Twitter a tool for good mental health

Twitter a tool for good mental health says Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation is encouraging everyone in New Zealand to take time, take a breath and take notice during mental health awareness week on 8 to 14 October.

“Our lives can be so busy and full of distractions, we sometimes forget to notice where we are,” Mental Health Foundation (MHF) chief executive Judi Clements says. “To truly take notice, we need to pause, open our senses and engage with the world around us.”

Take Notice is one of the MHF's five winning ways to wellbeing, which are based on international evidence. The others are connect, keep learning, be active and give.

“People often think Take Notice is about being empathetic towards other people who have experiences of mental illness or going through difficult times. Although empathy is a good thing, take notice in this context has a very specific meaning,” Ms Clements says.

“Basically it is about taking the time to pause every now and then to notice how we are feeling on the inside, and to notice what’s happening in the world around us. This very simple action can have a surprisingly calming effect.”

Research also tells us that if you do this on a regular basis and over time, changes in the brain occur including increased attention and sensory processing. Positive emotions, self-awareness, a sense of calm, better focus and concentration, boosted immune activity and decreased stress and anxiety are some of the miraculous benefits of mindfulness.

The MHF has developed an online activity which asks people to “Tell us what you noticed today” (http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/995-home). Twitter users can write an answer, and comments are collected at #takenoticenz. This helps people practise actively using their senses to take notice of something every day, or more often.

“Some people find the internet and social media concerning and a distraction, but there are also many benefits and we’re encouraging people to use it as a tool to focus attention on the world around them,” Ms Clements says. “If you’re not already on Twitter, it’s worth signing up just to participate.”

Other suggestions for ways to take notice are listed on the website as well as recommended reads (http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/1191-recommended-reading-list) and events happening around the country (http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/whats_on/view/browse/). Free MHAW posters and postcards (http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/1245-free-posters-postcards) are also available from our Resource & Information Service or for download.

…ends

© Scoop Media