How happy are you?
Mental wellbeing - some people call it happiness - is about more than avoiding mental health problems. It means feeling good and being able to cope with everyday life.
Having good mental wellbeing doesn’t mean that you never experience difficulties. Everyone can go through tough times but having good mental health and wellbeing can help you feel that you have the resilience to cope.
There are five steps that we can all take to improve our mental health and wellbeing.
V Voice
Talk to your friends. Spend time with your family. Good relationships build better mental health.
O Observe
Live in the moment and focus on the now to really see, hear and feel what’s around you.
C Connect
Giving your time and energy to someone else can help give you a new sense of purpose.
A Active
Getting active releases a hormone that reduces stress, anxiety and tension. It helps to clear the mind too.
L Learn
Learning something new can make you feel more confident. It’s also a great way of connecting with other people.
More information
For more information on opportunities to Get Vocal in Blackpool:
Voice
There is strong evidence that feeling close to and valued by others has a positive impact on our wellbeing. FYI Directory has information on local community groups and social clubs
Observe
Being more mindful and living in the moment is a skill that can be developed.
Mindfulness and other wellbeing courses are delivered by Blackpool Council Adult and Community Learning
Connect
There are many small ways we can connect with others through giving such as taking the bins out for a neighbour or supporting a friend who is going through a hard time.
Volunteering can be a great way of giving something back, whilst also improving your wellbeing. Interested? Try Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Volunteer Centre or Blackpool Council Volunteers Team
Active
Regular physical activity is linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Did you know that walking briskly for just 10 minutes counts as exercise? Download the free Active 10 app to track your daily walk.
For a wide range of sport and leisure activities, check out Active Blackpool and Blackpool FC Community Trust.
Learn
Learning throughout your life can help you to meet new people and improve your self-esteem.
There are lots of opportunities to learn, ranging from full and part time courses at Blackpool and The Fylde College, to picking up DIY skills online or gaining a computer qualification with Blackpool Council Adult and Community Learning
Ask for help
If you're finding things really difficult, you might walk to talk to your doctor about a more specialised mental health service.