Prevention strategies for everyone

Here you will find simple, practical tips on how to promote mental wellbeing and help prevent depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions from occurring in the first place.

We all know a bit about looking after our physical health. Eating healthily, getting enough sleep, staying active – that sort of stuff. And while we might not be downing kale smoothies every morning, most of us are aware that our physical health is important and we need to take care of ourselves.

But not as many people realise it’s just as important to look after our mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing is about:

• feeling good emotionally
• functioning well psychologically
• having positive social relationships, and
• having purpose and meaning in your life.

High levels of mental wellbeing are linked to creativity, productivity, a desire to help others, better relationships, good physical health and improved life expectancy.

In other words, you live longer and feel better.

Pretty good, right?

 

The other good news is that by looking after your mental wellbeing you can also lower your risk of experiencing a mental health condition like depression and anxiety.

Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can develop unexpectedly at any point in our lives, but we know that people with high levels of mental wellbeing are at lower risk experiencing these and other serious mental health conditions.

In fact mental health conditions are not inevitable and there are ways we can prevent these conditions developing in the first place. We all have a role to play by looking after our own wellbeing, helping others look after theirs and creating the type of social environments which are good for us all.

• Individuals can use evidence-based strategies to help them thrive and stay well.
• Parents can protect their children from harmful stressors and help them to develop the skills that contribute to resilience and mental wellbeing.
• Organisational and community leaders can create positive social environments that allow people to reach their full potential and reduce their odds of developing a mental health condition.

At Prevention United, we believe there are simple things everyone can do – backed up by research and evidence – to boost mental wellbeing, and work together to prevent mental health conditions from occurring in the first place.