Every year, World Mental Day is celebrated on 10 October. This day is a reminder of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health.

This year’s theme is ‘access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies’. The theme highlights the importance of people being able to protect their mental health in times of global instability.

The world may feel overwhelming at the moment, with many countries still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the climate crisis, social injustices, economic strain and political unrest. This is compounded through our constant access to the news through our phones and social media.

Many people find themselves “Doomscrolling”, endlessly scrolling through bad news online, even if it causes stress and anxiety. When we are at this cycle it’s hard to disconnect but being able to take some time away from our mobile devices is crucial for protecting our mental health.

Practical Tips to help with Doomscrolling:

Turn off alerts

Take control of when you engage with news and social media by turning off alerts and push notifications. This can help you choose when to check in, rather than being constantly drawn in.

Try using a watch or alarm clock instead of your phone

To avoid the urge to check the news first thing, try leaving your phone in another room at night or read a book instead of scrolling before bed.

Curate your social media feeds

Curate your social media feeds to stay in control of what you see. Follow trusted news sources, mute or block unhelpful accounts, and use filters to avoid certain terms or hashtags.

Setting limits for screen time

Planning to do something afterwards can help you stick to your limit. It can be something simple like, making a cup of tea, taking a short walk outside or switching to a positive news story before you stop reading. This can help you to take a step back if you find yourself starting to scroll endlessly.

If your struggling

Remember you’re not on your own. It’s OK not to be OK. Chat with a friend, family member, or someone you trust about how you’re feeling, it’s okay to ask for support. You could try asking someone at home to gently remind you to take a break from the news or social media, setting a time in the evening to put your phone down and unwind or even deleting news apps and asking a friend or family member to keep you in the loop if anything important happens.

For more information and resources about World Mental Health Day visit the Mental Health Foundation’s website.

If you are an apprentice or employer partner of LMP and have a concern, please reach out to our safeguarding team safeguarding@lmp-group.co.uk

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