Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but as today is mental health awareness day, it is a great day to look after your own wellbeing and show support to others.

Mental health describes how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day to day life. Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health.  Mental health problems affect around 1 in 4 people*.

How to take care of your mental health

• Talk about your feelings – talking can help you take charge of your wellbeing
• Keep active – regular exercise can boost your self-esteem, can help you concentrate, sleep and overall feel better
• Eat well – a diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health
• Drink sensibly – drinking alcohol is not a good way to manage difficult feelings
• Keep in touch – it's good for you to catch up with friends and family face to face or over the phone
• Ask for help – its ok not to be ok, so ask for help if you are struggling
• Take a break – a change of scenery or pace is good for you
• Do something you’re good at – enjoying yourself can help beat stress
• Accept who you are – accept your uniqueness, don’t wish you were someone else
• Care for others – supporting others uplifts you as well as them

Worrying about money can negatively affect your mental health and for those people experiencing mental health problems it makes it harder to manage their finances. Problem debt can also be linked to suicide.

According to Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, over 420,000 people in problem debt consider taking their own life in England every year, while more than 100,000 people in debt actually attempt suicide annually**.

Police Mutual are here to help. We want to break down the stigma surrounding debt and get people talking about money.

We’ve teamed up with PayPlan, one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, who offer free and confidential advice to anyone in serious financial difficulties.

They’re able to advise you on a range of debt solutions suited to your individual circumstances, helping to protect you and your family with a sustainable way to manage your debt.

Get free and confidential help to combat your debt, call PayPlan on 0800 197 8433

Police Mutual offer a range of wellbeing support services, for more details check out the For You pages on our website www.policemutual.co.uk

All of our Relationship Managers and Financial Wellbeing Consultants are trained Mental Health First Aiders

*According to Mental Health First Aid Organisation
**Money and Health Policy Institute report ‘a silent killer’ Published December 2018

Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual is an incorporated friendly society Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.