Once again, we witness a media storm around a public figure who unfortunately decided that life was no longer bearable for them.
Not only is this a tragedy for a life lost, but it is a bewildering time for friends and family who are left to suffer the untimely loss.
Like physical wellbeing, mental health needs to be kept in check, and it can be very easy to slip into a negative spiral without realising it until you are very far down the line. With this in mind, we present five ways to keep your head above water and make sure that your digital life doesn’t start creeping into your everyday one.
1. Limit your time on Social Media to help safeguard mental health online
Whether we admit it or not, subconsciously pulling your phone out of your pocket tends to just happen to idle hands. Regardless or not of whether you’re on the bus, sat watching TV or even conversing with friends and family around a table, you’ll often catch yourself passively scrolling through uploads on Instagram or Facebook.
If you seem to be doing this as a crutch to avoid certain situations or to pull you out of the moment, or are simply spending unhealthy amounts of time doing so – just think twice and put your phone back in your pocket. Download one of the many apps that monitors the time you spend on your phone for you to see, you might be surprised. Many of these apps also give you the option of setting yourself time limits online. Give them a go.
2. Set yourself an online schedule
It may not be necessary (or even desirable) to use your phone all the time, but don’t deny yourself altogether. Pick parts of the day where you allow yourself to use your phone for five or ten minutes, and try and stick to your online schedule. Whether that be to check your emails and messages, or just browsing the internet in general.
Tell the people who you contact the most and warn them that they’re not being ignored, you’re just being disciplined about the amount of time you spend on the internet.
3. Turn off your alerts
Avoid any temptation to pull your phone out of your pocket the instant your phone pings, vibrates or rings. Turn your alerts off and either check your phone a few times a day or during one of your monitored times. Cutting out the involuntary response of answering a WhatsApp message without thinking will help you to stay in the moment and enjoy whatever it is you’re doing in real life.
4. Block bullies and trolls
We can all say things we don’t mean and be a little obnoxious from time to time, especially when two viewpoints clash. But if someone is heckling you regularly in a way that is making you feel uncomfortable, you don’t need to have fantastic comebacks to their abuse – simply ignore them, or if it makes it easier for you: get them blocked.
All social media channels worth their salt have a way to cut out bullies and trolls. Use the features available and don’t feel like you need to be on high alert all the time. If an argument is bubbling over into nastiness, simply walk away. It’s not worth the stress. If you’re really fed up, nobody is stopping you from deleting the app from your phone or even terminating your account altogether.
5. Acknowledge it if you’re struggling
If you are doing all you can to keep your head above water but slowly seem to be sinking beneath your own thoughts and worries, speak to someone you trust. Whether that be a parent, sibling, friend, colleague or GP – a problem shared is a problem halved.
Other people can see many positives about you that you might not be able to feel at any given moment in time. Don’t bottle it up. Get help.
People who can help
You can call Samaritans directly by clicking here, or visit their website by clicking here.
Further reading
If stress at work is a big contributor to your mental health problems, we have compiled an easy-to-understand guide, here, on what could be considered unhealthy and unreasonable workplace stress. To safeguard your mental health online may be one of several things necessary to ease your mind.
Article by Stuart Jones
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