Mental health and wellbeing fact sheet

Mental health and wellbeing fact sheet

One of the amazing things you can offer as a volunteer is your listening skills.

The 5 steps to mental wellbeing are a great way to talk about things someone could do to improve their mental health and the NHS offers more advice on mental health and wellbeing on the Every Mind Matters[1] website.

Page last reviewed: 17 June 2024

5 steps to mental wellbeing

Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Trying these things could help someone feel more positive and get the best out of life. These could help you with some conversation starters in the image below and more detail about the five steps can be found on the NHS website[2].

Please note that this won’t be appropriate for everyone, and you should use your discretion to decide whether or not to include this in your conversations.

5 steps to mental wellbeing illustration

Page last reviewed: 16 November 2023

Questions to explore the 5 steps to mental wellbeing

Here are some questions to encourage people to look after their own wellbeing. Read through these in advance and only use questions that are appropriate for the person you are speaking with.

Connect with other people
  • Who else do you talk to or see?
  • Where do you like to go to meet other people?
  • Have you got any social clubs locally?
Be physically active
  • How do you like to keep active?
  • Where is your favourite place to go for a walk?
  • Have you got a garden?
Learn new skills
  • What are your hobbies?
  • Have you thought about trying a new hobby?
  • Tell me about something you would like to learn.
Give to others
  • Is there someone you could call to brighten their day?
  • Have you ever done any volunteering?
Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
  • What have you been grateful for today?
  • Have you been outside today – What was the weather like?

Page last reviewed: 16 November 2023

Links

  • [1] https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
  • [2] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/