CALM’s suicide prevention campaign was designed to highlight how difficult, and in some instances, impossible it is to spot when someone is struggling, and at risk of taking their own life. It encourages people to save a life by removing the stigma around mental health, and making it part of everyday conversation. The message

We offer fast access to a range of psychological therapy services, including counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), clinical hypnotherapy & Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, with appointments available in person, online and by telephone. See Therapy services for more information.Working in partnership with local services, the Be Kind To Your Mind campaign is here to improve awareness and understanding of mental health across West Oxfordshire; highlight ways in which you can improve your health and wellbeing through self-help techniques and recognise the services which are providing invaluable support. Catching myself at the moment the negative self-talk starts to happen, as if to ‘nip it at the bud’ before it spirals into something more. I also make sure that I talk about what I�

Studies have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased feelings of well-being. 1 Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active. 4 This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem. 5 There is some evidence to suggest that when we help others, it can promote changes in the brain that are linked with happiness. 2 It creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation Detox from Excess Stimulation. Our brains were not designed for this 24-7 world we are living in. In fact, they were designed to do far less. We are overusing them, and that is what is contributing to the rise in mental illness. Our brains are designed to sprint, then rest. When we constantly bombard ourselves with input, we are failing to ever truly rest. Integrating a workout, meditation, a nap, yoga, or listening to music into your day will actually make you more productive, not less.Finally, I'd like to leave you with this quote by the Dalai Lama: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Don’t overfill your list with too much – you don’t want to feel overwhelmed with an unrealistic schedule. Instead, work out the absolute essentials you need to achieve and break them into manageable chunks. You can always add other things if you're feeling productive. Because the more you do now, the easier your week becomes! 8. Schedule in personal work Filmed pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak* In this video, we asked members of the public what they do to show themselves some self-compassion and love. During harder times, or maybe just after a difficult day, make a point of doing something to show yourself kindness and compassion. What's more, social media is not an indication of success. People only post their best stuff – they do not openly share how many times they have failed or the challenges they have been through to get to where they are. 11. Cultivate confidence (not ego)

Think about your comments and replies. Try not to say nasty things, or pile on where somebody questions another person’s actions For example, volunteering and helping others can help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends, and connect with our communities. 5,6 Volunteering is a great way to help others and research shows that it benefits people of all ages, by increasing feelings of self-esteem, social connection, and well-being. 5 Mental health campaigns are on the rise – and it’s not hard to see why. The past few years have upended our lives, and with a cost of living crisis now upon us, it really feels like we can’t catch a break. It’s been a rough ride, to say the least.Being kind to my mind in times when my mind is unkind to me means being patient with myself, doing lots of self-care and using my inner pause button to ground myself. Sometimes it is incredibly easy for me to get lost in the negative self-talk spiral and I have to reach out to those close to me and tell them that I am having a hard time.