Every Mind Matters

Every Mind Matters is a national self-help service from the NHS with expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing and discover what works for you.  

Every Mind Matters is one resource that is trying to help everyone to feel more confident in taking action to take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

Nobody feels blissfully happy and thinks positive thoughts all the time. Having good wellbeing is about being able to enjoy life and cope with its challenges. Understanding wellbeing is closely linked to understanding your experiences. Doing activities that help you to experience a sense of meaning and purpose, a sense of control over your own life, and strong relationships with others, are key parts of functioning well.

On the website you can complete ‘Your Mind Plan’ – answering 5 quick questions to get your free plan with tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mind and feel more in control. 

The Five Ways to Wellbeing

Research shows us there are five simple but powerful steps you can take to improve your mental health. These are small changes that can help you feel more positive and get the most out of life.

1. Connect

Connect with the people around you, including family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours. Think of these relationships as the foundations of your life and invest time in them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

2. Be Active

Find a physical activity you enjoy that suits your level of mobility and fitness. You could:

• Go for a walk or run
• Step outside
• Cycle, play a game, or garden
• Dance

The most important thing is to discover an activity you enjoy, as exercise is proven to make you feel good.

For those of us facing mobility challenges, our Move More with Bands page, developed with OMH partner SASP, offers low-impact resistance exercises that target all the major muscles and joints in the body. The whole routine can be performed while seated.

3. Take Notice

Be curious and aware of the world around you and what you are feeling.

• Catch sight of the beautiful or remark on the unusual.
• Notice the changing seasons.
• Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch, or talking to friends.

Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

4. Keep Learning

Learning new things is enjoyable and can boost your confidence. You could try to:

• Rediscover an old interest or try something new.
• Sign up for a course you’ve been thinking about.
• Learn to play an instrument or cook your favourite food.

Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving.

5. Give

Do something nice for a friend or a stranger. Seeing yourself and your happiness as linked to the wider community can be deeply rewarding. This could be as simple as:

• Thanking someone
• Smiling
• Volunteering your time or joining a community group

You can find out more about these five steps on the official NHS Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing page.

NHS Mental Health Guides, Tools, and Activities

The NHS has put together a huge library of free guides, tools, and activities to support your mental health. This includes everything from mood self-assessments and audio guides for stress relief to advice on improving sleep and overcoming anxiety.

Explore the full range of NHS self-help resources here.

Information on Specific Symptoms and Conditions

If you’re looking for information on specific feelings, symptoms, or conditions like anxiety or depression, our dedicated page has more detailed guidance.

Visit our Symptoms and Conditions page for further information.