A-Z of mental health
Information and advice on a huge range of mental health topics
New year, new you
Posted Tuesday 4 January 2011
Well, 2011 has leapt upon us and at this time it's all about new year’s resolutions.
For me, 2011 means a new job at Mind. I’ve just started working here and I thought I would share what I learn about the charity with you. (Let me know via the comments what you’d like to hear about.)
My new year's resolution is get to healthier — both physically and mentally.
After searching around the Mind website, I found that Mind’s advice for new year's resolutions is to think positively about the year to come. Our top tips are to:
- be active: exercise releases endorphins, and is proven to be beneficial for your mental wellbeing. You don't have to be an athlete - a study by Mind found that after just one gentle stroll in the countryside 71% of people had decreased feelings of depression.
- go green: take advantage of the natural ecotherapy available on your doorstep. The same study showed that connecting with nature boosts your mood and lifts depression. So do some gardening or head out for a walk in the park.
- try something new: new hobbies can exercise your mind, you might even suprise yourself. (I'm looking forward to trying out some rock climbing this year - eek!).
- give back: helping your community can be just as rewarding for yourself as those you choose to help. You could volunteer at a Mind shop or local Mind association (find one near to you), or sign up for one of Mind's challenge events like parachuting.
For more tips and ideas for how to approach the new year positively, check out our information on good mental health and looking after yourself.
What are your new year's resolutions?
Taryn Ozorio, Web Producer
10 Comments
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It is rather interesting for me to read the blog. Thanx for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more on this site soon.
Nicky Karver -
All good suggestions, but I do find this sort of stuff rather condescending. I read the Mind blog for real discussion about and people's experiences of mental health issues, not the thoughts of one person. It has evolved into something really special, and I hope this will continue. Sorry, but just my two cents.
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Thanks, Grace. We are going to keep posting dicussion posts based on real experiences, from a range of people - we've got one coming up next week so stay tuned.
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Why does mind think the only mental illness worth talking about is DEPRESSION?
those of us who are seriously ill with scizophrenia and psychosis would perhaps also like ideas to improve our health
like tips for our diabetes control side effect s of anti psychotics like weight gain
diet tips would be useful
issolation is also a problem
Think further than DEPRESSION if YOU DONT MIND
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Ebonycat64, it's not. We don't have many diet tips for people with schizophrenia and pychosis - but there are some in our food and mood guide: http://www.mind.org.uk/foodandmood/food_and_mood-the_mind_guide#need%20to%20eat
Also, have you seen this old article on NHS Choices on fish oils easing psychosis: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/02february/pages/schizophrenia-psychosis-fish-oil.aspx
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Perhaps Mind could campaign against the use of Atypicals anti psychotics like olanzepine
there is an epidemic of diabetes because of these drugs
diabetes is in itself a very serious illness and there is so little being done about it is it because we have schiz and no one cares
Mind campaigned against seroxat why not olanzepine?
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I guess depression does get mentioned a lot as it would appear to be so widespread - over a very wide continuum of severity. I am particularly interested in the management of so-called "mild" depression (and stress) and is something I come across a lot in working people who probably haven't ever consulted a doctor about it. What is interesting is that a lot of the advice for these people can be viewed as condescending or a bit common sense - as in the tips in this post - but the reality is that it is these things that work. So - the challenge remains of how to engage people in looking after their mental health just as much as their physical health by doing things that might be very commonplace (friends, exercise, good food, learning, mindfulness)? And nurturing optimism as a habit too (see my latest blog post on www.creatingfocus.org if you are interested), when it is quite hard work to cultivate these habits?
For me - I start Nordic walking lessons this evening - which is exercise, getting outside (in the dark which I'm not sure counts!), and is a new hobby with a social element too. None of this is rocket science of course which is why it ends up being hard to write about I think.
Best wishes,
Sarah Dale (chartered occupational psychologist) -
I'm sick of all this, depression is an ILLNESS and I WANT RID OF IT!!
Sick of being told i'm lazy and Get a Job! My life wont be worth living once my benefits are stopped. Get up go for a walk, be healthy etc etc etc heard it all before, been there done that, still ill, no help from anyone. I AM NOT LAZY I want proper TREATMENT to GET RID OF THIS DEPRESSION.Those of us who really need help are written off, I've had enough!
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While I welcome anything that helps give ideas on how to improve mental health, there is a danger that tips on how to manage it effectively can somehow belittle what can be a serious and long term health condition for many, myself included. I have Depression and BPD and yes, I walk as much as I can to get fresh air and exercise, eat fairly sensibly and, apart from time signed off sick over this Christmas, am able to work, but trust me, if your mental health is that serious these tips really won't alleviate the bad stuff going on in your head that gives you constant distress. It might increase your esteem a little to know that you're fighting against it. but I'm resigned to the fact that I have a life long condition that I will have to battle everyday and a wee stroll in the park smelling roses will not regrettably make it all go away.
I think Depression is quoted a lot as it is one of the most common mental health - and possibly misquoted - conditions out there that the general public can identify with. I completely agree that those of us with less recognisable conditions need more awareness, but we need to keep tapping away at the consciousness of the public in any way we can with charities like MIND to make them aware that mental health matters, WE MATTER and that for the grace of God, it could statistically be them next some time in the future.
I couldn't care if it makes people uncomfortable - it's taken two years of forcing my own family to face up to the fact that they've got someone who attends the local "nuthouse" (quote - Dad, God love him, he's more sympathetic now especially as it's his side of the family that have a history of mental health issues) in the family that isn't going to shut up and put up and make nice.
Blessed are the cracked people - for we let in the light.
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Taryn
when I raised the issue of diet and schizophrenia, I ment weight control and tips on side effect managements for anti psychotics.
We need Peer support and ways to effectively control the massive weight gains caused by these drugs. We are constantly being told there is an obseity epidemic yet no one is concerned about the gain in weight of people on anti psychotics.I am also concern that there is no support for all the extra diabetics these drugs have caused where is the support?diabetes and schizophrenia is a new dual diagnosis and needs to be recognised
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