Do you struggle with heavy thoughts, anxiety or restlessness? In that case, you are far from alone in doing so. It is actually quite widespread in the population. Mental disorders are the biggest cause of poor health in children, young people and adults of working age One in six people becomes depressed and one in four people is affected by an anxiety disorder during their lifetime In ten years there has been a sharp increase in anxiety and depression among young people and young adults – Knowledge of what concrete things can be done to take care of mental health is low in the population. That’s what Steinar Krokstad, HUNT researcher and leader of the Folkehelselliansen in Trøndelag, says. The government wants to do something about this. For the first time, we have a public health campaign in Norway which is aimed at mental health. The recipe is based on research and divided into three steps. The goal is for people to be able to improve their own mental health through simple steps. – There are three simple pieces of advice that we hope will become as well known as five fruits a day, says Krokstad. Activity, unity, meaning The campaign is called ABC and the name sums up the recipe for better mental health. The letters stand for “Act”, “Belong” and “Commit”. In Norwegian, the translation is: A: Do something active B: Do something together C: Do something meaningful – There is a very clear connection between these factors and good mental health, quality of life and general good health, says Krokstad. In Trøndelag, 49 organizations are already using the councils – with the Red Cross and the Folkehelselliansen at the forefront. The project has now become a national pilot, and Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) calls ABC an important part of public health work. Steinar Krokstad is a HUNT researcher and leader of the People’s Health Alliance in Trøndelag. Photo: Tariq Alisubh / news Mountain air and good atmosphere Marthe Løkken Hoel is 26 years old and lives in Trondheim. She and her group of friends already regularly do something that fulfills the ABC advice. They go on mountain trips together – almost weekly. – I have many people I go on trips with, and I try to get out every single weekend, she says. Hoel herself had not heard of the ABC campaign when news spoke to her, but she is quite clear that these trips are good for her own health. – First of all, it’s fun. It’s fun to be out in the mountains for a whole day, and you get to be with friends who have the same interest as you. You get to see new places and ski in untouched snow. This is good for my mental health. The 26-year-old does not necessarily think this activity suits everyone, but being with people you like is both pleasant and necessary. – It won’t be quite the same to go on a trip alone, even if I do that too. It is much nicer to share the experiences with others. Marthe Løkken Hoel at “The Sleeping Soldier” in Tromsø. Otherwise, many of the trips take place in the local environment in Trøndelag and Møre, she says. Photo: Privat Meaningful activities Research shows that we feel better mentally when we are physically, mentally, socially and spiritually active. We feel happier, and when we are happy it is also easier to cope with the challenges life presents. Being mentally active means concentrating on something, such as reading a book or drawing. But research also shows that people who spend time on spiritual activities have better mental health. For some, this means attending church services, while others would rather light a fire in the forest and talk about the meaning of life, together as good friends. – We also feel better if we feel that we are part of a community. It is therefore important to nurture social relationships and get involved in associations and organisations, says researcher Steinar Krokstad. In addition, we get better mental health if we challenge ourselves and work towards reaching our own goals. It feels meaningful. – Helping others also gives a sense of meaning, says Krokstad. Social media and series viewing Many of us are tired after school and work. We therefore end up spending our free time passively on activities that are not perceived as meaningful, such as social media and watching series. – When we are tired, we also withdraw from others, says Krokstad. So the opposite of the ABC advice. The researcher believes that social media is one of the main explanations for why young people have poorer mental health now than in the past. Spending several hours a day checking Instagram and TikTok comes at the expense of activities that could be good for mental health, Krokstad explains. He hopes ABC can be a counterweight to this. – If you have understood the three pieces of advice, you will eventually spend much less time on pointless scrolling on social media, he says. Are you going to follow the ABC advice? Yes, I need to be more active 🏃♀️ Yes, I need to be more social 👭 Yes, now it will be voluntary work in the future! ⛪ No, I can’t stand it. Would rather lie alone on the sofa and scroll on social media 🦦 Show result
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The ABC campaign for mental health is now being tested in Trøndelag – news Trøndelag
