Mental Health Awareness Month: Looking after your wellbeing while building your future
Whether you're looking for your first job, returning to work, exploring training opportunities or considering a career change, your wellbeing matters.
At Skills Launchpad Plymouth, we know that taking positive steps towards employment, education or training can sometimes feel overwhelming. Confidence, motivation and resilience all play an important role in helping us move forward, which is why Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder to prioritise your wellbeing as much as your next career goal.
Wellbeing and employability go hand in hand
Many of the skills employers value most are closely linked to wellbeing, including:
communication and relationship-building
confidence and self-belief
managing pressure and setbacks
problem-solving and decision-making
motivation and personal responsibility.
Looking after your mental health can help you feel more prepared to take on new challenges, whether that's applying for a job, attending an interview, starting a course or exploring a different career path.
Start with small, positive steps
If you're feeling uncertain about your future, try focusing on one manageable action at a time:
set a simple goal for the week
establish a routine that works for you
spend time outdoors or being active
connect with supportive people around you
reach out for help when you need it.
Remember, asking for support is a positive first step, not a sign of weakness.
Support available in Plymouth
Here on the Skills Launchpad Plymouth website, our "All About You" pages have been created to support local people with the foundations needed to take those next steps, whether that's improving wellbeing, managing financial pressures or finding support during challenging times.
Aged 16 to 24 - get started here.
Aged 25+ - check out the pages here.
So whether you are looking for free digital wellbeing support for young people, practical wellbeing resources, community connections and peer support, or something else, these pages are a good place to start.
Looking after the whole person
Mental wellbeing can also be affected by wider challenges such as finances, housing or isolation. Our All About You pages signpost to a range of local services including the Plymouth Online Directory, Citizens Advice Plymouth, Young Devon, The Zone, Kooth, Plymouth Wellbeing Hubs and Improving Lives Plymouth. These organisations provide advice, support and practical guidance to help people overcome barriers and move forward positively.
Start with you, then explore what's possible
Whatever stage of life you're at, that the journey into work, training or education doesn't always start with a CV or an application. Sometimes it starts with looking after yourself first. By prioritising your wellbeing and accessing the right support, you'll be better placed to explore Plymouth's opportunities and take positive steps towards your future.
Don't forget, anyone in Plymouth can call the First Response service via NHS 111 (select the mental health option) for advice, support and signposting from a trained mental health professional, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
