This year’s theme is, ‘mental health is a universal human right’.[1] Good mental health is important for you and your child, which is why we’ve put together simple ideas to support your wellbeing.
In this article, we’re going to focus on building positive mental health, rather than on mental illness, but we know the transition to being a parent is a time when there is greater risk of mental ill-health.
These ideas will be helpful for everyone, but if you’re concerned about your mental health reach out for support. You could speak to your doctor or check out the PANDAS foundation to find out how they can help.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as[2] “... a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”
This means mental health is not only about the absence of illness but also the presence of wellbeing, motivation and resilience.
The five ways to wellbeing can help when you’re thinking about how to support your child’s wellbeing, as well as your own. [3,4]
For each of the ways to well-being, we’ve given an idea for your child, and one for you.
Spend time together – just doing things you enjoy.
Make time to see friends, family or colleagues.
Make sure your baby has time and space to wriggle and move, your toddler or child has lots of space to walk, run, jump and climb.
Find a physical activity you enjoy, this doesn’t need to be a sport or going to the gym, it could be having a daily walk or bike ride.
Slow down – let your toddler look at the ant on the wall, wait for a moment before joining in with their play to see what they’re doing.
Stop and notice what is happening around you, be aware of what you can see, smell and feel. Be aware of how you feel and what you’re thinking about.
The skills and activity screens in the My First Five Years app will help you to get fresh ideas, so your child can keep learning new things without spending lots of unnecessary cash or buying things you don’t need.
Find ways to keep learning yourself too. This doesn’t need to be a formal course, it could be as simple as reading a couple of articles for the ‘Discover more’ section of the My First Five Years app, or listening to a podcast about something you’re interested in.
Get your child involved in household tasks and they will experience how great it feels to help someone. This can be things like donating to charity or volunteering, but it is also simple acts of kindness.
Think about what you could do for someone else. This could be as simple as sending a message to a friend or getting in touch to say thank you to someone. Don’t forget to accept help from other people. We know helping feels good, so don’t think you need to manage alone.
References:
[1] World Health Organization (no date). Our minds, our rights. World Mental Health Day 2023. World Mental Health Day 2023 (who.int)
[2] World Health Organization (2022, June 17). Mental Health. Mental health (who.int)
[3] NHS (no date). 5 steps to mental wellbeing. 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
[4] Aked, J. & Thompson, S. (2011). Five ways to wellbeing. New Economics Foundation. d80eba95560c09605d_uzm6b1n6a.pdf (neweconomics.org)