Helpful ideas for coping and self-care

From advice for students, to dealing with money matters or learning to relax, we have some useful tips booklets and short videos here

Whether you have a mental health issue yourself or are supporting someone else, finding useful tips, help and information is vital. It is important to take care of your mental and physical well-being


If you're finding it hard right now to deal with your thoughts and feelings, you are not alone. We're here to give you helpful advice and information

More ideas, tips and advice

Arts and creative therapies

Arts and creative therapies are treatments which involve using arts-based activities in a therapeutic environment, with the support of a trained professional. You don't need to have done these activities before or have any particular skills or knowledge.

Carers, friends and family - coping and support

Supporting someone else is sometimes called caring. You are a carer if you provide (unpaid) support and care for someone who has an illness, disability, mental health problem or addiction. People often assume that carers tend to be women but research shows that around four in 10 carers are men.

Food and mood

Knowing what foods we should and shouldn’t be eating can be really confusing, especially when it feels like the advice changes regularly. However, evidence suggests that as well as affecting our physical health, what we eat may also affect the way we feel.


Mindfulness is a technique you can learn which involves making a special effort to notice what's happening in the present moment (in your mind, body and surroundings) without judging anything. It has roots in Buddhism and meditation, but you don't have to be spiritual or have any particular beliefs, to try it.

Money and mental health

Money and mental health are often linked. Poor mental health can make managing money harder and worrying about money can make your mental health worse.

Nature and mental health

Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical well-being. For example, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have many positive effects.


Exploring relaxation can help you look after yourself when you're feeling stressed or worried. Have a look at these tips and ideas to see how relaxation can fit into your daily life. Don't worry if some ideas don't work for you – just enjoy the ones that do.

Student life

Studying is likely to bring a number of changes to your life. It can be enjoyable and interesting, but it can also be challenging. Coping with new challenges can have an impact on your mental health but there are lots of things that you can do to make your time as a student easier and more enjoyable.

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