Mental health and wellbeing

The term mental health is used to describe a spectrum from mental health problems and disorders, through to mental wellbeing or positive mental health. This page is about where to get help and support if you need it, as well as how to protect and improve your own mental health and wellbeing.

If you are struggling

At least 1in 4 of us will experience a diagnosed mental health problem in our life, and many more will struggle with our mental health and wellbeing. There is support and help available to you if you or someone you care for finds that they are not coping and cannot manage their day to day life due to their mental health. This can be found with your own GP surgery, in community teams, in hospital and in crisis.

For more help and support speak to Ealing Advice Service

Where to get urgent help for mental health

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health and experiencing distress, or are in crisis, or if you want information and advice about mental health, you can contact the West London Mental Health Trust’s single point of access on 0800 328 4444. Anyone can call the single point of access number 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

If you need help for a mental health crisis, emergency or breakdown, please get immediate help from the NHS

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are bereaved by suicide, there is immediate support

Looking after your mental wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is the positive end of mental health, which refers to both feeling good, happy and enjoying life, and to doing well, such as having positive relationships with others and a sense of control and purpose in life. There are many ways in which you can look after your mental wellbeing and different things work for different people:

Five ways to mental wellbeing

The five ways to wellbeing (New Economics Foundation) are evidence-based steps you can take in your daily life to improve how you feel and function.

  • Connect
    Connect with the people around you. Talking therapy can help. Please talk to someone, whatever your age; talking will help.

    You should also talk with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day. 

    For more information, check out:

  • Be active
    Go for a walk or run, step outside, cycle, play a game, garden, dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness. Check out Active Ealing. You can also download many free apps to encourage you to be active, including:
  • Take notice 
    • Mental Health Foundation’s Guide ‘how to look after your mental health using mindfulness’ and related website, Be mindful
    • You can also download many free apps to support mindfulness practice, including ‘Buddhify’ and ‘Bemindful’   
    • Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
       
  • Keep learning
    Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun. Why not explore:
  • Give
    Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you. Here are some good place to start: