Health Exchange

Patrick Kwesiga, our Mental Wellbeing lead, shares 5 top tips for improving your mental wellbeing to lead a happy healthy lifestyle

In 2008, New Economics Foundation (nef) was commissioned by the UK Government’s Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Well-being to review the inter-disciplinary work of over 400 scientists from across the world. The aim was to identify a set of evidence-based actions to improve well-being, which individuals would be encouraged to build into their daily lives. Five tips to improve every-day life wellbeing were identified. These tips have been acknowledged by National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU) and major mental health agencies across the country. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead reviews the tips.

1. Connect… With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

2. Be active… Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. You could join one of our free, local health walks. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

3. Take notice… Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

4. Keep learning… Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

5. Give … Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, as linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

For more information visit http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/five-ways-well-being.

*Patrick Kwesiega has worked in Mental Health for the past 6 years. He is a qualified clinical counsellor, accredited facilitator and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psycotherapy. He also plays the African drummer.

Disclaimer: The information and tips in this blog should be read with the understanding that different individuals react differently to social, physical and emotional situations. What works for one may not necessarily work for another. It is always advisable to seek professional help when in doubt or mental health crisis.

The colour red can mean many different things. For some red means love, passion and happiness. To other, Red means anger, rage and misery.

In certain cultures the colour red is associated with traditions. At weddings the bride may wear red to symbolise loyalty, success and fertility.

Here at Health Exchange we associate red with Heart and, most importantly, Heart Health.

The heart is a vital organ within everyone. It pumps 23,000 litres (5,000 gallons) of blood around your body. Each day your heart beats 100,000 times and is composed of an intricate group of values, veins and arteries. The main aim of the heart is to ensure a continuous supply of oxygenated blood is pumped around the body and to ensure that any vital vitamins, fats or nutrients are transported to the relevant vital organs.

But what happens if there is a problem with your heart?

An irregular rhythm, a blockage of an artery or additional pressure on the heart. This can mean that the heart does not work as efficiently and has a knock on effect to the other vital organs.

Don’t panic!

With a few easy lifestyle changes we can make sure your heart is working as efficiently as it can!

1. Follow a Healthy Diet – you’ve heard it all before but here are the key points. Eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetable a day, minimise the amount of foods with high amounts of fat, sugar and salt and drink lots of water.
2. Undertake Regular Physical Activity – Ideally do some from of exercise for 30 minutes, 5 times a week.
3. Stay Calm – Stress, pressure and anxiety can all have a bad effect on your health. Try to stay calm and minimise any additional pressures you have.
4. Eat Fish – Particularly oily fish. Try to eat 2 portions of fish a week, with 1 being oily fish such as mackerel, trout or salmon. Fish has great heart protecting goodness within it so enjoy those healthy fish and chips… grilled fish and baked chips!

Hopefully by following these few tips you can start to have a healthier heart and have a better quality of life.

If you would like more information on the services that we provide in connection to heart health, disease prevention and managing an already diagnosed heart condition please call us on 0800 158 35 35 or visit our website www.healthexchange.org.uk where you’ll find lots of information and guidance on how to follow a healthier lifestyle.

Reference: British Heart Foundation – Food Standards Agency –  HEART UK

Denise Walker wins a Wii Fit console, by doing what her name suggests – Walking.

After receiving a pedometer on Erdington high street at our Health and Wellbeing centre, Denise got herself walking and text the number of steps she had achieved. ‘I don’t win anything and to win this is the icing on the cake’.

Not only has she won a games console, she has also earned herself a healthier lifestyle. Since entering she has continued to get use out of her pedometer, adding extra steps wherever she can.

‘I get off the bus (a stop early)… so I can walk a bit more.’

She’s even inspired her family.

‘I use it in the day and my partner uses it at night. He does loads – more than me. We have a little competition but I’d never be able to do as many’.

Before finding us, Denise admits she needed help. ‘I’m so unfit and I don’t know why. I brought a DVD, did the warm up and I was dead.’ ‘I don’t smoke, so why am I so unfit.’

But she got help from our range of offers, including the TXT4U service. It provides personalised and confidential health information direct to your mobile on topics such as keeping fit and exercise.

‘They’re brilliant. Really really interesting.’

Best of all, Health Exchange services are completely free.

With all these new Health Exchange activities and her Wii Fit, Denise is concentrating on looking and feeling great.

‘I cant believe it…(I can) go on holiday now, get fit and look fantastic.’

Click to find out more about our TXT4U service and our Erdington Health and Wellbeing centre