Most agree that giving to others is a good idea however giving to others has a knock on effect on ourselves by improving the givers mental wellbeing.

Most agree that giving to others is a good idea however giving to others has a knock on effect on ourselves by improving the givers mental wellbeing.
From small acts of kindness to volunteering, giving can give you a sense of purpose, community and connectedness.
Sometimes we think of our wellbeing in terms of what we have; our income, car, home or job. Evidence shows that what we do and the way we think has the biggest impact on mental wellbeing.
Positive mental wellbeing means feeling good about yourself and the world around you and being able to get on with your life.
Helping and supporting others and working with others towards a shared goal is good for our mental wellbeing. A 2003 study in 373 older adults found that some aspect of wellbeing were higher in those who did volunteer projects compared with those who did not.
Scientists have shown that giving to others can stimulate the reward areas in the brain helping to create positive feelings. Helping others also gives a sense of purpose and feelings of self-worth.

Evidence show that good relationships with family, friends, colleagues and the wider community are important for mental wellbeing.

Many of us would like to spend more time with the people who are most important to us but sometimes life just gets in the way of that. We must make time to connect with the people that matter to us. By nurturing these relationships we feel happier and more secure, giving a better sense of purpose.
A 2002 study of 222 students in the US found that the happiest amongst the group had stronger social relationships than those who were less happy.

Some tips to stay connected:

Make time each day to connect with your family, friends and colleagues. This could include ‘family time’ that is a fixed time to connect each day.
Arrange a day out with friends you may not have connected with recently. Most people connect on social media sites like Facebook but a face to face contact spending your time with your friends is so much more meaningful and beneficial than a “like” or “comment” on Facebook.
Reduce your screen time when you are in company. Put the phone away, close your laptop, turn off the TV and have a chat.
Try connecting with someone new today. Talk to the person beside you on the train or in the shop. This conversation may mean even more to the person you connect with than you realise.
Leave your desk for your lunch and sit with a colleague catching up on non-work matters.
It can be as simple as a smile at a passer-by.

Learning new skills is both useful and it can also positively affect our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. To some it will be a new qualification and to others it will be learning a new recipe in the kitchen.

Learning new skills is both useful and it can also positively affect our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. To some it will be a new qualification and to others it will be learning a new recipe in the kitchen.
Evidence shows that continuing to learn throughout life can help improve and maintain our mental wellbeing.
Mental Wellbeing means feeling good about yourself and the world around you and being able to get on with your life the way you choose.
In 2004 a study interviewed 145 adults about learning throughout life and various aspects of their health and wellbeing. It found that people who involved themselves in more learning reported feeling higher self-esteem, a greater ability to cope with stress, and more feelings of self-confidence, hope and purpose.
Setting goals and working towards them plays an important part in the way learning influences wellbeing. Many forms of learning involve contact with others which connects us to our communities and peers.

It is easy to rush through daily life without stopping to notice much. Paying attention to the present moment – to our own thoughts, feelings and to the world around you can improve your mental wellbeing.

Taking Notice is also called Mindfulness. It is easy to incorporate mindfulness into your life and can be a very powerful tool if learnt and practiced daily.
Mental wellbeing means being feeling good about life and yourself and having the ability to get on with life in the way you want.
Many think about wellbeing in terms of what you have; your income, car, house or job. Evidence shows that what we do and the way we think have the biggest impact on wellbeing.
To Take Notice is to notice the sights, smells, sounds and tastes you experience as well as your thoughts and feelings that occur from one moment to the next.
It’s easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living in our heads. An important part of Taking Notice is to reconnect with our bodies and the sensations they are experiencing. It can be something as simple as the feel of your knife and fork in your hands.
Most of us have issues we find hard to let go of and mindfulness can help us deal with them more productively. Awareness of this kind also helps us notice signs of stress or anxiety earlier and helps us deal with them better.

