We understand the importance of wellbeing during these difficult times and the Louella Belle Team are here to support and help you and your business. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place from 18-24 May 2020. The theme for this year is kindness, so to support this our Wellbeing Wednesday Top Tip is all about kindness. Why Kindness? Mental Health Awareness have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/why-kindness-theme Kindness is an important aspect to everyday life and it can be very impactful to others as well. Kindness and mental health are connected. It helps reduce stress, deepens friendships, and improves feeling of confidence and happiness. To support the act of kindness, we recommend the following:

• Talk

We’re lucky that in 2020 we have a variety of ways to stay in contact with the ones we love, make time for a FaceTime, Skype, Houseparty or even a simple phone call with the ones we have to distance ourselves from can help boost mood and give you a sense of normality.

• Care For Others

Helping others isn't just good for the people you're helping, it is good for your mental health too!

• Ask For Help

Recognise when you need help, we are all human, asking someone for help can also help the other person feel needed and relieve a little stress from yourself as well. During Mental Health Awareness Week, they are asking you to do three things:

1. Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
2. Use our resources in your family, school, workplace and community to join with thousands in practising acts of kindness to yourself and others during the week.
3. Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society that would support our mental health using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek