Self care techniques and general lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms for many mental health problems and it can also help to prevent some problems for developing or getting worse.

You can recommend some of the below options to patients, however they aren't going to be an instant solution. 

Social Life - feeling connect to other is important as it can help you feel valued and confident about yourself. Patients could try to spend more time with friends and family - even a simple phone call can help. If the patient doesn't feel they have a network around them you could suggest joining a social or community group such as book clubs or walking groups.

Peer Support - It can often feel like no-one understands when suffering from a mental health problem. Peer support brings people together who have had similar experiences. It would be a good idea to have information available about local groups that you can recommend to patients.

Therapeutic activities - Relaxation and mindfulness are common techniques people use. Activities such as going for a walk or having a bath may help people relax. It is important people set aside time to do this for themselves.

Physical health - When people are suffering from a mental health problem they need to try and keep their physical health in check too. Ensuring they get enough sleep, eat healthily and keep physically active are all really important. Ensuring the patient is looking after themself can make a big difference to how they feel so you could encourage them to get fully dressed and take a shower, even if they aren't leaving the house.