Corona cases are increasing globally, restrictions are getting harsher and people are becoming lonelier. As the world faces a potential second lockdown, the question of mental health is at the forefront of the conversation.

In honour of suicide prevention month, we’re dedicating this blog to the different ways to assist your friends and family who are struggling during these difficult times.

1. WAIT

A simple conversation can sometimes be enough to save someone’s life. The Mental Health Foundation suggests a very simple, fourfold, strategy to support your friends in their lowest moments.

Firstly, watch out for changes in behavior or signs of distress. This can manifest in a variety of different manners. From discrete changes such as excessive quietness and social withdrawal to more obvious signs such as uncharacteristic irritability and outburst or mentions of death or suicide. …

It’s that time of year — summer ending and school starting again. Except, if you’ve just graduated from school, you’re probably going to be starting university instead.

And while universities are going to be operating under very different circumstances this year, one thing stays the same: it is the perfect opportunity to meet new people! Here are some of our top tips to build a community of friends in your new home.

Do some pre-planning!

Check freshers week events at your university, find some places you wanna visit, figure out what’s going that you can get involved with! …

Why having friends at work can boost your career and wellbeing

Now that most of us have experienced a months-long lockdown — we sure are missing our workplaces and colleagues! The seemingly pointless conversations we had with co-workers while waiting for the coffee to finish brewing, or on the way to a meeting now seems so much more important. While frequent video meetings and Friday Zoom drinks have replaced our in-person interactions — it’s just not the same.

But in-person or remote, one thing is certain: without a colleague-turned-friend, work can be a lonely place.

According to a study which surveyed over 2,000 employees and managers across 10 different countries, over half of employees today feel lonely at work all or most of the time. The study also found that this sense of isolation at work intensifies with remote jobs and younger employees. …

Believe it or not, London is the 3rd greenest city in the world — with a whopping 35,000 acres of parkland, woodland and gardens! Besides 8.6 million people — it is home to more than 8.3 million trees and 14,000 species of wildlife: 40% of the whole city made up of green space — pretty incredible right?

While lockdown has kept us indoors and away from loved ones a little more than we would’ve liked the past few months — why not take your friends to one of London’s most magical parks this summer?

Like some of the best things in life — lazing about and soaking up some rays on luscious green grass is completely free! A socially-distanced picnic is the perfect way to connect with new and old friends, get a healthy dose of vitamin D and let nature and human connection de-stress your mind. Alternatively, long walks in beautiful hidden parks are a brilliant way to exercise and connect with friends among some summer greenery. …

Following lockdown restrictions over the last few months, we’ve been feeling a little more lonely and isolated. Now more than ever, it’s important for us to reach out to friends and show them our love and support. But as social distancing measures continue — shopping for gifts and attending birthday do’s isn’t easy. So how do we show our closest friends we care?

Dropping them a text, sending a card, and tagging them in memes can be easy ways to show thought and appreciation toward your friends! …

A strong friendship is essential to our mental and emotional well-being. When we have unbreakable social bonds with those around us, we are undeniably happier and healthier. With a great friend by our side, we can meet just about any challenge that life throws at us.

Similarly, we want to be the person that our friends can depend on, in good times and rough. But what exactly is the definition of a good friend? And how can we become one? …

As lockdown restrictions are easing up in England, many of us are excited to see our friends again, after what has felt like years! But having spent the last few months mostly indoors — you and your friends might be a little unsure about where to go, or what to do. Luckily, in a city as diverse and large as London, there’s an endless amount of fun things to do and cool places to go!

Whether you’re into movies, food or the outdoors, London has so much to offer. So, if you’re bored of the typical ‘let’s grab a drink at the pub’ routine and want to shake things up a bit — read on! We’ve compiled a list of the best places you and your friends can visit together. These 10 fantastic meet-up spots are all budget-friendly — friendship doesn’t cost anything: our time with them shouldn’t either! …

Reading is a therapeutic experience for many of us — it helps us bring calm to the stress of everyday life. The best part of reading a good book is getting wrapped up in the story, the characters, and the relationships. As we flip through each page, it is often the blossoming social relations that develop between the characters that keep us so invested in the story.

But while love and family are often featured in most fiction books, friendship isn’t explored as often, despite it being just as interesting and complicated. So, we decided to curate a list of books that feature poignant tales about friendships, old and new and estranged. These stories dive into the trials and tribulations of sharing our deepest vulnerabilities with those we feel closest to, ultimately recognising and celebrating the importance of meaningful friendships. …