Mental Health and Wellbeing

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What do you do to improve your mental health?

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Great Mental Health Day is about celebrating the small things we can do to boost our own wellbeing and support each other through difficult times.

The fourth edition of Great Mental Health Day is taking place on 31 January 2025.  

This year’s theme is 'Small Actions for Others' and is a reminder that simple gestures, like checking in on one another, can make a big difference to someone’s mental wellbeing. 

The Mayor supports Thrive LDN – a citywide movement to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Londoners and led by the London Health Board.

Join the discussion

For Great Mental Health Day, Thrive LDN wants to hear from you about your mental wellbeing.

  • What do you do to improve your own mental health?
  • What makes you feel connected to others?
  • What do you do to support others in your community?

Let us know in the discussion below. You can also comment on other members’ contributions or click the heart icon to show support.

Your contributions will help Thrive to promote mental wellbeing by sharing examples of Londoners' stories.

Did you know?

One in four people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. And all of us will experience times when we feel low, worried or anxious.

Signs that you may be struggling with your mental health include:

  • problems sleeping
  • losing interest in things you used to enjoy
  • being tearful, irritable or restless
  • feeling tired
  • changes in appetite
  • negative thoughts and feelings.

Looking after your mental health is important. These tips and tools can help keep you mentally well.

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Comments (158)

Avatar for - Adelie penguin
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I'm engaging with my mental health rather than brushing it under the carpet by taking a course in Psychology in my fifth decade. Never too late to start!

I also, as do many psychology students, have a questionnaire I'd like invite people to...

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I'm engaging with my mental health rather than brushing it under the carpet by taking a course in Psychology in my fifth decade. Never too late to start!

I also, as do many psychology students, have a questionnaire I'd like invite people to take part in, on nature connection and wellbeing.

It's entirely voluntary, and should take no longer than 15-30 minutes, and open to all those aged 18 years and above.

If you can let me know if or where I may share this? 

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Avatar for - Sumatran elephant
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I visit a really wonderful pay-as-you-feel café in Waltham Forest called The Gleaners, which also provides a really wonderful sense of community. It helps my mental health a great deal, but the mental health issues are also generated by...

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I visit a really wonderful pay-as-you-feel café in Waltham Forest called The Gleaners, which also provides a really wonderful sense of community. It helps my mental health a great deal, but the mental health issues are also generated by socio-economic circumstances: London is very expensive and lacking in social housing, for example. A serious deficit in the re-distribution of wealth is present. Also, I won't go into too much details, but I am disabled - I have significant mental health issues that have really precluded me from joining the workforce as much as I'd like. I'd love to be able to talk and interact with other people the way 'neurotypical' people do. As it is, I cannot - so community spaces like The Gleaners help a lot. I sit there and eat an affordable healthy meal and feel like I am not alone, even though on a day-to-day basis, I generally am. But the bottom line is that no community spaces or cafés are going to plug in the more fundamental problem, which has also been discussed here - that socio-economic inequalities and London being so expensive produce mental health issues that nothing else but removing those inequalities and redistributing wealth will fix, in my opinion. 

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Avatar for - Adelie penguin
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Why is the London assembly wasting time and resources on an NHS issue?

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Hi quantum_entanglement

Thank you for your question.

Although the Mayor is not responsible for commissioning or delivering health and care services, he plays an important leadership role by working with partners across London to support and promote good health. You can find out more on the City Hall website.

Talk London

 

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really

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Fast response from the 

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I strive to be kind to other Londoners, smile and do at least one good deed everyday. 

I always shout thank you to bus drivers, train staff and service staff as I think its important to recognise the contributions everyone plays to making...

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I strive to be kind to other Londoners, smile and do at least one good deed everyday. 

I always shout thank you to bus drivers, train staff and service staff as I think its important to recognise the contributions everyone plays to making London a great place to live. London is not the unfriendly place many people state. If you give out negative vibes and energy and always moan, you get that in return 10x over. 

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What do you do to improve your own mental health?

Make sure I do some self-care regularly. Activities that bring me joy and help my mind and body recover from the stresses of everyday life need to be scheduled in, otherwise they get pushed...

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What do you do to improve your own mental health?

