This Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May 2023), NAViGO are reiterating all the ways we can focus on improving our mental health and supporting each other.
Mental Health Awareness Week, now in its 23rd year, is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation charity.
This year’s campaign theme is ‘anxiety’ with people across the UK, encouraged to get involved by sharing their experience of anxiety and the things that can help with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety.
We are using the week to talk about ‘anxiety’; its impact and how to manage feelings of anxiety while reiterating the support and advice on offer.
NAViGO chief executive Simon Beeton explains: “We can all experience anxiety, it’s important that we recognise that, try to understand more about it and normalise conversations about anxiety and mental health.
“There are things we can do to manage feelings of anxiety but it can affect us all in very different ways and to different levels so if feelings do become overwhelming or start to stop us from doing the things we need to do, it’s important to remember that NAViGO are here, and able to offer support.”
Some of the things we can do to manage feelings of anxiety and prevent them from becoming overwhelming include:
- Breathing exercises
- Physical activity such as running, swimming or taking a walk
- Taking time to do something you enjoy such as reading or spending time in nature
- Speaking to friends and family
- Trying to eat a healthy diet
- Keeping a diary or writing down any worries or concerns.
While there are things we can do to support our own health and wellbeing, NAViGO offer a variety of free services providing professional advice, guidance and therapy.
This includes offering non-judgemental signposting to financial advice as well as mental health support — with the current rising price of food, fuel and energy creating added anxiety for many individuals.
NAViGO services are here to support both individuals with ongoing mental health conditions and anyone who is experiencing poor mental health as a consequence of social factors, cost of living pressures and additional strains such as relationship breakdowns.
Anyone struggling with their mental health can telephone 01472 256256 and select option 3, freephone 08081 968442, text ORANGE to 85258 or self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies.
