5 Self Care and Mental Health First Aid Easy Tips
Photo Credit: Finn
Here are 5 easy tips you may not have learned at your mental health first aid course.
HALT
Halt Is a principle taught in mental health first aid training, that is basic and simple in approach but effective.
Don’t allow yourself to be:
H ungry
A ngry
L onley
T ired
BE GRATEFUL
It is easy to get caught up in everyday life and focus on what we don’t have rather then counting what we do have. In some mental health first aid courses they may not explain how important it is to step back and count out all the good things you have in your life, rather than looking at a seemingly long list of things wrong with you. Take time at the end of the day to write out 3 things you want to improve about yourself or your life situation and 5 things that you really love about yourself. Write these down everyday in journal before bed.
WORK IT OUT
Another tip that may not get as much emphasis in mental health first aid training is the importance of exercise. Moving your body, and sweating is paramount not only for your physical health but your mental. Incorporating a healthy lifestyle in your regular routine has a multitude of benefits, including burning access energy allowing for better quality sleep.
QUALITY TIME
Make time to spend with the people you enjoy most. Your family or close friends are essential to keeping you grounded and steady. As most mental first aid courses cover, during busy times in our life we tend to focus only on work and our schedule and go in to isolation for what little free time we have. Make sure you create time to relax with people you care about, don’t be attached to your phone or work email during this time. Just enjoy your quality time.
ENJOY THE MOMMENT
Another tip that may not be covered in mental health first aid training is the practice of staying and living in the moment. It is easy in this technology driven world we live in to get caught up in planning for the future, constantly looking ahead trying to reach a goal to come. It is very important to remind yourself to live and be in the moment. Living in the past and the future can cause us to overthink past mistakes or obsess about things we want to come. Next time you sit down to a nice meal with friends or family take a minute to appreciate the moment your in and do your best to be as present as possible for the rest of that experience. This can help dramatically improve your mood and allow you to be more connected with your loved ones causing for an all around more positive experience.
Mental Health First aid training and mental first aid courses are still relativity new in popularity. Although as mental health awareness increases, the interest in learning new skills to help aid in mental health first aid health goes up. That is why Pacific First Aid is now offering a Mental Health First Aid Course to teach you the skills you need. Find out more information here at