Make sure I do some self-care regularly. Activities that bring me joy and help my mind and body recover from the stresses of everyday life need to be scheduled in, otherwise they get pushed aside. 

I spend time wiith friends and family, get out in nature (green and blue), particpate in creative mindfullness activities, sit in slience letting the tension flow through my body and out of my toes into the floor. I used too have a kitchen disco on my own to relax but as I have got older, what helps me has changed. 

What makes you feel connected to others?

Quality social time spent physically with close trusted friends, cultural and arts events, volunteering, some soocial media platforms. 

What do you do to support others in your community?

I am a MHFAider, I run happiness workshops, sleep workshops, facilitate creative workshops and men's heallth and wellbeing and discussion groups. 

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I think getting outdoors is key to improving mental health. Having an allotment or access to a community plot is a great way to meet others & support each other. Every borough should have shared spaces for their communities

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I think getting outdoors is key to improving mental health. Having an allotment or access to a community plot is a great way to meet others & support each other. Every borough should have shared spaces for their communities

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I volunteer at a vibrant community garden every week. I call it my therapy. Made lots of new friends plus physical activity and learning about growing etc

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I walk the dog and pay no attention to the natural, endless stream of thoughts going through my head.  I understand others have their own beliefs and world views and leave them to it. I help others, regularly give to charity.

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I walk the dog and pay no attention to the natural, endless stream of thoughts going through my head.  I understand others have their own beliefs and world views and leave them to it. I help others, regularly give to charity.

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Avatar for - Sumatran elephant
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Honestly, being kind and/going out of my way to help a total stranger… A small act could be monumental to them - something as simple as a bit of small talk and acknowledgment and empathy reminds you of your own value. S x

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Engage in social activity, including sport. Go to church.

Avatar for - Colombian spotted frog
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> What do you do to improve your own mental health?

> What do you do to support others in your community?

 

I came here trying to improve my mental health by trying to take any action... I am so hopeless about the crime in London and that...

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> What do you do to improve your own mental health?

> What do you do to support others in your community?

 

I came here trying to improve my mental health by trying to take any action... I am so hopeless about the crime in London and that nobody in power seems to care one bit. They sit in their Ivory Towers in safe spots whilst the majority of Londoners are left to deal with the scourge of mass thefts resulting from impunity of criminals.

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Shouldn't there be a discussion here on what the GLA does or does not do to create living environments in London that are less damaging to mental health, less stressful for eg? 

Where I live, the GLA member was also a local councillor, and...

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Shouldn't there be a discussion here on what the GLA does or does not do to create living environments in London that are less damaging to mental health, less stressful for eg? 

Where I live, the GLA member was also a local councillor, and he 'delivered' a rejuvenation plan for the main shopping street that failed to take account of the impacts on the residential community on and next to that street. No attempts were made to improve what is called residential 'amenity' - the quality of life in the neighbourhood, that had deteriorated as the street got more successful and busy (more deliveries, more commercial waste collections, more air and noise pollution, etc etc). The plan could very easily have included changes that would reduce night time traffic in the side streets, for example, but these were refused point blank when residents asked for it.  

It is very stressful indeed living in busy shopping areas or in the West End, where noise and air pollution are present 24/7. The noise of day and night deliveries and servicing, and other vehicles, can add an unnecessary burden of stress on everyone, but this can be much worse for people with some mental health issues. Everyone needs 8 hours a night of good quality sleep for physical and mental health reasons, but it is high time local and national government recognised that people also need some relatively quiet time during evenings, for relaxation, for other activities. And that children need to play, to do homework, and more sleep than adults need. Yet the quality of the living environment of residents is ignored by councils and the GLA. 

The GLA should take far more seriously residential living environments, the quality of life that is downgraded by noise, air pollution, unsafe streets, lack of access to essential services and affordable shopping. Where I live there are people who can be very badly affected by the eternal round-the-clock noise. 

 

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Humans are designed to work with brain and brawn and are social beings. We forget these things at our peril. For me, cycling on a well maintained, simple bike always works - to get out in fresh air, (once away from traffic fumes). Less...

