Table 1 Use of prevention strategies to ‘keep myself feeling OK or on an even keel from day to day’
|  | I do this regularly | I do this occasionally | I don’t do this but it’s a good idea | I don’t do this and I wouldn’t ever | Any use | No use | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % |
Keep myself busy | 233 | 50.1 | 182 | 39.1 | 43 | 9.2 | 7 | 1.5 | 415 | 89.2 | 50 | 10.8 |
Eat healthily | 252 | 54.2 | 154 | 33.1 | 55 | 11.8 | 4 | 0.9 | 406 | 87.3 | 59 | 12.7 |
Do something to help another person | 166 | 35.7 | 228 | 49.0 | 67 | 14.4 | 4 | 0.9 | 394 | 84.7 | 71 | 15.3 |
Achieve something (big or small) | 144 | 31.0 | 232 | 49.9 | 79 | 17.0 | 10 | 2.2 | 376 | 80.9 | 89 | 19.1 |
Accept my sad feelings/‘this too will pass’ | 152 | 32.7 | 223 | 48.0 | 73 | 15.7 | 17 | 3.7 | 375 | 80.7 | 90 | 19.3 |
Reward myself with something enjoyable | 133 | 28.6 | 239 | 51.4 | 87 | 18.7 | 6 | 1.3 | 372 | 80 | 93 | 20 |
Use humour to reframe my thoughts and/or feelings | 191 | 41.1 | 179 | 38.5 | 76 | 16.3 | 19 | 4.1 | 370 | 79.6 | 95 | 20.4 |
Exercise | 209 | 44.9 | 153 | 32.9 | 96 | 20.6 | 7 | 1.5 | 362 | 77.8 | 103 | 22.2 |
Distract myself from negative thoughts and/or feelings | 135 | 29.0 | 225 | 48.4 | 80 | 17.2 | 25 | 5.4 | 360 | 77.4 | 105 | 22.6 |
Notice my thoughts and try to change my perspective | 142 | 30.5 | 216 | 46.5 | 93 | 20.0 | 14 | 3.0 | 358 | 77.0 | 107 | 23.0 |
Take some time out | 133 | 28.6 | 223 | 48.0 | 100 | 21.5 | 9 | 1.9 | 356 | 76.6 | 109 | 23.4 |
Remind myself everyone messes up from time to time | 123 | 26.5 | 230 | 49.5 | 90 | 19.4 | 22 | 4.7 | 353 | 76.0 | 112 | 24.0 |
Hang out with people who are positive | 143 | 30.8 | 207 | 44.5 | 97 | 20.9 | 18 | 3.9 | 350 | 75.3 | 115 | 24.7 |
Talk to people close to me, or someone I trust, about a problem | 136 | 29.2 | 211 | 45.4 | 105 | 22.6 | 13 | 2.8 | 347 | 74.6 | 118 | 25.4 |
Change sleeping habits | 128 | 27.5 | 183 | 39.4 | 136 | 29.2 | 18 | 3.9 | 311 | 66.9 | 154 | 23.1 |
Set goals for the future | 100 | 21.5 | 204 | 43.9 | 138 | 29.7 | 23 | 4.9 | 304 | 65.4 | 161 | 34.6 |
Having a routine/plan out my time | 129 | 27.7 | 166 | 35.7 | 131 | 28.2 | 39 | 8.1 | 295 | 63.4 | 170 | 36.6 |
Spend time with a pet | 162 | 34.8 | 93 | 20.0 | 145 | 31.2 | 65 | 14.0 | 255 | 54.8 | 210 | 45.2 |
Use positive self-talk | 71 | 15.3 | 158 | 34.0 | 167 | 35.9 | 69 | 14.8 | 229 | 49.3 | 236 | 50.7 |
Cry | 24 | 5.2 | 190 | 40.9 | 139 | 29.9 | 112 | 24.1 | 214 | 46.1 | 251 | 53.9 |
See a health professional | 75 | 16.1 | 139 | 29.9 | 190 | 40.9 | 61 | 13.1 | 214 | 46.0 | 251 | 54.0 |
Focus on my life purpose | 67 | 14.4 | 131 | 28.2 | 180 | 38.7 | 87 | 18.7 | 198 | 42.6 | 267 | 57.4 |
Join a group, club or team | 76 | 16.3 | 103 | 22.2 | 223 | 48.0 | 63 | 13.5 | 179 | 38.5 | 286 | 61.5 |
Meditate/mindfulness/gratitude | 46 | 9.9 | 124 | 26.7 | 216 | 46.5 | 79 | 17.0 | 170 | 36.6 | 295 | 63.4 |
Follow faith, religion or spirituality | 67 | 14.4 | 57 | 12.3 | 65 | 14.0 | 276 | 59.4 | 124 | 26.7 | 341 | 73.3 |
Maintain a relationship with a mentor | 30 | 6.5 | 84 | 18.1 | 271 | 58.3 | 80 | 17.2 | 114 | 24.6 | 351 | 75.4 |