We’re all about mind health and wellbeing

We all have bad days. Sometimes even weeks or months. Experiencing low mood is a natural part of life – after all, no one can be happy constantly. But how do you know if it’s more than that? The symptoms of depression are varied, but often they also include a strong sense of sadness or feeling ‘down’.

Relationships play a hugely important role in our lives. We humans are social beings, and the way we interact with others has a significant impact on our mental health and overall wellbeing. The chance to be in a supportive, loving relationship is something we all deserve, and studies have shown that those of us with strong social connections tend to live happier, longer, even healthier lives.

Happiness. It’s something we all aspire to. But when was the last time you told someone you were happy – and meant it? Can you define what happiness is for you, and how to stay happy when you get there? If these questions seem hard to answer, you aren’t alone. Despite its popularity in our social media feeds, our understanding of true happiness has become somewhat hazy.

Some of us shine in the spotlight. Some of us can think of nothing worse. The world is full of extroverts and introverts. Show offs and the shy and retiring. But if you’re finding that you dread or avoid social situations because they make you feel uncomfortable, there could be something else going on.

If you suffer from social anxiety – a fear or dread of social situations – then starting university might feel like the worst thing that’s ever happened to you. Likely, Fresher’s Week, the idea that everyone is meeting the best friends they’ll ever have might be your own personal hell if you’re anxious about what others may think of you, worried you’ll say the wrong thing or do something embarrassing.

We all worry about how we look. At some time or another, even the most confident and self-assured give in to insecurities and doubt. I’m to ‘this’ or not enough ‘that’. And in a world filled with air-brushed supermodels and image-obsessed Kardashians, how can we not?

Your energy bills, the weekly shop, filling up the car… the cost of just about everything in the UK is soaring. With inflation at its highest level since 1982 – and more predicted to come – it’s no wonder that more than three quarters of adults feel “very or somewhat worried about the rising costs of living”.

Exam result anxiety is something that hits every single August, with anxious youngsters all across the country experiencing similar fears.

Are you sleeping well? It’s more likely that you’re not getting enough sleep than you are. Around two thirds of adults get less than the recommended eight hours a night. And an estimated 1 in 10 of us are experiencing long-term insomnia.

There’s little doubt that the global pandemic will have an effect on mental health in the UK. Maybe for years to come. Many of us could now be at an increased risk of developing problems.