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Humans are designed to work with brain and brawn and are social beings. We forget these things at our peril. For me, cycling on a well maintained, simple bike always works - to get out in fresh air, (once away from traffic fumes). Less weight on knees than walking and a lot easier to incorporate into a day than swimming. Gives me time to think and reflect on what is important in life- people, experiences and not the endless pusuit of yet more stuff. This is not to deny the many problems that exist in the world but we all need to be able to step back and see the bigger picture- which is seldom what is presented by any media, be it social or mainstream!

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It would improve my mental health if women could walk around freely and not have to worry about being raped by 3rd world scum! It would also improve my mental health if women could defend themselves with weapons! 

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It would improve my mental health if women could walk around freely and not have to worry about being raped by 3rd world scum! It would also improve my mental health if women could defend themselves with weapons! 

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Make London affordable to working people, families and young people. I work full time in a primary school as a support staff; my son( 29yo)works full time in a secondary school as a TA, my daughter (19) in full time education and we can’t...

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Make London affordable to working people, families and young people. I work full time in a primary school as a support staff; my son( 29yo)works full time in a secondary school as a TA, my daughter (19) in full time education and we can’t find an affordable home to live. Our mental health is at the lowest point. We go to work, always giving our best with a smile and within 15 days we will be living on the streets because every property available, once you put an offer, there is a bidding war. Making renting so expensive. No support available if you work. Working young people are forced to share with 4 or more strangers in order to afford living in the capital. We all are having to pick rent or food. Mental health! Sort the rental market in order to help improve our mental health. 

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Dear Sandrinha,

Thank you for sharing your experiences. 

hope you can access networks or organisations for support. I have included a few links, which you may find helpful. 

For housing advice (including emergency advice) please contact:https://england.shelter.org.uk

Shelter also has a free helpline 0808 800 4444.

You can also apply for housing from your local council, or write to your councillor, Assembly Member or MP about a specific issue:  https://www.writetothem.com/

With best wishes,

Mia

Talk London team

Avatar for - Tiger
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I think you could really help our mental health by making London affordable. No one should need four flatmates and two jobs just to get by. It would help if immigration, especially illegal immigration was halted. The money spent on this,...

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I think you could really help our mental health by making London affordable. No one should need four flatmates and two jobs just to get by. It would help if immigration, especially illegal immigration was halted. The money spent on this, "DEI," and consultations could build more housing. 

Some visas, like student and global talent attract people who are going to contribute to society. Letting in countless "refugees" doesn't help society. Why did we bother to leave the EU if we were still going to have open borders?

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Stop ULEZ, Ban high emissions vehicles straight away. 
Build more alternative road for travel. 
Stop engineering work, if no efficient alternative way. 

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Stop ULEZ, Ban high emissions vehicles straight away. 
Build more alternative road for travel. 
Stop engineering work, if no efficient alternative way. 

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Avatar for - Sumatran elephant
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physical exercise helps maintain good mental health. We need more exercise opportunities, including safe, pleasant walking and cycling. 

Interacting with other individiuals also help. But lack of civic spaces, such as community squares...

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physical exercise helps maintain good mental health. We need more exercise opportunities, including safe, pleasant walking and cycling. 

Interacting with other individiuals also help. But lack of civic spaces, such as community squares, halls, etc doesn't help. Locality based shared spaces help interacting with other community members. 

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Avatar for - Sumatran elephant
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Stressful travelling on buses and trains.  Noise from people shouting on their mobiles in all sorts of languages.  Antisocial behaviour on the streets and roads.  Sometimes people just want a bit of quiet time to think or reflect or read a...

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Stressful travelling on buses and trains.  Noise from people shouting on their mobiles in all sorts of languages.  Antisocial behaviour on the streets and roads.  Sometimes people just want a bit of quiet time to think or reflect or read a book.  My mental health can get quickly poor by other people's behaviours and it makes me moody.  Maybe we need some nice relaxing  music on buses and trains instead of tannoys when they speak you cannot understand what they are saying.  Rubbish on trains is also very annoying and graffitti.

