Mental Health and Wellbeing activities

It’s fair to say, life is a bit upside-down at the moment. Lockdown, for most of us, means that our normal routines have almost disappeared and we’re not quite sure what ‘normal’ looks like! Maybe you’re feeling bored, fed up or a bit worried? Maybe you’re missing your friends and the people you can’t visit,
or maybe, you’re actually loving lockdown and don’t want to go back to go back to ‘life before lockdown.’ Whatever your feelings, they are all important and they’re ok. Everyone is experiencing lockdown in different ways and there’s no right or wrong as to how you should feel right now. Some days might be good, some bad, some awful and some brilliant.

We’ve created a workbook full of creative ways that you can take care of yourself during this time. You can use it as a schools resource or simply at home.

Download the work book here: Exploring arts, health & wellbeing

 

 

Ever fancied trying out some poetry but not sure where to begin?

Writing can do wonders for our mental health. Watch our short video below for ideas and inspiration from artist Kirsten Luckins in her introduction to ‘blackout poetry’:

Did you know that busy hands can alter the brain’s chemistry and can boost mental health? 

Today’s ‘give it a go’ challenge, is brought to you by artist Kirsten Luckins. Follow along with our video and try your hand at making a beautiful collage heart! 

Sometimes we all need a bit of time out and mindful colouring is a great way to stay in the moment and forget our worries for a while. Enjoy these colouring sheets and find out some fascinating facts about the statues, sculptures and buildings in Mowbray Park!

Each one has a reminder of simple ways we can care for each other and nourish our own wellbeing…

Download your Mindful Mowbray Colouring Sheets

A fun bit of collage is great for keeping your mind occupied and your spirits positive. Watch our short video from artist Kirsten Luckins to make a junk mail daisy. Minimal materials required and a lovely way to use up all that junk mail!

As part of Sunflower Day 2020, we have a fun activity for you to make your own sunflowers!

Download the whole activity here: Make your own sunflower 

Pretty pasta sunflowers:

What you will need: pasta, yellow and brown paint, green pipe cleaners, glue.

What to do:
Start by pouring some pasta onto a paper plate and paint pasta yellow.

While those dry, dip your finger into brown paint and make a circle for the middle of the sunflower. Once all are dry, glue the pasta around the flower. Add some pipe cleaners for the stem/leaf and you’re done!

Paper Sunflower Party Banner:

What you will need: Paper doilies, Brown paper, glue stick, string.

What to do:

Paint your doilies yellow and set aside to dry.

When dried, cut out some brown circles and glue one each to the centre a doily.

Use string and glue to connect your doily sunflowers to make a pretty party banner

 

 

As part of our Mental Health & Wellbeing Month, we’re sharing The Little Book of Wellbeing Wisdom – a fantastic book created in the second of our ‘Who do you want to meet?’ projects which brought together community groups from across Sunderland, to explore a creative project in a style and theme of their choice.

The Little Book of Wellbeing Wisdom was made by watercolour artists from Grindon Community Church Project and writers from the tea & talk group members from Impact NE ( a mental health charity) in Sunderland.

Looking at things that helped them look after their own mental health, and with the support of local artist Stephanie Smith and writer James Whitman, they created stories, poems, and paintings and brought them together in this beautiful booklet.

We hope you enjoy it and find it a useful resource for your own mental health and wellbeing.

Read the Little Book of Wellbeing Wisdom here: Little Book of Wellbeing Wisdom