Mental health blueprint

From moderating social media use to changing the way you work, the following expert-led advice will help you protect and understand your mental health better

The UK’s mental health crisis shows little sign of abating. In 2021, the Royal College of Psychiatrists analysed NHS and Office for National Statistics data, and found as many as one in five people were suffering from moderate to severe depression – double the number at the beginning of 2020.

Suicide rates continue to rise and are at the highest among men since 2000. Yet according to mental health charity Mind, just one in eight people with a mental health condition are currently receiving treatment.

However, just like your physical health, there are ways to protect and improve your mental well-being. With advice from therapists, neuroscientists and mindfulness experts, this guide will show you how…

Make use of your GP

The crisis in mental health provision isn’t going away. But speaking to your GP is the best way to access initial support. They can prescribe medication if needed and point you to local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services.

Watch what you eat

A 2020 study by Swedish scientists, which was published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, found that there was growing evidence of a link between poor diet and numerous mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Researchers also discovered that the much-fabled Mediterranean diet, high in vegetables and olive oil, can help protect against such conditions.

Cut back on booze