World Mental Health Day: 10th October 2023

Every year the awareness of mental health grows, yet so many individuals aren’t getting the right support. They still face stigma and discrimination.

This World Mental Health Day, England Boxing are encouraging everyone to take action and support Mind by donating, organising a fundraiser or by taking the first step to support your own or someone else’s mental health. You can also take a stance and sign the Mind Petition as they aim for the Mental Health Act to be reformed. MIND want the new bill to ‘strengthen people’s rights, choice, and control while they are in a mental health hospital.

Big or small, whatever you do, you’ll be joining the fight for mental health. Your actions can power real change.

Mind has also produced tips on how to improve sleep and create a better routine.

Instead of resting when you need it, why not rest before you need it? That’s the secret to avoiding burnout.

Sleep for the brain and body is like fuel for a car. If you don’t take the time to fill up your fuel tank, you’ll end up stranded on the side of the road somewhere, stuck and unable to move forward.

So, fill up your sleep “tank” to let your brain and body get the fuel they need. Before you reach empty.

There’s a close relationship between sleep and mental health. Living with a mental health problem can affect how well you sleep, and poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health.

Sleep is an essential and involuntary process, without which we cannot function effectively.

It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health.

Sleeping helps to repair and restore our brains, not just our bodies.

During sleep, we can process information, consolidate memories, and undergo a number of maintenance processes that help us to function during the daytime.

For athletes, sleep is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle just as much as exercise is.

While quality sleep has positive effects specifically on athletic performance, a lack of sleep is detrimental to performance and a great number of concerns can arise when athletes do not receive adequate sleep.

Stay optimistic this October with Action for Happiness.

How’s your day going? Has it been positive or not so great?

Having an optimistic attitude helps us be happier, healthier and more successful.

Optimism can protect against depression, even for people who are at risk for it. An optimistic outlook makes people more resistant to stress.

This month’s Action For Happiness calendar will help you focus on optimistic practices which will aim to support and boost your mental health and wellbeing.

England Boxing continues to run the Box In Mind course, in conjunction with Mind and aims to increase awareness of mental health problems within boxing clubs and gyms across the country.

Mental health problems affect one in four people, meaning everyone is likely to know someone who is experiencing mental health problems, even if it is not obvious.

Those who attend are given guidance on how to spot the signs of someone struggling with their mental health and are given advice on what they can do to get that person the right help.

For further information on Mental Health and Wellbeing, please visit the England Boxing Mental Health page by clicking here.

Click here to view upcoming courses.

Any queries should be directed to boxinmind@englandboxing.org.

Please note that the course is available for people over the age of 16 only.

Remember – Be kind and look forward not backwards. You’re not going that way.