Wednesday, 18 July 2012
The Aneurin Bevan Gwent Public Health Team has launched the ‘Gwent Five Ways to Wellbeing Network’ with the aim of helping professionals promote and protect the mental health & wellbeing of the population.
Dr Gill Richardson, Executive Director of Public Health, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, explains “Positive mental health and wellbeing is important for everyone. The ‘five ways to wellbeing’ are the wellbeing equivalent of five fruit and vegetables a day.
“They are simple things people can do to protect and promote their own wellbeing, and can readily be incorporated into daily life.”
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are based on the New Economics Foundation (2008) review of the most up-to-date evidence of individual actions that promote welbeing.
They are:
Connect... with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be active... Swap your inactive pursuits for active ones. Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Walk or cycle when making short journeys. Being active makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take notice... Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Keep learning... Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Give... Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
For more information, please visit www.publichealthwales.org/gwentfiveways
Source:
Public Health Wales
