Duke and Duchess of Cambridge support new mental health campaign to help people amid coronavirus outbreak

Public Health England’s Every Mind Matters platform has launched new advice, focused on looking after people’s mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The range of new resources, designed specifically to help manage our mental wellbeing during coronavirus, include a tailored Covid-19 Mind Plan, Covid-19 specific content for individuals and their loved ones, and support for specific mental wellbeing issues such as anxiety, stress, low mood and trouble sleeping. The website signposts people to activities such as mindful breathing exercises, help reframing unhelpful thoughts, and muscle relaxation.

Professor Paul Cosford, Emeritus Medical Director at Public Health England, said: ‘During the coronavirus outbreak, it is natural for many of us to feel worried or anxious. There are things we can do to help ourselves and others, to prevent these feelings from becoming more serious. Every Mind Matters offers NHS-endorsed guidance on the simple actions we can take to maintain good mental wellbeing.’

To help get the message out there, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are supporting Every Mind Matters and have narrated a new short film which is set to be broadcast across national TV channels from Monday April 20.

The NHS-endorsed content has been developed in partnership with clinicians, academics and leading mental health charities and social enterprises including Mind, Mental Health Foundation, Samaritans, Rethink, Mental Health First Aid England, and offers authoritative, evidence based and practical support to the general public, as well as people with specific mental health concerns.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘We have asked people to make unprecedented changes to their day-to-day lives as part of our national effort to respond to this global pandemic. Staying at home and not seeing friends and loved ones can take its toll and it is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed or anxious.

‘It’s vital that we all look after our mental health in these challenging times, so today we are launching new guidance on the NHS Every Mind Matters website which is tailored to help people deal with this outbreak through practical tips and advice.

‘Whether it’s through exercise, keeping to a routine, or trying something new – there is so much we can do to keep our minds healthy and prevent issues becoming more serious - and I’d encourage everyone to take advantage of this brilliant resource.’

For more information visit nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/