At Share Discovery Village we are encouraging people to take 5 steps to wellbeing and to improve their health with us.
According to Prince’s Trust research, almost 50% of young people aged 16-25 years old have experienced a mental health condition in Northern Ireland, and in a society where social media is ever-growing, so are the mental health issues such as anxiety.
Young people are at the heart and soul of Share Discovery Village and we want to let them know that we are here to help.
5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing at SHARE
Evidence suggest that there are 5 steps to improving your mental health and wellbeing. Here, we reveal those steps and how you can take them at our centre.
Connect
Connect with people – family, friends, local community, work colleagues or schools. Building these relationships and connections can enrich you every day.
With such a diverse range of people working at and visiting Share Discovery Village from all types of backgrounds and countries, this is the ideal place to connect with others.
Be Active
Being active doesn’t mean you have to slog it out in the gym for hours! Go for a walk, run, swim, paddle or play a game of football with your friends. Find an activity that you enjoy and try to make it a part of your life.
Getting people active is what Share Discovery Village is all about. Take a dip in our accessible swimming pool, go for a walk around our forest trails or rent a kayak and explore Upper Lough Erne.
Check out our list of the top health benefits of canoeing and kayaking.
Give
Go out of your way to do something nice for someone else, whether that be a family member or complete stranger. These acts of kindness spread happiness to others and yourself, plus they can be incredibly rewarding and create those connections we spoke about earlier.
Share Discovery Village is a charity that provides accessibility to disabled and non-disabled people, so we are always keen for volunteers to come and help. This could be the ideal way for you to give back and also get the chance to work with some inspirational people.
Keep Learning
Learning something new is not all about having something to add to a CV – learning a new skill helps boost confidence and can also be really fun!
Why not call down to SHARE and learn to paddle a canoe or climb a wall? Our Outdoor Course is the ultimate outdoor learning programme for anyone who wants to learn a huge range of transferrable skills, from water sports to disability awareness.
Take Notice
Live in the moment and take notice of what is happening around you. Be observant of something beautiful or unusual, think about your feelings and reflect on your experiences. This can help you appreciate life and understand what really matters to you.
The Upper Lough Erne region is renowned for its natural beauty. Stop to take it all in and it won’t be long before you notice the local wildlife, from red squirrels and deer to swans and geese, dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies. (see Queen’s Universities field study).
What to do now?
By trying these 5 steps to mental wellbeing and health, you may feel happier, more positive about life and more willing to get the most out of your life.
By coming to Share Discovery Village on a day visit, as a volunteer or as an outdoor course trainee, we will help you with these 5 steps.
How to become a Volunteer: Volunteering
Apply for the Outdoor Course: Outdoor Course
