World Mental Health Day

It's World Mental Health Day.  This year's theme is "Investing in mental health" - the majority of low- and middle-income countries spend less than 2% of their health budget on mental health.

Think of yourself as a country.  Think about how much you spend on coughs remedies, painkillers, sticking plasters.  Now think about how much you spend on your wellbeing.  Probably not nearly as much.  

Over in the Wikaniko shop you will find lots of products designed with your wellbeing in mind:

The Anti-Stress Aromatherapy Rollerball
Lavender and Chamomile essential oils in Almond Oil.  As soon as anxiety or stress is felt, apply to pulse points (wrist, inside the elbow, temples, neck). Massage for 1 min and every 15-30 mins until calm is restored


Relaxing Aromatherapy Stones
If you are looking for a spot of relaxation, simply open the lid, and let the scent drift through the room.  When the scent diminishes, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil.



Essential Oil
Sometimes you might want a calming, meditative fragrance such as lavender, while another time you might want the uplifting fragrance of geranium.  We have a wide range of essential oil and carrier oils to allow you to make your own blends depending on your mood and frame of mind.


Third Eye Meditation CD
This disc gives you the tools so that, with a little practice, you can get yourself into a blissful relaxed state quickly and effectively.  It is especially good for those who find it difficult to quiet their mind and release the constant mind chatter.  

The Mental Health Foundation has some great resources and suggests ten ways to look after your mental health.

Talk About Your Feelings

Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy.

Eat Well

There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel – for example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect.  But food can also have a long-lasting effect on your mental health.

Keep in Touch

Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your own head. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems.

Take a Break

A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you.

Accept Who You Are

Some of us make people laugh, some are good at maths, others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently. We’re all different.

Keep Active

Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep, look and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy.

Drink Sensibly

We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.

Ask for Help

None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help.

Do Something You're Good At

What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem. 

Care for Others

Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together.