What do you do to improve your mental health?

I can't really do anything much to look after my mental although I wish I was allowed the chance to. I've trapped in prison of bad insecure private renting and domestic violence. Main benefit for my mental health would be if I was allowed a safe stable home. Unable to do simple things for mental health without that. No fresh air, no friends, nothing.

Group singing is a very useful and enjoyable way of maintaining good mental health. It really helps people who feel lonely and as if they don't belong, and the singing itself releases endorphins (natural pain killers) which help people to feel much better. As a singing leader myself, I really enjoy singing with others. The Natural Voice network lists singing groups if anyone wants to join in (naturalvoice.net)

I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo twice a day to reveal my true self and overcome feelings of being disconnect and hopelessness; I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for my friends' and family members' happiness and wellbeing too, and that enhances my own wellbeing in turn.

why do you waste money duplicating the work of so many charities and the NHS and local councils? It is total overkill and a total waste of money. Absurd mission creep and nothing but socio-political posturing. The Mayor's office should be a model of efficiency and mature policy making. Instead the whole thing looks like PR for the Mayor with a bunch of well-meaning but immature, middle class children throwing money around like confetti on pet projects.

This is a shout if for those with mental health symptoms to where possible, track symptoms. Doing so allows patterns or triggers to be spotted. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is an example of a cyclical illness where fluctuations of hormones cause cyclical mental health symptoms. For some this will be very few weeks from puberty to when hormones subside in your body (age 50).

Don’t ignore uncontrollable rage, sensitivity to light, the unexpected, especially noise, change in appearance - feeling like your face has slid down your face, change in voice tone (husky, grittier than at other times), low mood, rumination, unable to efficiently carry out day to day routine activities (getting up, leaving the house), joint ache and other physical symptoms such as bloating or pain else where. Document for 3 months.

Your GP is a great place to find help. You made need to visit one or two to feel the correct bond when discussing mental health. That is okay.

If family members or friends appear to have cyclical symptoms or symptoms that they don’t notice find information from you tube and Internet in the first instance to get informed about mental illness, symptoms and the language to use. Dedicated Facebook groups can help. Only follow qualified GP and specialist guidance for any treatments and changes to lifestyle, following a diagnosis or advice.

When we gave given our body the opportunity to work at its optimum, we provide ourselves with the energy to keep striving to help ourselves and seek help, however challenging and persevering with seeking support until you are satisfied it makes sense to you and your body.

Optimum self care is vital: access to nature, fresh air, rainbow or variety in diet, relaxation avenues, hydration, grooming routine.

I walk and I read and I try to make sure I make time for myself to do things I enjoy.

In terms of what I do to feel connected to others, I see my friends and family when I can and do the odd group exercise class.

I support others in my community by volunteering for a small charity in the Borough in which I work and I am a befriender (I visit an elderly housebound lady once a week during non-covid times) and I make phone calls for them to other elderly isolated people.

We banned phones from the bedroom (including charging) several years ago, which really helps, and feels very natural after a short time. I feel my life has also been improved by a decision to not turn on my phone in the morning until I am back from dropping my daughter off at school. There is no downside to this for me - there's really nothing that can't wait till 9 o'clock, and I'm sure our morning routine is immeasurably improved by the fact that nothing is competing for our attention.

I have practised yoga exercises for many years and start the day with a simple routine. It seems to me there is a connection between physical and mental health, quiet exercise helps to calm my mind so that the difficulties everyone faces are seen in perspective. The past few years with Covid have been very hard for us all, the isolation of lockdowns is especially difficult and harmful to mental health. I dread another lockdown. Those few quiet moments every morning have been invaluable in getting me through this pandemic.

My local church community in Wandsworth is a huge lifeline!! Wonderful to meet with a range of people and to know their care and support.

The organisation Open Age has been a wonderful help offering zoom classes throughout the pandemic. I was doing some volunteering with them before the pandemic to encourage people to join. As it helped me come out of depression after bereavements. I had some great counselling from the West London counselling centre. I joined many physical classes in Open Age where I have learnt pilates and to dance plus also creative sessions and lectures. Public Acts and their link to the National theatre also had events that helped connect me with others and fed my creativity. Walking in nature at the local cemetery has helped especially feeding the squirrels and observing the trees through the seasons. I did struggle sometimes mentally and my family and friends helped me through. I also got some good excercises from the musculo=skeletal guy at my doctors and now my back pain is not so bad. I did put some weight back on while shielding and I am now watching my diet and excercising to remove it. I am now volunteering with Friendly Welcome Camden working towards resettling a refugee family in Camden.

Never felt the need to think about it. 30 years of managing ME/CFS, on and off prepared one well for isolation.

To be all too brutally honest it's all down to the individual, I suffer chronic pain due to several issues with my back and also have COPD so have worried incessantly about catching the 'vid BUT just find one thing you enjoy and embrace it, for me it's bikes, went out and bought a Harley at end of 1st lockdown and every time I'm feeling close to the edge just go out for a spin and blow the cobwebs away.

Just find that one little thing that matters to you and hold onto it.

What helped me was understanding a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr (American theologian, 1892-1971) 'God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.' Trying to change what you cannot achieve, realistically or practically, just lead to frustrations and stress for me.

By the way, I am not religious but I still found this useful, perhaps you can swap the word "god" for whoever/ whatever you wish.

Solutions are multiple and so they should be. My local park is awful so I take a bus to a nicer one. I visit a gallery, it's free. I watch a good documentary on iplayer, it comes with the BBC license fee. You can go to a cheap cinema like Vue, only £5.99. You can get involved with the community, I am on the NextDoor app which tells me what's going on in my area, and the Olio app where I can give or get free food.
I've also started to contribute art to Grayson Perry's Art Club on Channel 4, the entries are open. Being a creative person helps tremendously. I'm interested in politics so I listen to LBC in the morning, although it can get you down sometimes. I listen to podcasts. I also listen to music which is the best medication against depression ever. Reading is great too and I have several books on the go. Cooking from scratch is a good thing as low-quality meals are a downer for me. It is creative and satisfying.
You don't have to have money for any of these activities, there are always means to get things cheap or free.

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.