What do you do to improve your mental health?

I struggle to maintain a positive attitude to life - in London or elsewhere - unless I can keep myself busy. More of an issue for me is mental health for younger people / teenagers, in particular my son. He has a place at college for next year, but it's clear that COVID has had a massive impact on his plans for travel this year, and on the likely experience he will have at college. His sister at university has had hardly any face to face teaching, and of course many student activities have been ruled out over the past two years - so her expected life experiences have been seriously impoverished. I have found it difficult to follow the 'science' behind lockdown - we have focused almost entirely on physical health, with little consideration given to mental health or economic health. I am disgusted and depressed by those who have not taken up vaccinations, excepting of course those with particular medical contra-indicating conditions. That disgust and depression is especially focused on professional medical staff and sportspeople, who should be setting a strong and positive example. I've been depressed by the poor reporting from the BBC and most of our national media, which has emphasised the few but extreme disconnections across society.

London is the most wonderful city for my mental health- I thnk learning about the history while walking among classic architecture, it is the most wonderful escape- and for the most part it is free. There are parks in London as well which offer natural beauty and often animals. If you can afford it- then theatre is not known as Dr Theatre for no reason- perfect escapism,. I do not connect well - but that is not an issue as there is so much to do in London it is not possible to be bored. When spare cash allows you can always go on a London Walks Tour- and then you will meet with like minded others. Take a packed lunch and a drink and you have the history of London for the price of a travel card.

Years ago I was going away for the weekend to a hotel- my work colleagues asked me where I was going- I replied - London- err??? they said - you work in London, you live in London- yes I said- true- but I am going to be a tourist- people spend 1000s£ to come here every year and I want to appreciate my birthplace as much as they do- and I have never felt depressed when in London since then. And importantly after a long day exploring- a good night's sleep follows. One of the reasons I get low is because I think to much- so concentrating on the city I love does not allow me to wallow in my own issues and little things like discovering a new deli/baker/blue plaque make me happy. Museums and art galleries are often free so rainy days are covered in this plan too.
As Dr Johnson said in 1777-"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."

Running outside on a regular basis is amazing for my mental health. Also going for walks with my wife and talking through things that we're facing. Have recently started playing football again too and that helps.

I am very fond of music, classical music especially, so I like following live performances (now that they are back) by musicians I know already or am hearing for the first time.

The connection can be to the musicians themselves and also to the audience.

I like to spread the news to others about performances and to give feedback.

I suffer from mania, psychosis and depression. I used to drink and smoke as my coping outlet until my health deteriorated.
I still try to manage my mental health on a daily basis as I know I have to work with the medication that I am taking.

I struggle everyday to do the basic normal things like getting out of bed as I have problems sleeping and I find it hard to stay awake during the afternoons and suffer from Chronic Pain. I have a degenerative disc disease.
I get tearful now and again as I am fed up of feeling the way I do I want to be normal. I rarely contact the crisis team as I feel stupid.

I started writing blogs on the Medium platform about subjects of my illness and techniques that I use and now have my own website called The Scripture of Balance for Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health. https://scriptureofbalance.co.uk/ I wanted others to know that they are not alone on this battlefield.

I put my website links on my platforms, LinkedIn and I created a Facebook group for the Scripture of Balance. I have also published an E-book and paperback called 'Let's Talk - My Journey to Sanity' available on Amazon. This book too me a long time to write and is dedicated to my Beloved Father who I lost from cancer.

I am participating in some voluntary work for Newham, as a befriender, and also a Patient Representative for the North East London Cancer Alliance which both combined is a couple hours a week as that is all I am capable of at this time.

Countryside woodland and green belt is good for mental health including catching glimpses of wildlife animals. I'm worried that the open spaces will vanish because local councils keep putting in housing developments. Wildlife habitat is been destroyed on a daily basis. Wildlife animals will be pushed to extinction. Illegal immigrants are causing these issues . Thousands upon thousands have arrived in the UK by dingy boat Which means more homes are needed to be built. The United Kingdom is overpopulated as it is. How many more people can we take in? In a 100 years time green belt woodland and countryside won't exist nether will wildlife animals. It's depressing just even thinking about it. The government should get a grip on immigration