Rochdale and District Mind reach out to people in need

Mental health charity Rochdale and District Mind has created a booklet for people living in Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood who are struggling both physically and mentally.

The booklet has been written specifically for the coronavirus pandemic, due to the toll it has taken on people's mental health, with techniques including breathing and mindful meditation practices.

Mind gives a guide on how improve mental health, splitting goals into smaller chunks, ensuring they are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

People are being encouraged to recognise bad thoughts, stand up to their inner demons and Mind is giving people positive ways they can view their situations.

These techniques are intended to redirect the thoughts away from negativity, helping people stay grounded in the present.

Mind also uses this booklet to remind us there are things we can do to keep our emotions positive, including listening to music, remembering good times, being kind to others.

The booklet states that by skipping breakfast can result in headaches by lunchtime, negatively impacting our emotional state, and urging people to maintain the habit of a breakfast of cereal, toast or fruit, by paying attention to the tastes and textures of what we eat, and moving our attention through the areas of our body, starting from the head and moving down to the toes.

Mind emphasises consistency, which it says is easier when we start small, allowing ourselves to gradually increase and improve, for example with exercise, by starting light stretches on day one, or by gardening or going on a walk.

However, it also stresses we must not put too much pressure on ourselves and that in these difficult times, the best we can strive for is to be kind to ourselves and others.

To prevents feelings of social isolation, Mind recommends we make arrangements to talk with friends either over the phone or by a video call or write meaningful letters or emails.

Rochdale and District Mind Information Line can be contacted via 01706 752 338.

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