The Five Ways to Wellbeing is a set of evidence-based public mental health messages aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole population. Here at Breakthrough we like to regularly remind students and staff about them and encourage everyone to find ways to incorporate them into our lives.
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life. Our Mental Health Lead, Rachel Gilbert, provides a useful overview:
Connect With Other People
Good relationships are important for mental wellbeing. They can:
· Help build a sense of belonging and self-worth
· Give an opportunity to share positive experiences
· Provide emotional support and allow students to learn how to support others
Be physically active
Being active is not only great for physical health but evidence shows it’s good for your mental health too. It can:
· Raise self-esteem
· Help set goals or challenges and achieve them
· Cause chemical changes in the brain which help positively change your mood
Learn new skills
Research shows that learning new skills can improve mental wellbeing by:
· Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem
· Help build a sense of purpose
· Helps connect with others
Give to others
Acts of giving and kindness can improve mental wellbeing by:
· Creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
· Giving a feeling of purpose
· Learning to connect with others
Take notice
Paying more attention to the present moment can help improve mental wellbeing by:
· Not thinking about the future or the past (anxiety)
· Noticing what is going on in our body
· Helping get out of our heads and noticing what’s in front of us