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Timeline

STAGE: Evidence gathering

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Your mental health

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STAGE: Programme design

How your feedback has started to shape London’s road to recovery

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November 2020: Workshops with key partners from health, voluntary sectors, local authorities and community organisations

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December 2020: Mental health and wellbeing impact assessments and action planning with London’s Strategic Coordination Group (SCG) – coordinated by Thrive LDN

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February 2021: Briefing our key partners and stakeholder across the health and care sector and developing our early engagement plans

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March 2021: leadership and governance for the mission transferred to the Thrive LDN Advisory Group, working closely with the Leaders’ Group and Social Recovery Board

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April 2021: Thrive LDN led engagement with the mission’s Working Group to revisit the mission narrative, develop project options and to align expectations of our key London partners

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The Mayor launched a citywide public awareness campaign on bereavement to help direct Londoners to information, advice, and support to cope with their grief.

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June - July 2021: Thrive LDN worked in partnership with Cruse Bereavement Care to deliver free, one-hour webinars on Bereavement and Loss Awareness, aimed at workers or volunteers supporting bereaved Londoners.

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July 2021: Good Thinking started working with faith groups to support the development of further, culturally competent bereavement resources which will be available from the autumn

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Launch of new wellbeing resource pages on the Thrive LDN website, marking the start of the mission's Wellbeing Campaign

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Take a look at what's on offer

Renewed commitment to the #ZeroSuicideLondon campaign as we marked World Suicide Prevention Day

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Find out more and take the training

September 2021: Continuation of a pan-London Wellbeing Campaign, focusing on protective factors. Meanwhile, wellbeing training offers for Londoners and those supporting them begun being rolled out

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September - October 2021: Delivery of a further five Bereavement and Loss Awareness webinars, taking the total to ten sessions

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Find out more and sign up

Thrive LDN and the Mayor’s Peer Outreach Team host London’s World Mental Health Day festival, led by and for young Londoners.

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Read about the festival: Never Alone LDN

October 2021: Engagement around the wellbeing champion concept and resources stepped up

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November 2021: Ubele/BAMEStream trial bereavement training offers to support black Londoners

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November 2021: All London boroughs offered free training for councillors supporting mentally healthier conditions for both themselves and the communities they serve via webinars by Thrive LDN

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Marking National Grief Awareness Week, Good Thinking launched a workbook on how to support a bereaved person in a culturally sensitive way

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Winter 2021: Research into existing 'community champions' networks, mapping what already exists in London and opportunities to engage with and support these champions with additional resources, tools and training

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Celebrated London's first Great Mental Health Day, which aims to get us talking about mental health and how we can improve our wellbeing

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Read our blog post on supporting your mental health

Supported Children's Mental Health Week

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See how Thrive LDN and partners marked the week

Thrive LDN hosted a roundtable on support for children and young people with bereavement and loss, attended by charity partners, policymakers, education sector staff and young Londoners with lived experience of loss

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February 2022: Good Thinking launch faith-based bereavement resources for Buddhism, Judaism and Islam

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Download the faith-based bereavement resources

February 2022: Ubele/BAMEStream hold immersive bereavement workshops for councillors, therapists, community workers and others supporting Londoners from Black or racialised communities experiencing grief, bereavement and loss

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February 2022: Launch of radical self-care training workshops by Thrive LDN in partnership with the Innovation Unit and Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest

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February 2022: projects for the Mayor’s Right to Thrive Innovation Fund underway

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Read more about the Fund

March 2022: Good Thinking launch faith-based bereavement resources for Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism

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Download the faith-based bereavement resources

Discussion stigma and barriers to bereavement support at the UK Commission on Bereavement Faith Roundtable

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Marked the National Day of Reflection with the UK Commission on Bereavement

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April 2022: Launch of a short guide for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of displaced Ukrainians arriving to the UK

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Click here for the guide, training and further resources

9 - 18 May 2022: Marked Mental Health Awareness Week, including a Thrive LDN hosted panel on loneliness and the cost of living crisis

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Catch up on the discussion here

16 - 22 May 2022: Celebrated Creativity and Wellbeing Week with a theme of 'get creative, get outdoors;

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Read more about creativity and wellbeing here

Celebrate Right to Thrive projects at event with KCL

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Hold workshop with champion groups to develop wellbeing champion programme and resources

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What do you do to improve your mental health?

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Londoners have posted 158 comments

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London's Great Mental Health Day 2023

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Register to become a wellbeing champion

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