Mental capital and wellbeing

I've just received the NIACE members bulletin which you can access here .

There are a number of articles and links in it but I thought the one that related to some work DIUS has been involved in: 'Developing our Brains from cradle to grave' is worth us looking at.

That leads you to other pages and an executive report:

It covers various ages but I thought we should look at it in the WEA and consider the possibility of using some of the language and ideas in it within curriculum areas like Health, Fitness and Personal Development, or to establish an idea of adult learning promoting mental capital & wellbeing and linking that across curriculum.

For example Section 10.3 of the Executive summary refers to Older Adults and says:

"There is a strong case to develop a strengthened strategy for promoting the mental capital and wellbeing of older people31:

Here, unlocking the mental capital in older people and promoting their wellbeing are considered together since they are intimately linked: many interventions that target one, will also improve the other. This Project has identified a large number of possible initiatives that should be considered. Older people themselves have helped to refine these ideas through a consultation exercise. The initiatives are too numerous to list in this Executive Summary, but are grouped into the following categories:

• Promoting social networking. Scientific and other evidence shows the importance of social networking in promoting mental capital and wellbeing in older adults, and indicates three specific types of intervention that are successful:

¦¦     Group interventions involving educational and social activity, targeting social isolation and loneliness.

¦¦     Volunteering.

¦¦     Interventions that promote trusting relationships, frequent contacts with friends, and which seek to improve the quality of social relationships.

• Encouraging and empowering older people to engage better in learning. Evidence shows that learning can help to promote wellbeing, as well as protecting against normal age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, when learning takes place in social settings, it can promote wellbeing indirectly through social networking. As elsewhere, initiatives that take account of the particular needs of older people will be important.

• Promoting valued and valuable engagement, enabling people to work if they wish. There is a case for Government to review the right of older adults to continue working. This could yield a quick win: both the wellbeing and the mental capital of older workers would be promoted, with consequential benefits to wider society.

and Section 7 suggests Five ways to mental wellbeing

"In addition, the Project has commissioned work to identify the wellbeing equivalent of “five fruit and vegetables a day”. The suggestions for individual action, based on an extensive review of the evidence are:

1. Connect… With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

2. Be active… Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

3. Take notice… Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

4. Keep learning… Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

5. Give … Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, as linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you."

So, there you go!