Being active is great for your physical and mental wellbeing. Evidence proves there is a link between being active physically and good mental wellbeing.

Mental wellbeing means feeling good about yourself, about the world around you and having the ability to get on with life in the way you want.
Being active doesn’t mean you need to train for a marathon. You need to find physical activity that you enjoy and can fit into your daily/ weekly routine. This may be a daily walk to the shops instead of taking the car, a weekly gardening session, some yoga, swimming or a weekend walk.
Scientists confirm physical activity can help maintain wellbeing and good mental health in a number of ways:
Physical activity helps with mild depression. Evidence shows it can protect people against the onset of depression and anxiety.
Physical activity causes a chemical change in the brain which can help change our mood.
Physical activity brings about a sense of greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to rise to a challenge – all of which help improve wellbeing.

Supporting The Community Since October 2018

The

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The Wellbeing Network is an online platform for community based projects providing opportunities to improve adult health and wellbeing regardless of age or ability. Hosted locally, the content is managed by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare through the Health Promotion & Improvement Dept who link with local services, organisations and agencies to promote tailored health and wellbeing programmes that will support you in taking the first step to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

The Wellbeing Network brings services close to where you live by working in partnership with organisations and agencies with key responsibility for supporting health and wellbeing in the community.

With a shift to a ‘preventative approach’ for healthcare services in the community, the Wellbeing Network seeks to also support healthcare professionals in making the right choices for patients who seek referral into local, low cost health and wellbeing initiatives which will empower people to take ownership of their own health eventually.

Whether you are looking to move more & get active, get involved in a community activity or overcome a challenging point in your life, there is a service locally that can support you on that journey. Checkout current offerings on the photo-grid below or from the menu bar above. You can be assured of a friendly and professional service local in your community. If you cant find the service you are looking for or have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Naomi O Donovan | Naomi.odonovan1@hse.ie

The Wellbeing Network is here to support you. The network is a platform for community-based projects providing opportunities to improve adult health and wellbeing regardless of your age or your ability. Our aim is to provide the right service, in the right place at the right time.

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Our tailored health and well-being programmes give you that extra little support required to take the first step and to continue to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Not only that, our programmes are accessible because they are either free or low cost. Whether you’re looking to move more, weigh less, manage a condition or overcome a challenging point in your life, we’re here to help. Checkout current offerings on the photo-grid below or from the menu bar above. You can be assured of a friendly and professional service. An important part of our ‘preventative approach’ is the provision of information so that everyone can be fully informed about what is available in their community, what things might work to help them through difficult periods and most of all to empower people to take ownership of their own wellbeing. We have put together a map of services so that you can see at a glance what’s available in your locality. If you can’t see what you are looking for, let us know and we will point you in the right direction. We are developing our services all the time. Right now Covid-19 is presenting us with unprecedented challenges. Keeping ourselves well, physically and mentally is very important. Visit our Covid-19 resource page for links to helpful videos and leaflets created by our trusted partners in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

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Use the search box (below the map) to find what you are looking for. You can also filter the services available by tapping the icon in the top right corner of the map (tap anywhere on the map to close the filter).

COVID 19 Crisis

Infectious disease outbreaks like coronavirus (COVID-19), can be worrying. This can affect your mental health. But there are many things you can do to mind your mental health during times like this.

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The Five Ways of Wellbeing

The New Economics Foundation have developed, and we have adopted and will be promoting, a set of evidence-based actions to improve personal wellbeing. This is at the fore of everything we do at The Wellbeing Network.

Click ‘Read More’ for a helpful video on Practicing Self Care.

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Community Health & Wellbeing

Please click here for upcoming community health & wellbeing events taking place across Cork.

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49 North Street

49 North Street aims to create a space, a melting pot whereby learning, therapeutic activities, creative expression and diversity can flourish. It’s about taking risks and building upon people’s strengths, working together to create a community where recovery and wellbeing thrive. Read More…