Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May) and this year the focus is the power and potential of kindness. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It’s therefore a cornerstone of our personal and collective mental health. So now, more than ever, is a perfect time to celebrate kindness…
Acts of kindness are all around us at the moment… from 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore, walking in his garden to raise money for the NHS, to each and every frontline/key worker tirelessly striving to help and support others.
Kindness is defined by doing something, for yourself and others, that’s motivated by a genuine desire to make a positive difference. Kindness and our mental health are deeply connected as research shows that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships. In addition, kindness towards ourselves improves feelings of confidence and optimism.
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to reset and re-think about what kind of society we want to emerge from this crisis, so what can we all do?”
We know that one act of kindness can lead to many more… so we all need to inspire others by deepening our connections to each other and extending kindness to ourselves.
So, this Mental Health Awareness Week, we ask you to try these three things:
1. Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
2. Use the resources provided by www.mentalhealth.org.uk in your school, workplace and community
3. Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society, that support our mental health, using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek