Are you feeling low, anxious or lonely?
Here are some things you can do to help or improve your mental wellbeing. Connecting with others can make all the difference.
- Get involved with local community activities – singing, walking groups, book clubs, bingo etc.
- Help others – volunteering can be a great way to stay involved and meet new people.
- Invite a friend round for a cup of tea or keep in touch by phone.
- Try to do something every day – plan small things to look forward to.
- Learn to love computers – connect with others online and browse the web.
Your local social prescribing service can assist with connecting people and can be accessed through local health and social care teams or your local GP surgery. You can find contact details for social prescribing services and befriending organisations in the ‘Useful Contacts’ below.
Memory loss
Not all problems to do with our brain are caused by dementia and many are reversible such as vitamin deficiencies or an under active thyroid. If you have concerns about memory loss or brain function such as:
- Struggling to recall recent event
- Forgetting the names of close friends or everyday objects
- Lack of concentration such as putting your keys or wallet in the wrong place
- Loss of motivation to do things
- Losing the drift of what you are saying
- Finding everyday tasks confusing to perform
- Changes in your personality, mood, behaviour or social functioning
it is important to get things checked out by contacting your GP surgery.
Some conditions make us more at risk of developing dementia but there are also things we can do to help reduce the risk such as:
- Make sure your hearing is as good as it can be by accessing hearing services.
- Try to exercise regularly.
- Aim to reduce smoking by accessing smoking cessation services.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol (less than three units per day).
- Ensure someone is keeping an eye on your blood pressure.
- Look after your diabetes if you are living with this condition.
- Keep an eye on your weight as obesity can increase your risk.
- Connect with other people socially as this helps keep your brain active.
- Relax and aim to get a good night’s sleep (eight hours).