What is self-care?

If you are struggling with your mental health, it may be helpful to hear that you are not alone and that there are many things you can try to help improve your mood.

1 in 4 people in the UK will experience issues with their mental health at some point in their lifetime and it can be useful to have some top tips you can use to help you if you are feeling anxious, low or depressed.

Using these tips to help you feel better is sometimes known as “self-care”.  Really this means making time to look after yourself and your wellbeing, both physically and emotionally.  It’s about doing things that make you feel better such as listening to music that makes you feel good, taking a nap or doing a doodle! Many of these things can be done with no special kit or equipment and for free or at a very low cost.  The important thing to remember is that self-care, will look different for everyone, as one person might feel better after a walk whereas for someone else it’s about giving yourself permission to chill and do nothing at all and knowing that’s ok.

Find out for yourself the things that work for you. Click here for more information on ways of supporting your mental health.

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

• w: Mind- Self-care for mental health problems
  
• w: BBC BItesize- What exactly is self-care and why do we need it?
  
• w: Young Minds - What is self-care?