A five-a-day style health campaign has been launched in Suffolk urging people to take action to look after their mental wellbeing.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Abdul Razaq, director of Public Health and Protection, Cllr Tony Goldson, cabinet member for Health, and Ken Williamson, area commander, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNAbdul Razaq, director of Public Health and Protection, Cllr Tony Goldson, cabinet member for Health, and Ken Williamson, area commander, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Along with eating a good amount of fruit and vegetables, people in the county are being asked to consider what more they could do to stay healthy in mind as well as body.

Suffolk County Council (SCC) has started an initiative called Five Ways to Wellbeing.

The evidence-based framework sets out five steps people can take to improve their all-round health. These are:

? Connect with others

? Be active

? Keep learning

? Take notice

? Give

A launch event was held at Endeavour House in Ipswich at the end of last month.

Abdul Razaq, SCC's director of Public Health and Protection; Tony Goldson, SCC's cabinet member for Health; and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service area commander Ken Williamson, were joined by further council staff and partners including OneLife Suffolk.

Mr Goldson said: 'Mental ill health is one of the primary causes of sickness absence to Suffolk organisations in every sector. This is why it is so important for people to make time to consider their mental wellbeing.

'The five ways to wellbeing encourages people to think about how they make time for their own wellbeing. This can be as simple as trying something new, conversing with people around you or keeping active through regular exercise. These simple steps can be crucial to preventing mental ill health in the longer term.'

A workshop was led by mental health charity Suffolk Mind and the event was sponsored by the East of England Co-op, which supplied fruit and vegetables to attendees on arrival.

Emma Goodridge-Hobson, the Co-op's business development officer for specialist services, said: 'Eating healthily and getting your five-a-day is an important part of keeping well.

'We're really pleased we are able to support Suffolk County Council with this initiative by providing a selection of fresh fruit for their team to enjoy while they learn about how to improve their wellbeing.'

For more information, visit www.healthysuffolk.org.uk