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Verve Community Health Trainers help people by providing personalised one to one support, and encouragement to help motivate you to make sustainable lifestyle changes. You will be supported to make manageable goals in the following areas.
Having high levels of wellbeing is something deeply personal. It means something different to each and everyone of us.
At the Verve Healthy Living Network, we place wellbeing in the context of having positive states of mental health. In other words, we see wellbeing in the context of being able to feel well, function to our fullest ability, and having a sense of belonging to our community.
In order to support clients with their wellbeing Health Trainers use the Take 5 steps to wellbeing in their health behaviour check. The Take 5 steps to wellbeing are an easy way to improve our mental health and wellbeing no matter where we are or what time it is. The 5 steps are: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. They are simple activities and our Health Trainers can support you in putting them into practice.
If you would like some motivational support from a Health Trainer click here
“You are what you eat” is a popular saying, and to some extent it is true. The food choices that we make have a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. Unhealthy food choices are linked to being overweight and obesity, which heighten the risk of many long term conditions, such as heart disease, cancers, diabetes and stroke. Health Trainers can support you to make better food choices by explaining the eatwell guide explaining food labels, portion sizes and healthy recipes. Remember, small changes can make a big difference!
In Northern Ireland alcohol is the most popular drug of choice. Whilst alcohol is enjoyable for many socially, it’s worth remembering it is high in calories and can lead to behaviour change and addiction. As part of the Health Behaviour Check a Health Trainer will help you to audit your alcohol consumption. Self help tools can be found here
If you would like some motivational support from a Health Trainer click here
Lack of physical activity is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in Northern Ireland. Increasing physical activity levels across the whole of our population is a major aim for those with an interest in health. Active people are more likely to live longer and healthier lives and to retain their independence throughout life.
The most recent recommendations by the four UK Chief Medical Officers indicate that adults aged 19–64 years should do at least 150 minutes (two hours and 30 minutes) of moderate intensity physical activity each week. Moderate intensity means working hard enough to raise your heartbeat and break a sweat. Moderate intensity activities include brisk walking, cycling, gardening, dancing and heavy housework.
Being more active makes sense! By increasing our activity levels we can all live a healthier life!
If you would like some motivational support from a Health Trainer click here
Lack of sleep is associated with disruptions in mood, thinking, concentration, memory, learning, vigilance and reaction times (Hillman & Lack, 2013). Sleep is considered an important diagnostic criteria for depression, while people who are good sleepers report better quality of life than those who suffer from insomnia (Nes et al., 2005).
Many of us struggle with getting good sleep and very often small behaviour changes can help us get a better night’s rest. R.E.S.T stands for Routine, Environment, Stimulation Control and Thinking, and has been developed as a second generation Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi). Health Trainers have completed this training and are licensed by Sleep Unlimited to deliver this programme. Anyone undergoing the REST Programme will be given a personalised assessment of lifestyle and behaviours that have an impact on good sleep. Support and advice provided to each client is specific to them; avoiding unwarranted treatment and focusing only on the factors relevant to the client.
The Sleep Council provides self-help on getting a better night’s sleep
If you would like some motivational support from a Health Trainer click here
