WELLBEING & MENTAL HEALTH
A Guide to Looking After Yourself and Others
This substantial guide explores mental wellbeing as something that changes with life rather than something we either have or do not have. Written in a warm, practical and informative style, it is designed to help readers understand their own wellbeing while also feeling more confident supporting somebody else.
Rather than presenting short pieces of information across lots of pages, the guide reads continuously like a professional booklet. It explores recognising changes from your own baseline, emotional and physical warning signs, checking in with yourself, sleep and genuine recovery, nourishment and everyday care, movement, sensory regulation, stress, overload and boundaries.
It also looks closely at connection, loneliness, belonging, difficult emotions and self-compassion. The emphasis throughout is on realistic wellbeing rather than perfection: understanding what helps your individual body, mind, circumstances and environment.
The second part of the guide focuses on supporting other people. It covers beginning a conversation when somebody does not seem themselves, listening without rushing to fix, helpful language, responses that may unintentionally minimise distress, withdrawal, professional support, self-harm, suicide concerns and urgent help.
There is also an important focus on the wellbeing of supporters. Caring deeply about another person does not mean becoming their only source of support. The guide explores boundaries, shared responsibility and recognising supporter strain.
Readers are encouraged to build a personal wellbeing plan and toolkit using the people, places, sensory supports, practical help and professional resources that genuinely work for them.
The overall message is that wellbeing is not about getting everything right. It is about noticing change, responding with compassion, protecting capacity and recognising when the load has become too much to carry alone.
CONTENT FLOW
The guide covers:
• Understanding the whole picture of mental wellbeing
• Recognising early warning signs
• Emotion, body, mind and need check-ins
• Sleep, rest and recovery
• Food, hydration and everyday care
• Movement, environment and sensory regulation
• Stress, overload and boundaries
• Connection, loneliness and belonging
• Difficult emotions and emotional regulation
• Self-compassion and realistic expectations
• Supporting somebody else
• Helpful and unhelpful responses
• Withdrawal and low-pressure contact
• Knowing when professional support is needed
• Self-harm, suicide concerns and urgent support
• Creating a personal wellbeing plan
• Building an individual wellbeing toolkit
• Supporting others without losing yourself
• Moving forward with realistic, sustainable steps
Space to Breathe Therapy
