Looking After Your Mental Health

On this page:

• Mental Wellbeing
• Speak to Someone
• New Referrals for People Experiencing Mental Distress
• Self-Help

Mental Wellbeing

Looking after our health and wellbeing is really important. Our mental health includes how we are thinking, feeling and behaving, and it changes daily, weekly and even monthly depending on our mood and feelings. 

Having good mental health is key to living a balanced and happy life and it contributes to better physical health. Being physically active can also help improve our mental health and wellbeing.

Mental health problems are widespread and common, and people can and do recover from them. Sometimes, however, these feelings stay with us for longer periods of time and develop into more serious problems. If you are experiencing emotions or behaviours that are difficult or hard to manage, please do seek help.
 

Speak to Someone

If you are experiencing mental health problems or need urgent help, there are many resources and support available:

• If you need help but it's not an emergency, talk to your GP, they are there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health
   
• If you cannot wait to see a doctor and feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, it's important to get support - you can find out where to get urgent help for mental health on the NHS website.
   
• If you urgently need help or advice but it is not a life threatening situation, call NHS 111
   
• If it's an emergency, call 999 straight away
   

New Referrals for People Experiencing Mental Distress

You can find more information about the mental health support you can access through referral on our Support for People Experiencing Mental Distress page.
 

Self-Help

Every Mind Matters

The NHS have a free online tool called Every Mind Matters to help you discover simple steps to look after your mental health and wellbeing. Every Mind Matters helps you to create a personalised action plan that gives you practical steps that you can build into your daily routine and help you cope with life's ups and downs - whether it's how to deal with stress and anxiety, boost mood, improve sleep or feel more in control.

You can listen to Berkshire West CCG, Mental Health Lead, Dr Angus Tallini, talk about Every Mind Matters and how it can help in the video below:

You can find out more about Every Mind Matters in West Berkshire on our Every Mind Matters to West Berkshire page.

Other Sources of Support

The NHS website also has lots of information and advice for a healthy mind, including self-assessment tools, help with suicidal thoughts, information about specific conditions and where to get help.

You can view more sources of help and support here.