‘Stay Positive Exeter’ campaign supporting mental wellbeing in ‘lockdown’

People are being encouraged to stay positive during ‘lockdown’ and share their tips for keeping upbeat as part of a new social media campaign.

‘Stay Positive Exeter’ has been launched by the City Council to help people through these difficult times.

People are being asked to post a picture of themselves on Facebook holding a piece of paper containing the words #staypositiveexeter along with something they are doing to stay positive during this challenging period.

It could be something really simple like #staypositiveexeter:

Enjoying the grandchildren on Zoom
Feeding the birds in the garden
Keeping up with the Chiefs’ game online
Watching the City match on the internet
Focussing on my daily run
Beating my partner at chess
Playing ‘keepy-uppy’ with my son in the garden

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor responsible for mental wellbeing, said: “We know that a lot of people are struggling at the moment. Christmas has come and gone, it’s been a grey and largely wet January and once again we find ourselves in ‘lockdown’.

“However spring is just around the corner and although it doesn’t feel like it, things will at some stage get better. We need to support each other during these difficult times. That’s why I’m backing the campaign and I hope others will too.

“It’s really important to focus on small things that make a difference to our mental state of mind and not get bogged down by negativity. It might be getting stuck into a really good book, listening to that album that you loved in the eighties or getting out and about in the garden and witnessing the first shoots of spring,” he added.

People can get involved in the campaign by going to the City Council’s Facebook page and posting a picture of themselves holding a piece of paper with the hashtag #staypositiveexeter accompanied by one thing they are currently doing to stay positive at the moment, written clearly in ink.

Here are some tips on getting good results:

try to use a marker pen or felt-tip pen, preferably in black or dark ink and write as clearly as possible
keep letters as big as possible and hold paper forward, between you and camera, trying not to obscure your face
write #staypositiveexeter at the top…
…and the activity/thought that’s keeping you upbeat below this
Post the picture on our Stay Positive Exeter post on Exeter City Council’s Facebook page
Encourage others to share their pictures too by tagging your friends/family

It’s hoped that by sharing these messages, people will be able to focus on some of the positive aspects in ‘lockdown’ rather than the negative ones and help support mental wellbeing across the city.

Cllr Wood added that help was available for those that needed it through the Community Wellbeing hotline, enabling people to gain access to support across the city in relation to COVID-19. People can contact the helpline by calling 01392 265000.

Share your pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/ExeterCityCouncil