• Suicide Help - 0033 145 39 4000
• SOS Help - 01 46 21 46 46

European Emergency Number - 112