Research shows that helping others can be good for our mental health. It reduces stress, improves our emotional well-being and even benefits our physical health. In short, doing good does you good.
It’s essential to look out for each other in and around our communities. This is how we protect and maintain good mental health for all.
If you do nothing else today, keep an eye out for an opportunity to help someone with a random act of kindness or hold onto that warm feeling when someone helps you.
Doing something nice for someone doesn't cost a lot of time or money. It's the small things in life that can make a big difference.
50 random acts of kindness you can do today
- Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while
- Send a letter to a grandparent
- Send flowers to a friend
- Offer to pick up some groceries for your elderly neighbour
- Send someone a handwritten note
- Offer to babysit for a friend
- Walk your friend’s dog
- Tell your family members how much you love and appreciate them
- Help your parents with household chores
- Help a friend get active
- Make someone laugh
- Offer to cook for a friend or family member
- Make a cup of tea for a friend or family member
- Help with a household chore at home or for a friend
- Host an informal get together and invite your neighbours to get to know each other
- Tell someone you know that you are proud of them
- Tell someone you know why you are thankful for them
- Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling
- Send someone you know a joke to cheer them up
- Send someone you know a picture of a cute animal
- Send an inspirational quote to a friend
- Send an interesting article to a friend
- Put a surprise note or drawing on someone’s desk
- Contact someone you haven’t seen in a while and arrange to meet face to face
- Engage in conversation with a shop assistant when paying at the till
- Spend time playing with your pet
- Sign up to do voluntary work in your local community
- Reach out to spend time with a friend, family member or neighbour who is experiencing loneliness
- Have a clear out and take items to a charity shop
- Make and send a care package to someone who needs it
- Make a donation to a charity
- Offer to pick up a friend or family member from work
- Make a cup of tea for your colleagues
- Get to know the new staff member
- Lend your ear - listen to your colleague who is having a bad day
- Say good morning
- Bake a cake for your colleagues
- Give praise to your colleague for something they’ve done well
- If it’s raining – lend someone your umbrella
- Take someone out for lunch instead of eating at your desk
- Give up your seat to an elderly, disabled or pregnant person
- Let someone jump the queue at the supermarket
- Take a minute to help someone who is lost
- Have a conversation with someone who is experiencing homelessness
- Help a mother carrying her push chair down the stairs or hold the door for her
- Let a fellow driver merge into your lane
- Pick up some rubbish lying around in the street
- Smile and say hello to people you may pass every day, but have never spoken to before
- Return a lost item to its owner
- Pop into a coffee shop and ask to pay for a coffee for them to give to someone later that day for free
Your mental health matters
If you are experiencing mental health problems, we want you to know that we care and that you're not alone. You can get help.
If you want to help us create change - join our movement, get involved and let’s do this together.
