There are many things in life which can positively and also negatively impact our mental health. It is important to take some time out each day to engage in activities which will help to improve our overall mental health and wellbeing.
Here are a few tips which you can follow in order to make a positive difference to your life:

*Keep active: It is recommended that you get a minimum of 20-30 minutes of exercise a day. Find something which you enjoy, e.g. going for walks, swimming, gymnastics, home workouts etc. Exercise does not have to be a chore, find activities which you enjoy and use them to improve your health and wellbeing.
*Surround yourself with company you enjoy: this could be meeting up with a friend for coffee or spending time with family at home. Your surroundings have an immense impact on your mental health so it is important to keep good company who will positively influence your mental health. Due to current lockdown restrictions, it is difficult to maintain a social life. Try catching up with those who you cannot see via online platforms such as Zoom or Skype. These popular video conferencing tools are a convenient way of staying in touch with those who we cannot physically see due to the restrictions and limitations that are currently imposed on us.
*Eat well: You may have heard the popular sayings 'Good food is good mood' or 'You are what you eat'. This is quite literally true. It is difficult to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, so start off by making small changes such as swapping fizzy drinks for water, or replacing biscuits with fruit. These small changes will have a beneficial effect on your health long-term. There are fantastic resources available online which can help you on your health and fitness journey regardless of what your goals may be. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/ for more guidance and tools available to help you.
*Try and get enough sleep: Sleep has a massive effect on our general health and well being, lack of sleep can contribute to irritability, low moods and anxiety. An increased frequency of sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Long term sleep deprivation can lead to serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. It is important to have around 8 hours of good quality sleep in order to function better in our day to day lives.
*Ask for help: Reaching out to people who you confide in to ask for help can relieve some stress you may be experiencing and help you deal with situations better and achieve a positive outcome. There are also many resources available online as well as helplines that you can use during a mental health crisis or emergency:

SAMARITANS:
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION:
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
ANXIETY UK:
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
RETHINK MENTAL ILLNESS:
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
YOUNGMINDS:
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)
NSPCC:
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

For the full list of mental health charities available that provide support, visit; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
If you would like additional advice on any of the topics discussed above, feel free to contact our pharmacy team on 01204 305453 and book in for a telephone consultation with one of our Healthy Living Advisors.

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