Column by South Gloucestershire Council's cabinet member for public health and equality of opportunity, Franklin Owusu-Antwi.

A recent survey of over 5,000 adults in England found that, because of Covid-19, seven in 10 people are motivated to become healthier in 2021. Many of those want to make changes such as losing weight, eating more healthily, and exercising more.

As we all know, sticking to our goals is sometimes tricky, and even more so in a national lockdown. So it’s great to know that there’s lots of support to improve both your physical and mental health.

Our healthy lifestyles and wellbeing service - One You South Gloucestershire - offers advice and support to help you achieve your goals. The team provides 1:1 telephone and email support to help you to build a healthier future, whether your goal is to manage your weight, quit smoking, exercise more, or reduce your alcohol intake. You can visit our website oneyou.southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 865337. The One You website provides lots of useful resources, including local walking routes, and tips on how to stay active at home.

One You South Gloucestershire also offers support to improve and maintain good mental health and wellbeing, which is so important at the moment. This includes if you are feeling lonely or isolated. You can call us or visit the website which provides self-help tools and useful information, including the free NHS-approved ‘Mind Plan’. This plan helps you build an action plan to deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood, improve your sleep and feel more in control.

You can also contact Southern Brooks on 0333 5774666 who can provide support and connect you to local help. Their website southernbrooks.org.uk/wellbeing provides information on their online wellbeing workshops. There is also an emotional and practical support helpline, staffed 24/7 by experienced counsellors. They are there if you just need someone to talk to, but also offer emotional support and can connect you to organisations who may be able to provide more help. This is a freephone number: 0800 0126549. Textphone users dial 18001 followed by 0800 0126549.

Whether it’s improving your physical or mental health this year, we’re here to help.