Make Your Move for Your Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place each year in May. It’s an opportunity for the whole of the UK to come together to focus on the importance of our mental health. The week aims to tackle stigma, get people talking about mental health and promote ways to prioritise our mental health and support others.
This year Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from Monday 13 May to Sunday 19 May and the theme is “Movement: Moving more for our mental health.”
Research has consistently found that being physically active has a significant, positive impact on our mental health and overall wellbeing. Regular movement has been found to reduce stress, increase energy levels, improve mood, boost self-esteem, and enhance overall brain function.
Many of us struggle to incorporate enough movement into our busy daily lives. This year we want to help you find ‘moments for movement’ in your daily routines. Whether that be; going for a walk on your lunch break, dancing to your favourite music, chair exercises or stretching whilst watching the tv – it all counts, small steps can make a big difference.
On this page you will find resources, activities, and information that we hope will support you becoming more active during May and beyond.
Every step forward is a step towards better mental wellbeing.
Support
Mindline and Open Mental Health: If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out for help and remember you are not alone.
Call Mindline – Somerset’s Emotional Support and Mental Health Helpline on freephone 0800 138 1692 or local 01823 276 892, open 24/7 or you can use the webchat service on the Mind or Open Mental Health website between 8pm and 11pm every day. Alternatively, you can email support@openmentalhealth.org.uk.
For more information about local support services and ways to look after your mental health please visit: Support with your mental health page.
Information about the campaign as well as downloadable and printable resources to help make moments for movement in our daily routine to improve our mental health.
Activity resources
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week
Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership
SASP is dedicated to increasing the health and happiness of residents in Somerset through physical activity and sport.
They inspire and enable positive life choices through sport and physical activity and do this by:
- Providing accessible opportunities locally for all ages and abilities, prioritising those who are least active
- Addressing inequalities and removing barriers to physical activity and sport
- Supporting clubs, communities, schools, and the workforce to embrace physical activity
- Bringing together organisations and partners to create positive change to enable active lives for all
All Somerset activities are on their ‘activity finder’ which covers all external community providers – Somerset Moves activity finder.
Unbreakable Men programme (for men)
Unbreakable Men programme – Face-to-face sessions across Somerset, Mental Health MOT quiz, App and Facebook group
In It Together programme (for women)
May courses include:
- Beginners running sessions in partnership with the Canal River Trust
- Paddleboarding sessions
- Beginners yoga in partnership with the National Trust
More information available on What’s On? (inittogethersomerset.co.uk) and In It Together programme page.
Free Park Yoga for men, women, adults and children:
Returns on Sunday 5 May 2024. This will be held at Vivary Park in Taunton, every Sunday at 9.30am.
Activities for families:
- Active at home resources
- Activities for kids – Healthier Families – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Get Outside in Somerset website for all things nature and wellbeing
Activities for older people:
- Health walks
- Love to pedal
- Move with bands and more
Find out more by visiting Things To Do – Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership website.
Workplace Resources
More information is available on Workplaces Toolkit page.
These resources can play an important role in helping people integrate and connect with one another in a group environment. They can also enhance your objectives by helping to stimulate cooperation, participation and can provide a focus or stimulus for discussion and reflection.
Mental Health Foundation resources
- Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation
- Resources for Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 | Mental Health Foundation
- Top tips to help you move more and maximise health benefits – Boost your mental health by moving more | Mental Health Foundation
- Action for Happiness website – Happier Kinder Together | Action for Happiness
SME Walk for Wellbeing - 14 May at 9am The Quantocks
New Leaf Workplace Wellbeing and The Outsourced Recruitment Company have collaborated to create this event for Mental Health Awareness Week.
Join Becky Wright, Laura O’Driscoll and other local businesses in highlighting the importance being active has on our mental health. They both want to help people to find moments for movement in their daily routines for some self-care.
This walk will be gentle, but the ground can be uneven. They will announce the exact location when we confirm nearer the time. £5 donation goes to The Samaritans in Taunton. The walk will go ahead rain or shine.
Find more on SME Walk for Wellbeing page.