Health Challenge Cardiff, be part of a healthy city - Her Iechyd Caerdydd, Byddwch yn rhan o ddinas iach

Healthy Mind

Why is it important to maintain positive mental health and well-being?

Good mental health helps us to:

• enjoy our life, environment and the people in it
• make the most of our potential
• be creative, learn, try new things and take risks
• play a full part in our family, workplace, community and among friends
• cope with difficult times in our life, and in time, move on and enjoy our lives once again.

Our mental health doesn't always stay the same but it constantly changes. It is affected, for good or bad, by circumstances in everyday life such as in work, school or university, our personal relationships and even our housing. Some circumstances can make us feel happy and full of beans whilst others such as moving house, falling out with a friend or loosing our job can make us feel down, anxious or stressed. Generally though, negative feelings are temporary and we are able to overcome setbacks.

Sometimes however, our feelings can overwhelm us and they can develop into a mental health problem which we might need help to overcome. This could happen to any one of us at any time of life. Mental health problems are actually quite common. We know that one in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem at some point in their lives that affects their daily life, relationships or physical health. Mental health problems can be mild to moderate such as anxiety disorders or depression or more serious problems such as bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. The good news is that the majority of people who experience mental health problems can get over them or learn to live with them, especially if they get help early on.

What can I do to improve my mental health and well being?

Nurturing and protecting our mental health is not only important in helping us to enjoy and play an active part in everyday life, but also in preventing mental health problems from developing in the future. We can all take some small and simple steps to nurture and improve our mental health - chances are that you are already taking some of these steps without even realizing! Below are some ideas to improve your mental health.

Accept Who You Are

Our beliefs, background, religion, race, gender and sexuality make us who we are. Everyone is entitled to respect, including you. We all have something to offer. Accept who you are - you are an amazing individual with a unique blend of traits and talents!

Keep Active

Regular exercise can really help if you're feeling depressed, stressed or anxious. It can give you more energy too. Find something you enjoy - sport, swimming, walking, dancing or cycling and then just do it. To find out more about the range of activities in Cardiff that you could participate in look at our Physical Activity page.

Do Something Creative

All kinds of creative things can help if you are anxious or low. They can also increase your confidence. Music, writing, painting, poetry, cooking, gardening - experiment to find something that suits you. There are lots of creative and fun activities such as these available throughout Cardiff, please look at the Cardiff Council website in the Adult and Community Learning section for more details of available courses.

Learn New Skills

Learning a new skill can increase your confidence - whether it's for pleasure, to make new friends or to improve your chances of a job. Trying new things can make you feel good about yourself too. There are many fun and interesting classes and courses in Cardiff to help you learn new things, please look at the Cardiff Council website in the Adult and Community Learning section for more details of available courses.

Get Involved

Meeting new people and getting involved in things can make all the difference - for you and for others. You can support others and feel supported too. To find out about opportunities in Cardiff for volunteering look at the Voluntary Action Cardiff or Volunteering Wales sites.

Stay in Touch with Friends

You don't have to be strong and struggle on alone. Friends are important especially at difficult times. Keep in touch.

Relax

Try and make time for yourself. Fit things into your day that help you unwind - listening to music, reading, praying or meditating - find something you will enjoy and that works for you.

Eat Well

Having a balanced diet will not only help the way that you feel but also the way that you think. Try to eat regularly and remember your five daily portions of fresh fruit and vegetables. For more information and ideas about how you could eat a healthy balanced diet, loook at our Healthy Eating pages.

Drink Sensibly

Drinking alcohol to deal with problems will only make things worse. It's best to drink in moderation and to avoid binges too. To find out more about alcohol and how to drink in moderation please look at our Alcohol in Moderation pages.

Ask for Help

Everyone needs help from time to time. It's ok to ask for help, even though it feels difficult sometimes - whether it's from friends and family, or from your doctor, local support group or a helpline. To find out about support groups and helplines in Cardiff look at the `What's going on in my area to support me?` section.

Talk About It

Most people feel isolated and overwhelmed by their problems sometimes. It can help to share your feelings. If you feel there is no one to talk to, you could try a helpline. To find out about support groups and helplines in Cardiff look at the `What's going on in my area to support me?` section.