Mindapples is a social movement to promote individual self-management of mental wellbeing. The original “5-a-day” campaign encouraged people to take care of their physical health through simple daily activities, and we want to do the same thing for mental health. We aim to create a stigma-free public debate about mental wellbeing, simply by asking everybody the question: “What’s your five-a-day?”

Mental health is one of the most socially important and underfunded issues in our society today, and directly or indirectly affects the majority of the population. Yet while the physical health debate is focusing increasingly on prevention and individual wellbeing for all, mental health continues to languish in the public imagination as something just for “ill” people – with all the judgements and isolation that this creates. But we all have mental health – we just don’t usually notice it until it wrong.

So if you can care for your body by playing football, or eating an apple, then what’s the equivalent for your mind? And can mental health care be not just curative or preventative, but recreational too?

Rather than offering expert advice, we’re asking everyone to think about their personal five-a-day, and using the power of the web to draw together a community of knowledge about what works for ordinary people. By supporting individuals to take care of their day-to-day mental health through simple activities, we can give people a sense of power over their minds. And by asking a question which everyone can answer, we hope to open up a mainstream public debate about mental health in which everyone can participate, and turn mental wellbeing into something aspirational and enjoyable for all.

And it could be fun too.

Andy Gibson
Head Gardener
Mindapples