There are times in all our lives when things can feel a bit too much. It can be stress at work or worries about our family or our health. It can be feeling lonely. Sometimes it is difficult to know where to turn to receive the help that you need and the problem escalates. There are simple things we can do to support our mental health.
Being able to talk to an animal has a restorative effect on our wellbeing. We are encouraged to get outside into the fresh air. Even if you don’t have a pet, you can enjoy the company of animals on a walk, or maybe you can sit and enjoy the birdsong in the garden. Some of us are lucky enough to live in the countryside and just seeing a deer or pheasant, listen to the skylarks or hear the bark of a muntjac can lift the spirits on an evening stroll and add so much pleasure to being outside.
But sometimes this is not so easy. It might be that you can’t get outside. You may be frail or housebound or feel unable to go out alone. Our Special Friends is here to help people cope when they do not have an animal of their own or maybe they are struggling to look after their own pets for health reasons. We help to find a solution to the problem so that the pressure is eased and the worry subsides and we enable them to get the help that they need.
Mental Health Awareness Week for me, is a reminder that we should all be conscious of one another’s vulnerabilities. Perhaps to take some time out and check on your neighbours, elderly relatives or youngsters who may also be having a tough time at school. It doesn’t have to be Mental Health Awareness Week to ask, ‘Are you alright?’ every now and again.
For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week and for resources that can help visit Our Special Friends Resources.
