Additional articles on mental health and wellbeing

Your mental health
5 min read
This October, which marks Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to encourage you to prioritise your mental health. We're taking a look at three essential pillars that can help you maintain a healthy mind: physical activity, sleep and nutrition.

Prioritise physical activity, sleep and nutrition for a healthier mind

5 min read
This July is Mental Illness Awareness Month. As the theme suggests, the month is about creating awareness around mental wellness to help save lives and break the stigma around mental illness.

Mental Health Awareness is vital year-round

5 min read
Experiencing excess stress and uncertainty can lead to us developing symptoms of mental illness.

Mind your mind this Mental Health Awareness Month

5 min read
Why are some of us able to adapt really well to extreme stress and personal setbacks? Is this the domain of a superhuman few?

10 powerful habits that build your resilience

5 min read
Seeing a loved one struggling with a mental illness can be heart wrenching. It can be equally difficult to know how best to support them in this situation.

How can you best support a loved one who has a mental illness?

5 min read
Clinical Psychologist, Dr Colinda Linde, weighs in on the stigmas faced in the workplace by those with mental health conditions.

How should we deal with workplace stigmas around mental health?

Your mental wellbeing
5 min read
Thinking about the future can be intimidating for many, and now more than ever, thanks to the ever-present threat of COVID-19. When planning for the future, mental health should be a priority.

Your allies in mental wellbeing

5 min read
When I graduated from college, I started practicing gratitude. Every Thursday morning, I would reflect back on the previous week and jot down a list of about 20 things I was thankful for. Big things. Little things. Moments. People. I called it "Thursday Thanks" and would share it on my blog.

Perry Landers: The art (and science) of gratitude

5 min read
If you were to ask a child how they feel when they see a rainbow, the immediate response is usually 'happy'. This time at home is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your child in a way that may not have been possible until now.

Enjoying the rainbow as a family

5 min read
Meditation is one of the aspects of mindfulness that contributes to mental wellbeing. But what is this ancient art about and how can we access it now?

Meditation 101 - your questions answered

5 min read
There are two ways your body can develop immunity from COVID-19: either by being vaccinated or by being infected and then recovering from the disease.

Natural immunity vs vaccine-induced immunity - which is better?

5 min read
People all around the world attribute their personal mental resilience to daily meditation and mindfulness, but it can be hard to know how to start - or stick with - the practice long enough to gain its benefits.

Taking strain? Take these 7 steps to practice mindfulness

5 min read
You can help your children to handle big emotions and anxiety while we stay home. This easy "rabbit breathing" technique takes them back to their natural space - by mimicking sobbing.

Breathwork: (Easter) Bunny breathing for kids

5 min read
"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is."

Janine Neill: Harnessing The Power of Good Feelings

5 min read
We know, it is an unusual time in our lives while we stay at home, and motivation may be scarce. But exercise is one of the ways you can improve your mental wellbeing, so let's get you moving!

Get moving to fix your mood

5 min read
We all know what poor nutrition can do to a body, but did you know that a lack of nutrients can also deprive the mind? Here's an expert's take on why eating healthily is so important during a stressful and emotionally overwhelming time.

Eat healthier, think healthier: how diet affects your mental wellbeing

5 min read
Sufficient physical activity is more important now than ever. Exercise is known to be a powerful way to prevent and manage chronic diseases and boosts the immune system, which can strengthen the body and protect against infections.

Staying active at home: a guide for older adults

5 min read
Healthy sleep patterns are a fundamental part of living a healthy lifestyle. They are as important to your health as good nutrition, regular exercise and other healthy habits.

Why is good sleep key to good health?

5 min read
You don't have to catch worms to enjoy the merits of being an early bird. Exercising in the mornings has many advantages, so it's worth rearranging your daily schedule to fit it in. Here's why and how to give it a go.

How to become a morning exercise person

5 min read
Along with pretty much everything else, sleep patterns have been affected by the change in routine that is being experienced globally.

It is more important to get a good night's rest than ever

COVID-19 and mental health
5 min read
Clinical psychologist Joanna Kleovoulou urges parents to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic could impact their own and their children's mental health.

Clinical psychologist: Keeping kids and parents mentally healthy through COVID-19

5 min read
When you're pregnant, your mental wellbeing is of the utmost importance. But how do you stay positive when the stress and worry about COVID-19 affects us all?

Pregnancy during COVID-19: Mental wellbeing advice for expecting mothers

5 min read
Cassey Chambers, operations director at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, shares advice for parents on how to spot signs of anxiety and support their teens.

Cassey Chambers: How to help your teenager manage their mental health during COVID-19 and beyond

5 min read
Psychiatrist Prof Christoffel Grobler says one positive aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it has allowed people to be more open about their mental health in the workplace.

Feeling stressed at work during COVID-19? It's completely normal

5 min read
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live. For children, understanding these changes is a challenge in itself. How can parents navigate this? Professor Renata Schoeman offers some tips.

Helping children's response to COVID-19: By Prof Renata Schoeman

5 min read
Operations Director at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Cassey Chambers shares key tips on how to manage your mental wellbeing if you've recently been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Tips for maintaining mental health after a COVID-19 diagnosis

5 min read
Clinical psychologist Dessy Tzoneva says grief is a unique experience for everyone. Losing a loved one to coronavirus disease 2019 may make the grieving process even more challenging.

How to deal with the death of a loved one to COVID-19

5 min read
We know that sleep is vital for good health, but making sure you get enough sleep and rest for your busy mind is not always easy, especially right now.

How sleep and mindfulness will get you through the pandemic

5 min read
For those who are still young at heart, here are three key areas to help maintain your wellbeing during this time.

