England and Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Jesse Lingard have added their support to the Every Mind Matters campaign.
Aiming to provide advice for people to look after their mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 lockdown, with data showing four in five adults say it has affected their wellbeing and nearly half have reported high levels of anxiety.
With many people feeling worried, anxious or isolated during these challenging times, Public Health England's Every Mind Matters highlights that there's lots of things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing and help others prevent these concerns from becoming more serious.
And both Lingard and Maguire have revealed the ways in which they’ve been able to try and keep their mind, and bodies, active during the current lockdown.
“Speaking regularly to my friends and family is so important during this time,” revealed Maguire.
“It doesn’t matter how – whether it’s via Skype, FaceTime or just a simple call, it’s good to speak about how you’re feeling with others which supports everyone’s mental wellbeing.
“The conversations give me a lot of encouragement and positivity, which is exactly what everyone needs during self-isolation.”
Lingard added: “I'm doing yoga twice a week at home to help look after my mental health.
“Speaking to my family on a regular basis is also really helpful as they give me support and make me feel connected.
“All of our lives have obviously changed a lot in recent weeks which can be confusing and make you feel anxious.
“Even during isolation I am trying to stay focused and set goals which has helped me maintain a routine and positive attitude.”
The campaign has also been backed by FA President The Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess, who have narrated a powerful new film in support of it which is set to be broadcast across national TV channels from Monday 20 April.
The Every Mind Matters website includes new NHS expert tips and advice on looking after mental wellbeing and supporting your family and loved ones during this time.
It contains new advice, focused on looking after people’s mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic and a range of new resources, designed specifically to help manage our mental wellbeing during coronavirus.
This includes a tailored COVID-19 mind plan, content for individuals and their loved ones and support for specific mental wellbeing issues such as anxiety, stress, low mood and trouble sleeping. The website signposts people to activities such as mindful breathing exercises, help reframing unhelpful thoughts, and muscle relaxation.
Alongside the new COVID-19 mental health support, Every Mind Matters encourages people to complete a personal ‘Mind Plan’, a quick and free interactive tool offering tailored mental well-being advice. More than 1.9m ‘Mind Plans’ have been completed since the launch in October.
The NHS-endorsed content has been developed in partnership with clinicians, academics and leading mental health charities and social enterprises including Mind, Mental Health Foundation, Samaritans, Rethink, Mental Health First Aid England, and offers authoritative, evidence based and practical support to the general public, as well as people with specific mental health concerns.
For more information, search ‘Every Mind Matters’ or create your personalised Mind Plan.
