Community leaders learn five ways to wellbeing

October 7th, 2011

Community leaders attending the October Community & Whanau meeting on Wednesday learned of a new mental health initiative supported by Health Action Trust Nelson called "Five Ways to Wellbeing".

The presentation, prepared as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, aimed to make Motueka's community care workers more aware of mental health issues, illustrating how small things that people can do to help those under stress can provide support that leads to wellbeing, whereas the absense of appropriate support can make small issues into much bigger ones.

Five Ways to Wellbeing is based on a programme by the UK-based New Economics Foundation, at www.nef.org. It is based on the assertion that health is more than just the absence of disease, saying that evidence suggests that building the following five actions into our day-to-day lives is important for our own well-being and that of our workplace and community.

CONNECT...  Social relationships are critical to our wellbeing. Survey research has shown that choosing life goals involving family, friends, social and political life supports and enhances our lives.

Develop your relationships 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...  If you do 20 minutes of moderately intensive exercise, research shows that your mood can be elevated for up to 12 hours afterwards.

Physical activity helps you to feel good so find something that you enjoy and suits your ability. Move your body. Step outside, walk, cycle, play a game, garden, dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suit your level of mobility and fitness.

TAKE NOTICE...  Research shows that raising the awareness of sensations, thoughts and feelings can improve our knowledge of ourselves and our wellbeing for several years.

Be curious, be thankful, 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...  In achieving personal goals to learn something new, research has shown that higher levels of life satisfaction achieved.

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 in instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Be creative. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

GIVE...  We are hardwired to help each other. Research shows that cooperative behaviour activates the brain, and that giving and receiving is the simplest way of developing trust between people and communities.

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.

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