#Littlethings is the national mental health and wellbeing campaign by the HSE and a coalition of more than 30 partner organisations.

The campaign focuses on sharing evidence-based, simple and powerful day-to-day steps – little things that we can all do to protect our own mental health, and support the people we care about. People are encouraged to eat and sleep well, take regular exercise, talk about their problems, drink less alcohol and stay in touch and spend time with others – all proven to improve mental health.

The nine simple messages (#little things) are as follows:

• Boost your mood with healthy food: A regular healthy, balanced and nutritious diet will help both your physical, but also your mental health, and have a positive impact on how you feel.
• Problems feel smaller when you share them: problems feel smaller when they are shared with others, without having to be solved or fixed. Just talking about it will do you good.
• 8 hours sleep makes the other 16 easier: Getting a good night’s sleep of 7 or 8 hours, as often as you can, will have a positive impact on how you feel. Protect your sleep if you can, it will do you good.
• If a friend seems distant catch up with them: Catching up with friends and family is good for our mental health, reminding us that we’re part of a community, and having a positive impact on how we feel.
• Lending in ear is lending a hand: Lending an ear to someone else in trouble, or catching up with someone who seems distant, can change their day, or their lives. You don’t have to fix it for them – just listening is a huge help.
• The more you move the better your mood: being active every day, something as simple as a walk, is proven to have a positive impact on your mood.
• Add friends to your tea: the only thing better than a cup of tea, is a cup of tea with friends and a catch up with friends and family for a good chat about what’s going on in your life.
• Do things with others, there’s strength in numbers: Taking part in a group activity that you enjoy is proven to have a positive impact on how you feel, be it a game of football, joining a choir, volunteering.
• Drink less and great nights become good mornings: For the average Irish drinker, reducing alcohol will have a positive impact on their health and mental wellbeing, making it easier to cope with day to day difficulties and stresses.

There’s a lot more information and resources available at yourmentalhealth.ie and also Samaritans’ 116 123 national free to call number for a listening ear.