Mental Health Awareness Week

This is Mental Health Awareness Week. The chosen theme is Kindness.

This poem below is on the website www.mentalhealth.org.uk which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. As it is Mental Health Awareness this week, it was thought appropriate to share it. The theme this year is Kindness.

At times like these, when the world feels upside down,
Kindness can be the key to turning things around,
Kindness has the power to create community, support and hope.
A helping hand says you’re not alone when you face that upward slope,
Of course, being kind is always the right thing to do
But did you know that doing good is also good for you.
You see, a little act of kindness can boost your mental health,
It can lower stress and cheer your mood to think of someone else.
So, of course don’t forget to be kind to yourself.
It doesn’t have to take a lot
‘Cause even the smallest spark
Can be the thing to light the way when someone’s world feels dark,
So make that call; share a gift; send some happy post
And this Mental Health Awareness Week,
Remember: kindness matters most.

Many people have been marvellous over the last few months when the country was in full-lock down due to Coronavirus-19. Kindness has been shown in so many ways – from helping to purchase someone’s shopping, to walking their dog. So many different types of kindness that they cannot all be mentioned. Often it is just the small acts that mean the most. For example, keeping in touch with friends and family by telephone, email or social media is good for both you and them.

However, it must be remembered that you must also look after your own mental health and wellbeing, don’t be kind to others and forget yourself. The following are ways that you can be kind to yourself:

As mentioned above, keep in contact with friends by telephone, email or social media. Start writing to a Pen Pal who has the same interests as you. Stay connected to people.
Keep active (both in mind and body) and exercise if you can. This includes relaxation and mindfulness exercises.
Talk about your feelings and concerns. Ask for help if you need to.
Eat well and sensibly.
Do something you enjoy – did you have a hobby? Why not start that again or learn something new? It could be yoga, baking, painting or reading, photography – the list is endless. W. H. Smith’s website has many ideas with books to help you start.
Declutter the house.
Limit your exposure to the News. Sometimes hearing of all world’s problems can make you feel worse.
Remove stress. Are you worried about mortgage repayments, energy bills or other money problems? A good web site to visit is Martin Lewis’s: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/mental-health-guide/
Get a good night’s sleep.
Don’t just remember yourself during Mental Health Week – continue looking after yourself throughout the year.

Some people though, need more help than occasional acts of kindness. They might need help to live in their own homes. If you know someone who is finding it difficult to live in their own home and feel that it would be nice to have a friendly person to help with the mundane everyday chores, then please contact Acquire Care Ltd. This can be done by telephoning the Office on 01865 601010, emailing info@acquirecare.co.uk or visiting the website www.acquirecare.co.uk. The visits can be from short home care visits up to full-time care when the carer lives in the Client’s home with them. Acquire Care’s helpful, friendly staff can make living at home so much easier.