Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day and our thoughts turn to ways in which we can help people cope and feel better. Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10 October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing. Perhaps this day in 2020 is the most important one yet. After months of lockdown, these tough times have had a huge impact on us all, and prioritising mental health and wellbeing is key. The most common conditions relating to mental health include anxiety, depression, bipolar and eating disorders to schizophrenia and addiction. Depression is more than just feeling sad and can affect anyone at any age and from any background. It is a serious illness that is caused by brain chemistry. Many factors can contribute to imbalances in brain chemicals including genetics, medical conditions, changes in hormone levels, and stress. You can read more here from MIND.

Understanding mental health

There are both physical and emotional symptoms of mental health depression that range from low self-esteem to feeling anxious and worried. Poor sleep patterns, no energy and motivation, feeling sad and low mood plus reduced appetite can be diminished or increased. At the other end of the spectrum, thoughts can turn to self-harm and suicide. For every 100 people suffering from depression, 17 have suicidal thoughts, and 1 in 3 people harm themselves. It is widely known that suicide is the biggest killer in males under 50. Developing a better understanding of depression and mental health will help reduce the associated stigma and encourage those suffering to seek support. It is very hard to prevent depression but there are some things that can be done to promote a healthier mind. Be sure to get enough sleep and exercise regularly, perhaps also take up a hobby or interest. Eat a healthy and balanced diet and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. desk top cooler with glass water

Food and drink boosts mood

By exploring your diet, you can gain tips for improving your mental wellbeing through healthy eating. Good hydration is also vital. If you don’t drink enough fluid, you may find it difficult to concentrate or think clearly. Your digestive system can also become sluggish and puts no one in a good mood. Water is a cheap and healthy option and it is recommended that you drink between 6-8 glasses of fluid a day. Tea, coffee, juices and smoothies do count towards your fluid intake but be aware that these also contain caffeine and naturally occurring sugars. Research has shown that the greater the water consumption, the better the mood. Tension, depression, and confusion decreased when water intake went up. Mood improved, as well as energy levels and satisfaction. If you suffer from anxiety and stress, getting even a little dehydrated can cause feelings akin to panic: dry mouth, flushing, light-headedness, headaches. Getting enough fluid may not cure stresses, but it can at least stop an unnecessary panic due to dehydration.  Try avoiding alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks as they can have the opposite effect.

Wellbeing at work

Wellbeing is about ensuring that we do all we can to stay safe, healthy, and happy whatever we are doing. Oftentimes we are connected with some form of stress at our place of work. Staying healthy and alert is key for maintaining both morale amongst employees and achieving healthy productivity levels. if you are happy in your work, you will be more likely to turn up every day. But you will also be motivated to do a good job and every employer loves the idea of a contented workforce. So how do we help ensure that we come into work with the best attitude possible? Here we look at a few well-proven tips and why it is so vital to top up on water throughout the day no matter how busy you happen to be!

lady drinking water from a reusable sport bottle

Hydration helps health

 It is vital that your teams have easy access to fresh, pure drinking water. And that you positively encourage your team to drink water throughout the day, it has shown that dehydration does affect our mental, mood, and cognitive state. Install enough plumbed in water coolers or fountains in the breakout area and a couple around the busier parts of the workplace and there will soon be a marked improvement. Coolers serve up chilled, pure-tasting, filtered water that quenches thirst and helps achieve the ‘8 glasses a day’ guideline. Good for your team and also the environment. By filling a reusable bottle it helps cut buying single-use plastic bottles. Whether you opt for water coolers, self-fill fountains or instant boiling taps, hydration is vital for health and wellbeing, positively affecting your mood. [caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignnone" width="200"]-woman-enjoying-cup-tea young woman enjoying a cup of tea[/caption]