Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing describes a mental state - how an individual is feeling and how well they can cope with day-to-day life. Mental wellbeing is dynamic, it can change from moment to moment, day to day, month to month or year to year.

If anyone experiences low mental wellbeing over a long period of time they are more likely to develop a mental health problem. If someone already has a mental health problem, they are more likely to experience periods of low mental wellbeing than someone who hasn't. But that doesn't mean the person won't have periods of good wellbeing.

The Very Brief Intervention (VBI) pages below recognise the perception that it can be difficult to start a conversation about a persons Mental Wellbeing. The following VBI uses advice from 'Time to Change' which is led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

Mental health can be impacted at any time in a persons life and there are many factors that might negatively impact mental wellbeing whether this is from a relationship breakdown, a bereavement, financial worries and poverty, substance misuse and abuse.

Your interaction can make a big difference.

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

CRISIS ENCOUNTERS

What can we do to help and support you?

Are you under the care of a GP or other health professionals?

Do you want us to call anyone on your behalf?

Are you taking any medication?

Have you consumed drugs/alcohol?

NON CRISIS ENCOUNTERS

How are you?

How are you feeling at the moment?
What’s been happening for you recently?

You mentioned you are feeling low, why do you think that is?
What have you been doing to make yourself feel better?
What more would you like to do or do more of that would help?
Reflect back what has been said to you; “you said you have not been sleeping well, tell me a bit more about that?

It may be worth asking about the causes and what could possibly be done to address them e.g. debt management, housing support, stress management.

Assist

What you can do to help depends on the particular circumstances and needs of the individual. Do they need immediate medical attention or referral to Mental Wellbeing services?

If you are worried that this person is in crisis or suicidal, please refer to the Suicide Prevention topic where you will find guidelines about police response

The police have various legal obligations to safeguard and protect people in crisis from harm (not criminalising them):

The police have various legal obligations to safeguard and protect people in crisis from harm, ensuring they are supported rather than criminalised.

In specific circumstances, officers have the power to detain individuals under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This allows a constable to remove a person to a place of safety, or keep them there, if it appears they are suffering from a mental disorder and are in immediate need of care or control, and if the officer believes it is necessary in the interests of that person or for the protection of others. This power can be exercised in any place other than a private dwelling or its private garden/communal areas.

Prior to utilising Section 136, officers must, unless circumstances dictate otherwise, consult a designated healthcare professional (such as a mental health nurse, AMHP, or doctor) for advice. The detained person will then typically be conveyed by ambulance to a Health-Based Place of Safety (HBPoS or 136 unit) for a formal assessment. Individuals may also be taken voluntarily to an NHS decisions or crisis unit, though this course of action will similarly be guided by the advice of mental health colleagues.

Legislation strictly prohibits the use of police custody as a place of safety for children under 18. For adults, it is legally restricted except in extreme, exceptional circumstances where there is an imminent risk of serious injury or death. If police custody is used, strict escalation processes are immediately instigated to ensure the individual is assessed and moved to a clinical environment as a matter of urgency

If they are not in immediate crisis, give reassurances that there are lots of sources of support available

Please click on the below regional links for information about Mental Wellbeing support services relating to your locality.

For non crisis encounters you may want to talk about the Five Ways to Wellbeing. The mental health equivalent to the dietary advice to have ‘5 a day’ fruit and vegetables for physical health.

1. Connect - With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community.

As being well connected is good for your mental wellbeing… Is there anything you could be doing more of?
Can you think of connections that you would like to make or remake?

2. Be Active - Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

What activities do you engage in on a regular basis? How would I like to develop this?
Are there any minor adjustments you can make in your life that can help you to be more active?

3. Take Notice - Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, eating lunch or talking to friends.

How can you practice slowing down and pausing more often?
What difference will incorporating this into your daily life make?

4. Keep Learning - Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving.

What would you like to learn about? What interests you? What do you value? What would you find useful?
What do you need to do to make learning something you look forward to?

5. Give - Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in.

Do you notice what it’s like for you when you give to others?
What else could you give others that you hadn’t thought of before?

Act