Category: Wellbeing and self-care

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, set out the Government’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November, outlining changes to the support people receive through the benefits system and their plans to get more people into employment.

Great Britain’s most decorated gymnast takes up an ambassadorial role to inspire more people to talk about their mental health.

Men are statistically less likely to talk about mental health. Initiatives such as Bank of America’s ‘walk and talk’ group are aiming to change this. We caught up with a colleague from the bank, Keith, about his experience participating in a recent walk, and how this has positively impacted his wellbeing and supported him to open up more.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition where someone experiences obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, making it challenging to go about daily life. Our ambassador Shakira Akabusi tells us how her earliest compulsions began at the age of four but manifested into something more serious during her first pregnancy. Today, Shakira no longer experiences compulsions. In this blog, she explains how therapy was the turning point in her journey.

It can feel daunting reaching out for support when we’re struggling, and we might not know what help is available. We spoke to Wayne about how he accessed mental health support and how he tried different options until he found something that he felt empowered him and provided him with techniques that he still uses to this day.

When we think of ‘gamers’ we might automatically think of someone who is isolated and perhaps even antisocial. However, in recent years, there’s been more talk about how gaming can actually benefit mental health and help form tight-knit social networks and communities online. We hear from two avid gamers about how the hobby has supported their wellbeing, and what gamers can do to maintain their mental health whilst playing.

It can be a daunting experience to volunteer for a cause for the first time, especially if you experience mental health problems. Anna tells us how volunteering at her local park run helped her to build confidence and brought a sense of connection and belonging into her life during recovery from an eating disorder.

Summer is typically a time for looser, more revealing clothing, but for someone who struggles with their body image — the way they think and feel about their appearance — summer may be a difficult time. For people who self-harm or who have scars from self-harm, it can be even more distressing.

The summer months are typically associated with rest and relaxation, but for people living with poor mental health, summer can be a difficult time. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can take care of yourself and your mental health this summer.