Like physical health, we all have mental health – and it's important to look after it. Developing your mental resilience can help you cope with pressure and reduce the impact that stress has on your life.
Focusing on these five areas can help you to improve your mental health and increase your mental resilience:
Connect
Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.
Be active
Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
Keep learning
Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and new confidence.
Staff at the university staff can draw on the support of a qualified coach for personal and professional development. Further information on Learning and Development opportunities can be found here, and on the staff development hub.
Give to others
Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering with your favourite charity or a local community group, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.
Take notice
Be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. This approach of bringing more awareness to our lives is sometimes referred to as "mindfulness". It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.