Novara Initiative

Mental health

Mental Health

Practical mental health education, self-care tools and free, verified resources — designed to support Afghan girls and women. Every link here comes from WHO, NHS, Mind, NAMI, the Mental Health Foundation or another trusted health organisation.

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Illustration of people watering flowers growing from a person's mind, symbolising mental wellbeing and growth

Explore by topic

Start where you are

Each topic opens a full page: what it is, common signs, coping strategies, self-care tips, free workbooks, videos and trusted external resources.

Anxiety

Understand what anxiety is, recognise the signs, and learn practical ways to calm your body and mind.

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Depression

Learn the signs of persistent low mood and the small, gentle steps that help you move forward.

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Stress

Notice what drains you, understand what stress does to the body, and build routines that keep pressure manageable.

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Trauma & PTSD

What trauma does to the mind and body, why the reactions make sense, and how healing usually works.

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Sleep & Rest

Why sleep shapes mood and memory, and the habits that help you fall asleep more easily and rest more deeply.

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Self-Care & Self-Esteem

Small, daily acts of care that protect your energy — and a kinder way of speaking to yourself.

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Mindfulness & Breathing

Short practices — breathing, grounding, mindful attention — that bring you back to the present moment.

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Burnout & Exhaustion

When long-term pressure empties you out — how to recognise it early and how recovery actually works.

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Grief & Loss

Grief after death, displacement or the loss of a future you expected — and what helps you carry it.

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Loneliness & Relationships

Why loneliness hurts, how to build honest connection, and how to set boundaries that protect you.

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Practical self-help tools

Try something small today

Breathing exercises

Guided breathing patterns from the NHS to settle a racing mind.

NHSOpen tool

Grounding techniques

Step-by-step grounding methods for overwhelming moments.

Get Self Help (UK CBT resources)Open tool

Relaxation exercises

Muscle relaxation and calming exercises you can follow at home.

MindOpen tool

Five steps to wellbeing

The evidence-based daily habits that protect mental health.

NHSOpen tool

Self-help workbooks

Free clinical workbook modules on anxiety, depression, sleep and more.

Centre for Clinical InterventionsOpen tool

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress

WHO's free illustrated stress-management guide.

World Health OrganizationOpen tool

Resource library

Browse by what you need

61 verified resources from trusted health organisations. Every link opens on the official website in a new tab.

WorkbookAnxiety

Anxiety self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookAnxiety

Panic self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookAnxiety

Anxiety self-help worksheets and guides

Psychology Tools

Open
Fact sheetAnxiety

Anxiety disorders — fact sheet

World Health Organization

Open
ArticleAnxiety

Generalised anxiety disorder — overview

NHS

Open
GuideAnxiety

Understanding anxiety and panic attacks

Mind

Open
ArticleAnxiety

Anxiety — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ArticleAnxiety

Anxiety disorders — health topic

NIMH

Open
WorkbookDepression

Depression self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookDepression

Self-compassion workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookDepression

Depression self-help worksheets and guides

Psychology Tools

Open
Fact sheetDepression

Depressive disorder — fact sheet

World Health Organization

Open
ArticleDepression

Depression in adults — overview

NHS

Open
GuideDepression

What is depression?

Mind

Open
ArticleDepression

Major depressive disorder

NAMI

Open
ArticleDepression

Depression — health topic

NIMH

Open
WorkbookStress

Perfectionism self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookStress

Procrastination self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
ArticleStress

Stress — symptoms and support

NHS

Open
GuideStress

Stress — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ArticleStress

Stress — topic hub

American Psychological Association

Open
GuideStress

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress — illustrated guide

World Health Organization

Open
WorkbookTrauma & PTSD

Self-compassion workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
ToolTrauma & PTSD

Grounding techniques — step-by-step

Get Self Help (UK, CBT resources)

Open
ArticleTrauma & PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder — overview

NHS

Open
GuideTrauma & PTSD

Understanding PTSD

Mind

Open
ArticleTrauma & PTSD

What is PTSD?

US Dept of Veterans Affairs — National Center for PTSD

Open
GuideTrauma & PTSD

Getting help for PTSD

US Dept of Veterans Affairs — National Center for PTSD

Open
ArticleTrauma & PTSD

Trauma — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ArticleTrauma & PTSD

PTSD — health topic

NIMH

Open
WorkbookSleep & Rest

Sleep self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
GuideSleep & Rest

How to sleep better — guide

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ArticleSleep & Rest

Sleep and mental health

NHS Every Mind Matters

Open
GuideSleep & Rest

Sleep hygiene — what it is and how to practise it

Sleep Foundation

Open
ToolSleep & Rest

Relaxation tips and exercises

Mind

Open
WorkbookSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

Self-esteem self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

Self-compassion workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

Assertiveness workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
GuideSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

Five steps to mental wellbeing

NHS

Open
GuideSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

How to improve your mental wellbeing

Mind

Open
ArticleSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

Caring for your mental health

NIMH

Open
WorkbookSelf-Care & Self-Esteem

Looking after yourself — full resource index

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
ToolMindfulness & Breathing

Breathing exercise for stress — step-by-step

NHS

Open
ToolMindfulness & Breathing

Grounding techniques — step-by-step

Get Self Help (UK, CBT resources)

Open
GuideMindfulness & Breathing

Mindfulness — self-help guide

NHS

Open
ArticleMindfulness & Breathing

Mindfulness — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ToolMindfulness & Breathing

Relaxation tips and exercises

Mind

Open
WorkbookBurnout & Exhaustion

Perfectionism self-help workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookBurnout & Exhaustion

Assertiveness workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
ArticleBurnout & Exhaustion

Stress — symptoms and support

NHS

Open
GuideBurnout & Exhaustion

Stress — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ArticleBurnout & Exhaustion

Stress — topic hub

American Psychological Association

Open
WorkbookGrief & Loss

Self-compassion workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
ArticleGrief & Loss

Grief, bereavement and loss

NHS

Open
GuideGrief & Loss

How to improve your mental wellbeing

Mind

Open
ArticleGrief & Loss

Trauma — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
WorkbookLoneliness & Relationships

Assertiveness workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
WorkbookLoneliness & Relationships

Self-esteem workbook modules (PDF)

Centre for Clinical Interventions (WA Health)

Open
GuideLoneliness & Relationships

What is loneliness?

Mind

Open
ArticleLoneliness & Relationships

Loneliness — A to Z topic

Mental Health Foundation

Open
ArticleLoneliness & Relationships

Mental health — parenting and young people

UNICEF

Open

Recommended videos

Curated from trusted sources

Free, publicly available talks from TED, TED-Ed, TEDx, hospitals and licensed clinicians. Each one plays right here.

Crisis support

Novara is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first. If you are safe but struggling, these free, confidential services can help right now.

Find a helpline in your country National Helpline (free, confidential, 24/7) Mental health: strengthening our response

Novara programs

Learn together, not alone

Weekly Wellbeing Sessions

A recurring, facilitated space to check in and learn together.

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Mental Health Workshops

Focused sessions on anxiety, stress, sleep, and self-care.

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Guest Speaker Events

Conversations with counsellors and mental-health professionals.

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Peer Support Circles

Small, confidential groups facilitated by trained peers.

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Questions people ask us

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