Happy Mental Health Awareness Month from Ecoswap! This month is a time to highlight the importance of our mental well-being, foster understanding and support, and reduce the mental health stigma. Itâs all about taking care of yourself and nurturing the different pillars of health. While itâs important to check-in and do some self-reflection this month, do your best to support your loved ones and check-in with them as well.Â
Giving your friends and family a gift to support their well-being is the perfect way to engage in Mental Health Awareness Month and encourage sustainable self-care practices. Lucky for you, weâve got the perfect batch of sustainable gifts that nurture mental, physical, and emotional well-being.Â
Even better, the Ecoswap gift card features ALL of these brands, meaning you can swap to buyâŠ
đŻïž A lavish candle from Purscents: Dive into luxurious relaxation with Purscentsâ aromatherapy products made to enhance your space and well-being. One of their relaxing candles or reed diffusers can elevate your bath so you can peacefully unwind after a long day. The best part? All products are made with safe ingredients and sustainable waste strategies, as reusable jars, refills, and compostable packaging are at the heart of the brand.
â Coffee pods from Blue Goose Coffees: Nothing, and I mean nothing, feels better than that first sip of coffee on a morning dedicated to relaxation and self-care. Blue Goose Coffees offers brewing equipment and specialty-grade coffee pods and pouches that are plastic-free and aluminium-free. No bad chemicals, no unnecessary waste, just delicious, carbon neutral coffee. Nice.
đ« Chocolate bars from Bennetto: Everyone knows chocolate is one of the best comfort foods. Whether youâre into fruity, mint, or caramel chocolate, Bennetto has your pick. Their chocolate bars are vegan, organic, and of course, delicious! Even better than indulging in the chocolate itself, youâll feel good knowing that the factory it comes from is carbon-neutral, and that itâs free from harsh chemicals, emulsifiers, and animal products.
đ Makeup brushes from B.U. Beauty: Makeup and beauty practices can be an amazing tool for self-care, providing a fun, creative outlet and giving you the opportunity to have your âme-timeâ to glam up and step out with confidence. B.U. Beauty supports this by offering a variety of vegan, cruelty-free makeup brushes that are both good for you and the planet. They’ve got facial brushes for foundation, concealer, blush, and bronzer; eye brushes for eyeshadow, eyebrows, and eyeliner; and makeup remover pads when it’s time to wash it off for the day. If you have sensitive skin, no worries! All brushes are hypoallergenic and sensitive skin friendly.
đŒ A hot water bottle from CosyPanda: Who doesnât love to be all toasty, warm and cosy during those cold winter months? When youâre staying in to pamper yourself with self-care practices, CosyPanda can provide you with that snug feeling with hot water bottles that feel like teddy bears. Lined with natural cotton, filled with bamboo, and committed to sustainability (donating 1% of sales to pandas!), youâll feel even cosier knowing your hot water bottle is effective and eco-conscious.
đČ E-bike rides around London from Forest Bikes: Getting outside and exercising does wonders for both physical and mental health. Forest is a London-based sustainable shared e-bike service that offers 10 minutes of free riding time daily. âSwappingâ for Forest is perfect for active, nature-loving people that want to embark on adventures to immerse themselves in the beauty of London (or just need to get to work or school!). And itâs not just sustainable because youâre cycling on renewable electricity, Forest also contributes to local and responsible tree planting for CO2 reduction.
đ· A bouquet of flowers from Bloom & Wild: Research has shown that flowers can improve emotional health and improve your mood⊠so getting a thoughtfully curated floral gift from Bloom & Wild is absolutely perfect for self-care! Whether you prefer letterbox flowers, monthly flowers, dried flowers, or even little edible treats like biscuits or chocolate, Bloom & Wild has something for everyone. A lovely bouquet of flowers plus a little sweet treat? Pure heaven!
đȘ» A lavender gift set from Lavender Hill: Lavender is one of the most soothing self-care indulgences, bringing tranquility into your routine. Along with eco-friendly womens basics, Lavender Hill offers lavender scented pampering essentials like candles and soap that help you to unwind after a long day, all crafted in England.
đŻ Delicious meals from HelloFresh: Good food starts with fresh ingredients… itâs really what makes a meal feel âright.â HelloFresh will deliver you fresh, seasonal ingredients with recipes so you can make feel-good meals that wonât have you feeling guilty. Ingredients are sourced directly from the producer and delivered to your home, and are also pre-measured to avoid food waste. The meals create 25% fewer carbon emissions!
𧎠Body care essentials from Rituals: Rituals has plenty of options for bath & shower, hair, sunscreen, baby, men, and body care, inclusive of products like hair masks and body creams to support your self-care routines. We also love Ritualsâ commitment to making an impact! They use 10% of profits to support causes that improve people and the planet, and they offer refills, so thereâs no unnecessary packaging involved.
đ Gummy vitamins from Nutriburst: No one wants vitamins (something thatâs meant to support your health) to be full of artificial colours and flavours; thatâs kind of contradicting the whole point of the vitamin. Luckily, Nutriburst combines delicious flavours with essential nutrients to make the most amazing vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free vitamins that are halal certified and Kosher permitted. So, you can forget worrying about what strange ingredients might be lurking in your vitamins!
đïž Eucalyptus silk sheets from Ethical Bedding: Getting comfy in bed is the best part of ending the day. Relaxing and melting into soft, comfortable sheets is the epitome of luxury (bonus points for white noise machines). Ethical Bedding sells, you guessed it, ethical bedding, using raw materials and packaging, while also giving back to organisations focused on sustainability and conservation. Not to mention, the quality eucalyptus silk designed by sleep scientists is to die for!
đ· RosĂ© wine from Maison Mirabeau: Elegant rosĂ© wines from Provence are calling your name! Maison Mirabeau is a wine brand that is committed to sustainability and practises regenerative agriculture. This means improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and carbon sequestration are all at the heart of the brand. So you can kick your feet back, enjoy some rosĂ©, and know that youâre supporting a brand that meets high standards of social and environmental impact.
đĄ Did you know? Gift giving and the virtue of gratitude positively impacts human health as it boosts mood, strengthens social connections and relationships, and decreases stress.
Mental Health Resources
While thoughtful gifts and self-care practices are great, remember that reaching out for support during difficult times is important. If you or someone you know is struggling, here are some helpful resources to use:
NHS Mental Health Services: The NHS provides necessary information on mental health conditions, treatment, and how to access support services.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
Crisis Help Lines
- Samaritans (116123): Available 24/7 for confidential, non-judgmental support. Call or text 116123 for someone to talk to anytime.
- Shout (Text SHOUT to 85258): A 24/7 text service for people who need mental health support.
- Â NHS 111: For non-urgent health issues, including mental health support.Â
