Do you have a mental health first-aid kit? If you don’t, do you know what one is?
Most of us have some kind of first-aid kit for our physical health, even if it’s just a couple of suspicious-looking plasters that are a bit curly around the edges and a couple of painkillers. But what about a kit you can dip into when your mental health isn’t great?
I first came across the concept of having a mental health first-aid kit when I read Dr Emma Hepburn’s first book, “A Toolkit for Modern Life: 53 Ways to Look After Your Mind”. I was in quite a bad place at the time, having experienced complete burnout.
I’d got to a stage where I felt like I was able to start to learn how to help myself. I came across Dr. Hepburn aka @thepsychologymum, following a recommendation from someone on Instagram. I bought her book, but didn’t have particularly high hopes that it would help.
A book about how the brain works isn’t something that has ever been on my reading list. I expected it to be very dry and difficult to read. But Dr Hepburn’s Instagram feed isn’t like that at all. She uses diagrams and simple, relatable language to explain why we feel a certain way. And how to help ourselves feel better. So, I had high hopes that the book would be easy to understand, too.
Mental health first-aid kit
One aspect of the book that struck a chord was the benefits of having a mental health first-aid kit. It’s such a simple concept. But also, a very powerful one.
A first-aid kit for our physical health is fairly standard. Plasters, bandages, antiseptic and medicines. If you have a particular condition, you may have more specialised items (and a prescription delivery service can help you with that). But generally, that’s what most of us have.
The beauty of a mental health first-aid kit is that you tailor it to exactly what you need. Therefore, no two are the same. And it certainly isn’t something you buy off the shelf from a pharmacist.
So, how do you create a mental health first-aid kit, and what needs to be in it? The answer to both of these questions is that it entirely depends on you and your needs.
In terms of the kit itself, it could be a physical thing. Perhaps a lovely box to keep the kit in. Or it could be a list kept in your phone or in a notebook. Mine is a list in a Trello board which I can access from my phone, tablet or laptop so I can use it wherever I am. A lot will depend on what you have in it.
What should you put in it?
In terms of what goes in it, spend a bit of time thinking about what your go-to things are when your mental health isn’t great. What helps you relax or makes you feel calmer? Is there a book or magazine that always helps? Or a treat such as a candle or snack that always helps? What about music? Are there songs that take you to a calmer place? When you’re feeling stressed, do you have certain things you do to help you sleep? If you’re looking for inspiration for this, check out these tips from Tales of Belle.
My list is walking, music, a bath, talking and breathing. They’re quite general, but I know that they will all help me gain control of my thoughts and work through anxiety. Breathing is always a good starting point for me. It’s an obvious one but taking a few minutes to breathe deeply and notice my feelings helps me start to understand them better. And 10 minutes of my favourite tunes makes a huge difference for me. If you want some help with a playlist to boost your mood, have a read of this fab article from Whimsical Mama.
When we’re experiencing poor mental health, we often struggle to know how to help ourselves. Particularly in times of overwhelm. So, having the things that you know help you, somewhere you can easily access them, can really help.
I’d love to know if you have a mental health first-aid kit and if you do, what’s in it? Leave a comment or drop me a line. Whilst it is an individualised thing, it’s useful to know what others have in theirs too.
“A Toolkit for Modern Life” is available to buy in bookshops, including Amazon* and you can read my full review of it in the book review section.
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*This is an affiliate link, which means if you click it and then buy the book, I get paid a fee from Amazon.
