A new online platform, Every Mind Matters, will allow people to create a personalised mental health action plan.
The evidence-based tool, launched today (7 October) by Public Health England (PHE) in partnership with the NHS, is available for health professionals to advise their patients to use and for the public.
Based on answers to five questions on mood, sleep, anxiety and stress, it offers users five self-care ideas to help them better take care of their mental health.
The platform also offers tips around alcohol use, food intake and exercise, as well as information on common mental health issues and the support available.
More than eight in 10 (83%) people have experienced early signs of poor mental health including feeling anxious, stressed, low mood or trouble sleeping in the last 12 months, according to a new PHE survey.
While these can be a natural response to life’s challenges, they can become more serious if people don’t take action and many wait too long, PHE advised.
The survey also found that over a quarter (27%) of people who experienced signs of poor mental health waited at least six months before acting, with three-quarters (74%) of those who waited this long wishing they had done so sooner.
Every Mind Matters is endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and backed by a coalition of mental health charities including Mind, Mental Health Foundation and Samaritans.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said ‘lots of us don’t know where to start’ when it comes to looking after our mental health.
‘That’s why Mind has been helping develop Every Mind Matters, to empower people with the tools they need to deal with everyday causes of stress, anxiety, low mood and trouble sleeping,’ he added.
‘Taking proactive steps like increasing physical activity and connecting with others can help prevent these issues developing into more serious mental health problems further down the line.’
Health secretary Matt Hancock said Every Mind Matters is an ‘accessible tool to help manage our wellbeing at the click of the button’.
He continued: ‘It will offer vital support to those living with a mental health condition and give each of us valuable and personalised tips on how to better cope with life’s daily struggles, while contributing to tackling the stigma that can still surround mental health.’
