Nearly three-quarters of people (73 per cent) in Wales actively choose to help others in order to protect and improve their own mental well-being, according to a new survey released by Public Health Wales.

The latest survey of the Time to Talk Public Health panel asked 1,072 people in Wales during January about action they take to protect and improve their mental well-being.

The survey found that nearly 9 in 10 people (87 per cent) currently take some form of action. Along with helping others, other popular activities were:

• Connecting with other people (72 per cent)
• Make time for hobbies (72 per cent)
• Connecting with nature (68 per cent)
• Being physically active (67 per cent)

The survey found that three in four people (75 per cent) of people ‘strongly agreed’ that it is important for people to take action to maintain and enhance their mental well-being.

The survey also asked people how often they feel lonely. Almost 1 in 5 people (18 per cent) in Wales said they feel lonely “always” or “often”. Loneliness can negatively impact on our mental well-being, but small actions can make a big difference.