Mental Health Awareness Week – Kindness

byLauren/January 30, 2024/inNews

Step One Charity staff member at Cypress Hospital showcasing a colorful craft display for Mental Health Awareness Week, celebrating kindness.

Kindness is the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

We have seen some generous acts of Kindness over the past few weeks, with Exeter Gin swapping their speciality from Gin to Hand Sanitisers to support our crisis hospitals, to local residents donning a sewing machine to turn some funky duvet covers into scrubs. We could not be more thankful to each and every person who has been kind and supported us in these times.

Kindness doesn’t have to be a huge act. Kindness doesn’t have to be towards someone else, kindness towards yourself is just as important.

With the help of https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ we have put together some ideas to be kind.

Ideas on how to show kindness

Knit something
Either for yourself or for someone else; local hospitals are always looking for baby/pre-mie hats to support newborns. If you’re new to the craft, use online tutorials and learn a new skill in the process.

Reply to a post online that you enjoy
We all sweep through social media without commenting, or even noticing the content. Why not take the time to post s positive comment to make someone smile?

Book swap
Do you have a load of books collecting dust that you have enjoyed? Why not pop them in a box or in a local book swap (Old phone boxes around the country now serve as book swaps) and give someone else the chance to enjoy your favourite reads?

Say hello to a stranger
With the current lockdown guidelines we are all making the most of getting out for a little walk and some good old fresh air. A simple hello could be the only contact someone gets in a day. So go out with a big smile and get ready to say hi.

Set yourself some goals
Whether for today or five years – goals help to motivate us and concentrate on our mental health.

Plant a tree or do some gardening
Getting outside is beneficial for your mental health. By planting a tree or doing some gardening you are not only helping the environment, you will be contributing to the wellbeing of yourself and our wildlife!

Go to your favourite place
Make some time for yourself today!

Buy local
Small businesses are struggling at the moment. If you can, buy something from a local business rather than a large chain. This supports the business and makes you feel good about where your produce is from.

Text/call someone to say good morning or good night
Kick start someone’s day and/or make sure it ends right.

Write a handwritten letter
Can you remember the last time you wrote someone a letter, just because? Put some time aside to write a personal letter to someone who you haven’t been able to see in a while. Maybe talk about how you are feeling, or what you think is great about them – in 1 or 2 working days a letter through the letter box could make someone’s week.

Fundraise for a cause
If there is something that you feel passionate about, why not fundraise for it? Charities are struggling with donations at the moment so if you have something you can do to fundraise, then support charities by doing so.

Fundraise for us