Mental wellbeing

We all feel better for connecting with someone, whether that is a day out with friends, spending time with family or catching up with a colleague on your lunch break. Being around people and having conversations or sharing experiences gives us a feeling of belonging and self-worth. Here are a few ideas on how you could connect with others:

• put aside some time in the day to be with your family, for example, all sitting down to eat dinner together
• get a date in your diary to catch up with a friend
• switch watching the TV for playing a game with your children, friends or family
• volunteer for a charity
• use video calls to keep in touch with long-distance friends and family

Have a go at our box breathing or 4-breathing technique. It can help reduce feelings of stress, tension, anxiety and panic, or just bring a moment of calm to a busy day.

• Get comfortable and breathe in for four seconds.
• Hold that breath for four seconds.
• Breathe all the way out over four seconds, then wait for four seconds.
• Breathe in again for four seconds, and repeat the process for as long as you need to.

Alternatively, why not have a go at mindfulness? It can be something as simple as going for a walk and noticing the small details around you, such as the patterns on the leaves on the trees or the birds singing.

You’ll experience more of the benefits of practising mindfulness or breathing exercises the more regularly you do them.

You don’t have to go out and run a marathon to experience the benefits of exercise for your mental health.

From chair yoga to jogging, swimming to having a stroll, any type of exercise can help to release feel good chemicals in your brain. The most important thing is to find a type of movement that you enjoy, so you’re more likely to continue doing it.

It’s been proven that learning a new skill can improve your mental wellbeing by:

• giving you a confidence boost
• raising your self-esteem
• connecting with others while doing so
• finding a sense of purpose

Why not try learning a new language or sport, picking up a new arts and crafts hobby or working on a do-it-yourself (DIY) project to finally fix that broken fence, bike, gate, or shelf? It could even be something as simple as cooking a new recipe for dinner.

We know that this might be easier said than done, given that many of us live busy lives, but even just taking an hour to yourself to unwind can have huge benefits. You could:

• have a bath using your favourite toiletries
• watch your favourite show
• listen to your favourite music

The Haven is for anyone over the age of 16 living in North Lincolnshire who is experiencing mental distress. Support can be accessed by phoning and leaving a message.

The Haven are open 4pm to midnight, and can be called on 01724 279 500.

Our safe space service is an alternative to our crisis service in Doncaster. The service helps people with mental health crises in the community by supporting them with a team with lived experience.

We also have a mental health safe space in Intake, please call 01302 566 999 to access this service.

The Samaritans are a charity to provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or are struggling to cope. You can call The Samaritans free of charge on 116 123.