Mental Health

This year, the theme of World Mental Health Day 2020 is focused on greater investment in mental health care and research. And it’s never been more needed Over the past decade, mental health awareness campaigns have been changing lives. From individuals reaching out to their loved ones and communities, celebrities facing the media to shine

It’s time to stop begrudging our stretch marks, moaning about our shape, or resenting our poor eyesight – and instead remember just how wonderful our bodies really are… Our bodies are amazing – they help us explore the world around us, and enable us to live our best lives possible, and yet, so often we

Data from Counselling Directory reveals a 175% increase in people aged between 18-24 looking for mental health support throughout September Following concerns over students’ mental health and wellbeing due to Covid-19 restrictions, Happiful’s sister site Counselling Directory shares that there was a sharp and worrying increase in the number of 18-24 year olds looking for

The Institute for Optimum Nutrition is calling for consumers to opt for real food this winter, instead of overly processed diet food Over the summer, the government announced a new obesity strategy amid fears that obesity could lead to a higher risk of serious illness, or death, from Covid-19. Displaying calories on menus and banning

Samaritans warns that mental health services in England are inadequate and more people will suffer if improvements are not made Although it may not seem like it, at its root, self-harm is a way of protecting ourselves. As human beings, when we are hurt in some way, we have an emotional response. If this emotional

From overthinking to being told to ‘calm down’, we explore the things we have in common when it comes to living with anxiety When we’re going through periods of poor mental health, it’s easy to feel isolated from other people and the world around us. After all, there’s so much going on inside our heads,

Save the planet, save money, and save time with these DIY, environmentally-friendly tips Glow-up Whether you manage to get abroad this year, or are venturing to the coast for a staycation, the last thing you need is to miss out on fun because you’re left guarding the valuables. SOLUTION: Clean out an empty sunscreen bottle

Columnist Grace Victory shares essential steps towards accepting that your health and wellbeing matter, plus ways to start taking better care of yourself today The concept of ‘self-care’ was first introduced to me in 2016, when my therapist at the time asked: “So what do you do to look after yourself?” And I didn’t have

The skincare mega-brands and supermarkets seem set on reminding us women and men are completely different, but our skin has more similarities than we think. Is it time to think skin-type not sex-type when it comes to choosing our bathroom products? Walk down any cosmetics aisle, and it’s clear that the gender divide is alive

Do you find your mood takes a dip over the winter months? If so, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder. But the good news is, there are ways to boost your mood During the dark winter months, many of us may notice a drop in our mood. With shorter days and gloomy weather, research

The World Health Organization (WHO) finds critical mental health services significantly disrupted and some even halted in first COVID-19 global survey The survey of 130 countries found that 93% reported devastating impacts of the pandemic on their mental health services. A first of its kind, the global data highlights the urgent need for more funding

When anxiety takes over, soothe your racing mind with these uplifting, empowering affirmations Whether it takes place over a prolonged period of time or just before a big event, anxiety can throw us off course, creeping into the rest of our lives and preventing us from going about our daily routine as normal. Our minds

More so than ever before, the mental health of the deaf community is being impacted by world events. It’s time to read the signs, and lend a hand to those in need The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the world greatly, and we’re all getting used to the ‘new normal’ list of leaving-the-house essentials – your

Co-founders of the Love Sober community and authors of Love Yourself Sober, Kate and Mandy explain how we’re making our anxiety worse with alcohol Have you ever had that feeling of dread when you wake up after a night out? Or woken up at 4am after a couple of glasses with your heart racing? Perhaps

As France doubles paid paternity leave for new fathers, we ask, how could this change benefit dads’ mental health? At the end of September French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to double paid paternity leave for new fathers, from 14 days to 28. Coming into action from July 2021, the change has been welcomed by

With her new book being your go-to guide for all things freelance, who better to share the secrets of how to protect your mental health while bossing your own business, than Fiona Thomas? If you’ve struggled to get back into the regular nine-to-five rhythm, or are in need of a career change, then setting up

Does social media negatively affect your body image? Do you feel that you have to edit your selfies to post them online? You’re not alone It’s undeniable that having a healthy body image is important for our mental health. Research has found that higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life and

The global anti-racism protests convinced Jane it was time to embrace her heritage, stop trying to fit in, and confront the prejudice she had faced for years How did I cope, as a millennial Asian migrant, during the global anti-racism demonstrations? I was surprised how the Black Lives Matter movement really affected me. Everywhere I

Four postboxes across the UK have been painted black to celebrate Black History Month in October The Royal Mail postboxes located in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast each feature an image of a previous Royal Mail stamp that honours a significant figure from the Black British community. Faces in history Sitting on Acre Lane, Brixton,

A staggering 78% of business leaders experienced poor mental health when COVID hit. Experts warn upcoming tighter restrictions could spur a second wave According to Bupa Global’s Executive Wellbeing Index, more than three-quarters of business leaders have experienced poor mental health due to the pandemic. With the threat of a second wave on the horizon

Ready meals may well have a bad reputation, but is it actually deserved? We say they don’t have to be unhealthy, and have some tips to make them a little more nutritious… The humble ready meal offers a lunch or dinner solution in a matter of minutes. Whether you’re craving a bowl of pasta, a

Personal trainer Jemma Thomas shares her top tips for returning to exercise after a break Taking a holistic approach to health is something we highly encourage here at Happiful. We know how body and mind are connected and recognise the impact exercise can have on our mental health. This doesn’t mean it’s easy though. Taking

Follow these tips to harness pockets of positivity when you’re going through periods of helplessness We all feel hopeless every now and then – whether it stems from anxiety about things that are out of our hands, or in situations where the challenges seem immense. It almost feels like an understatement to say that 2020

More people are struggling with their mental health than ever before, as the biggest study of its kind finds an ‘explosion’ of anxiety in British people The financial crash, austerity, Brexit, climate change, and social media. These are all things that researchers blame for a dramatic rise in the number of people living with anxiety

When it comes to finding your purpose, Jay Shetty has been on a unique personal journey. But now, the former monk-turned-global keynote speaker, life coach, and podcast host is sharing the insight and wisdom he’s learned I’m excited to read this article, because I’ve shared so many things I haven’t said before,” declares Jay Shetty

A new survey has revealed that one in four Brits has watched post-apocalyptic films during the pandemic New data released by NOW TV reveals that Brits have been turning to apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian movies as a source of comfort and entertainment during the ongoing Covid pandemic. Popular films featuring end-of-the-world scenarios, along with cult

As restrictions come back into force, and a second lockdown is on the cards, we reached out to Happiful readers to find out how they are feeling in the wake of the latest Covid-19 announcements It was something that many of us were beginning to suspect would be the case, but when PM Boris Johnson

The world produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic every year, and this can take up to 500 years to decompose. So is it possible to kick the habit? Happiful’s Kathryn Wheeler gave it a go Cards on the table, when sustainable online shop Let’s Go Plastic Free challenged me to give up plastic