Good to Talk · Things you can do yourself · Free. Always.
Leave the four walls for a bit
Self-help is not the right tool for an emergency. If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E. If you need urgent mental-health help but it is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental-health option.
Getting outside will not fix every mental-health problem. It can still be a useful part of looking after yourself.
Make it easy
Ten minutes around the block counts. So does sitting outside with a brew, walking the dog or taking a phone call while moving.
Combine benefits
Walk with somebody and you get movement plus connection. Go earlier in the day and you also get daylight. Pick somewhere green and you may simply enjoy being somewhere that isn't the kitchen.
Don't use it to dismiss real illness
“Go for a walk” is not an adequate response to somebody who needs mental-health treatment. Activity can sit alongside proper help.
Self-help doesn't mean alone
Good to Talk home · When to get help · When self-help isn't enough
Sources & further reading
- NHS Every Mind Matters — mental wellbeing tips
- NHS Every Mind Matters — mental health issues
- NHS — self-help
Self-help can support mental wellbeing, but it is not a substitute for professional assessment or treatment when those are needed.