A Guide to Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Putting recovery at the heart of who we are

This leaflet from Devon Partnership Trust outlines many ways we can help ourselves to stay well.

To download, please click here (pdf, 2 pages)

Sections include:

• Looking after our wellbeing
• What do we mean by recovery?
• Sources of Support

Recovery in practice means all network partners working together:

“The goal is not to become normal, the goal is to become a unique, awesome, never to be repeated human being that we are called to be.” Pat Deegan.

For further information or to obtain copies of the guide please contact the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on freephone 0800 073 0741 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Devon Partnership NHS Trust aspires to improve services and believes that its services should be ‘good enough for my family’ and me.

They positively welcome feedback and would like to hear from you.

You can access their website www.devonpartnership.nhs.uk.

For a guaranteed response you can also contact them on 01392 823172, available 8am-6pm, Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays).

Recovery Spider Chart

Along with patients in a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) group, workers at the Haldon Unit, Exeter (for Eating Disorders) have designed a spider chart, intended as a complement to a full WRAP plan.

Click here to download the chart (in pdf format)       

Holistic Exercises for Mind and Body

Many thanks to Rufus May for the videos below.

Rufus says, "I have found these exercises are helpful for generating calmness and inner strength and working in a different way with strong emotions.  We use them in  Hearing Voices and Recovery groups as well I use them with myself, colleagues and individuals I seek to help.  We need lots of ways to be less carried away by our psychological processes. "

The videos open in a new window. They are also available at www.rufusmay.com

Do-In massage
Good for waking up and energising. Good for grounding and de-stressing.

Yoga punching
Good for releasing pent up emotion, managing anger, releasing intense feelings of anxiety. Many voice heaers have found this helpful when they are hearing angry voices.

Face massage
Good for calming and relaxing, self soothing, being kind to yourself.

Chair yoga
Good for grounding, calming, becoming more mindful.

Tension relaxation exercise
Good for releasing tension and anxiety.

Brain Gym
Good for shifting attention from troubling experiences or thoughts, to a more grounded mind state.

‘Promoting mindful communication: growth through conflict’

Website: www.communicationandconflict.com/index.html

 A web-based resource written by Alan Sharland, mediation expert, focused on communication and mindful use of language.

This site supports being more thoughtful and aware of how we communicate with one another, how to engage with and resolve conflicts between us and within us and how valuable and of the benefits to be gained through engaging with rather than avoiding conflicts.