COVID-19: How to manage physical distancing if you are an older person

5 min read
It isn't business as usual, especially for children right now. But there are ways of navigating the new normal for children so that they emerge from it with resilience.

Kids and Covid-19: a guide on speaking to children

5 min read
We know that sleep is vital for good health but making sure you get enough sleep and rest for your busy mind is not always easy, especially right now.

Breathe in; breathe out to better mental wellbeing

5 min read
Now more than ever, it is vital that people of all ages, especially people older than 65, follow health advice from the authorities and take preventive measures to protect themselves, their families and their communities from COVID 19.

Here's how people over 65 can stay safe from COVID 19

5 min read
Healthy relationships thrive when people have their own personal space, me time, routines and even eating habits. While we go through this unusual experience, the only option is to adapt and adopt methods to manage relationships.

Relationships in a time of COVID 19

5 min read
We've all been there: You have an online client meeting, but your children are asking for help with their maths, and your spouse is busy too. What to do?

Nikki Bush: How to work from home when you have kids

5 min read
The interruption of our normal schedules while we stay at home and juggle through our day, can take a toll on our mental wellbeing. Make time for self-care and staying connected so that we emerge in a positive space on the other side of this period.

Six ways to stay connected and indulge in self-care while we stay at home

5 min read
The spread of the COVID-19 virus has drastically disrupted our lives. It is normal to feel stressed about the current circumstances. However, what could have an even more profound psychological impact on you is being told you have contracted COVID-19.

Prof Renata Schoeman: How to deal with the stress of a COVID-19 diagnosis

5 min read
In a very short space of time COVID-19 has changed the way we live in multiple ways. It's normal to feel stress or anxiety as a result. However, there are ways to cope with the situation and ensure your mental wellbeing.

Prof Renata Schoeman: Understand the stress you feel as a result of COVID-19 and manage it better

Adolescent mental health
5 min read
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 10 to 20% of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions, yet these remain underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Adolescent mental health: where to get help

5 min read
Mental health disorders in children are defined as disruptions or delays in developing age appropriate thinking, emotional regulation, behaviours and social skills that impact their functioning at home, school and socially. And they're rapidly increasing.

Mental health and adolescents

5 min read
Adolescence is both a time of profound human potential and of acute vulnerability. That's because adolescence is a time of dynamic brain development that sets the scene for adult wellbeing.

Now is the most important time to focus on teen mental health

5 min read
The internet has opened up a magical world, gifting us with literally everything we need at the touch of our fingers. However, it's also an extremely dangerous place, especially for vulnerable children and teens.

Keeping your children safe in an online world

Mental health conditions
5 min read
"Prosperity, dedication, motivation" - this is Laetitia's mantra. She's faced over a decade of depression and bipolar disorder, but being intentional about her physical health and mental wellbeing helps her stay balanced.

Living with bipolar: how a healthy lifestyle helps me pursue happiness

5 min read
Emma Attwell shares her remarkable journey from mental illness to mental wellness and rising above her diagnoses to live life to the full.

Emma's mental health journey has left her stronger and more capable

5 min read
Continuous, intense levels of stress may be a huge factor in our lives today but our resilience can help us manage it well and keep it from damaging our health.

Resilience helps you combat stress

5 min read
Everyone experiences low moods to a greater or lesser extent. While these feelings are an integral part of depression, they are not the same as depression.

Depression

5 min read
Everyday life can be unpredictable and it's normal to experience some level of worry, anxiety or heightened level of alertness in the face of daily challenges, or in the face of real or perceived threats.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

5 min read
Harvard University's Center for Wellness and Health Promotion describes wellbeing as a dynamic and fluid continuum, that is influenced by many interconnected dimensions.

Personal and general wellbeing

5 min read
Research shows that alcohol abuse and binge drinking increases your risk of early death, conditions such as heart and liver disease, and disability. It also has serious consequences for your financial wellbeing.

When is alcohol a problem?

5 min read
Healthy sleep patterns are a fundamental part of living a healthy lifestyle. They are as important to your health as good nutrition, regular exercise and other healthy habits.

Why is good sleep key to good health?

Digital wellness
5 min read
How do you decide when your teenager is ready for social media? This is one of the most common questions from parents,

Teenagers and social media

5 min read
Cyber bullying is bullying using digital platforms to harass, threaten, embarrass, hurt or target another person in a public way. It can happen on gaming platforms, social media or by text or email. Cyber bullies often find it easier to bully people this way because they don't have to confront their target in person.

Cyber bullying: spotting it and stopping it

5 min read
The time of giving is fast approaching, and you may be thinking of getting your child a phone or tablet, or they may already have them. Either way, how much do you know about setting up devices to protect and monitor your kids?

Parental controls can help you stay connected to your children

5 min read
Parents in today's tech age understand the life-changing importance of decisions made about kids and technology, but often feel uncertain and overwhelmed about where to start.

Raising kids in the tech age: how to keep them safe and sane online

5 min read
Every busy parent knows how great tablets and smartphones are for keeping kids entertained. Tech is a wonderful part of our world but, like all good things, needs to be part of a balanced lifestyle.

What you need to consider before your child gets a tablet or phone

5 min read
We must already make sure that our children eat veggies, sleep for 10 hours, play outside, wear sunscreen, learn intellectual, emotional and physical skills, and generally grow up to be fully functioning adult...

Online privacy vs safety: The delicate balance we have to get right with our kids!

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Discovery Health Medical Scheme, registration number 1125, administered by Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd, registration number 1997/013480/07, an authorised financial services provider and administrator of medical schemes. Vitality is a separate wellness product sold and administered by Discovery Vitality (Pty) Ltd, registration number 1999/007736/07, an authorised financial services provider.

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