July - #GoodMentalHealth
If you have noticed a bit of a dip in your mental health and wellbeing lately you are certainly not alone.
As lockdown eases we are faced with both challenges and opportunities.
Although we may be able to see friends and family in person, play sport or return to work, all of which can be good for our mental health, many of us may find even these changes difficult.
The idea of coming out of lockdown will also be worrying for those of us who are more at risk from the virus or living with mental health problems, such as anxiety.
If you are struggling, or supporting young people who are, check out the resources and activities we have gathered to help you focus on your wellbeing and find help and support if you need it.
5 Ways to Wellbeing
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are simple things you can do to improve your mental health. Incorporating these little changes into your life will enable you to start to feel happier, less stressed and can help reduce the impact of depression and anxiety.
Heads Up Cheltenham, launched in October 2018, aimed to highlight the importance and usefulness of following these tips. Below are some fun activities they suggest that you can do as a family to explore the different themes.
5 Ways to Wellbeing activities
Click/tap the images below to download a PDF of each activity page.
Action for Happiness - Resilience Calendar
TIC+ Chat
Are you a young person struggling who needs someone to talk to, or parent who is worried about your child and needs some advice?
TIC+ (Teens in Crisis) can support those experiencing worries such such as depression, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, anger, relationship problems, low self-esteem and self-harm.
Their new service, tic+chat, is an anonymous, 1-2-1 support service for young people aged 9-21 living in Gloucestershire. No problem is too big or small, you can talk to them about anything that’s troubling you.
No appointment is needed, simply call on 0300 303 8080 or live chat online.
Move More
Steps to Family Well-being during Covid-19
#NCLBAward winners, Move More, have launched a series of brilliant webinars to support families during Covid-19.
The sessions are a perfect way of supporting your family’s overall wellbeing needs – they offer free support without the need for appointments, and are delivered in real time to the comfort of your home. Finally, these online sessions may also provide you with an opportunity to hear from other parents facing challenges like yours and feel part of a community while maintaining your privacy.
Links to book onto upcoming sessions are below:
Accessing mental health support
If you are struggling with your mental health, or supporting a young person who is, there is a wealth of support out there at the moment.
With services having to think outside the box about how they offer their help, you can find a range of ways to talk, via phone, online chat and even text messages, so whatever works for you. Things are abnormally hard right now, and there is no stigma to reaching out, so don’t wait until it gets really bad – prevention is better than cure!
Gloucestershire County Council have a compiled an incredibly thorough resource bank so that you can find mental health support during this time. It has loads of resources and sign-posting help so you can find whatever information you may need.
Age group: All
How to access: Simply visit their website and have a browse through
Qwell is a safe, confidential online platform that offers support 7 days a week, 365 days a year. As well as free counselling, there’s lots of advice on looking after your own mental wellbeing.
Age group: Designed for adults. There is a similar service for young people, ‘Kooth’ (details below)
How to access: Simply visit the website and create your own free login.
Kooth is an online support service which gives children and young people easy access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced counsellors. Access is free of the typical barriers to support: no waiting lists, no thresholds, no cost and complete anonymity.
Age group: 11-18 years. There is a similar service for adults, ‘Qwell’ (details above)
How to access: You don’t need a referral, simply visit the website and set up your free personal login
Let’s Talk is an NHS Improving Access to Psychological Services (IAPT) service. They primarily offer talking therapies to manage anxiety and depression. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sounds daunting, but put simply it helps you manage your problems by making small changes to the way you think and behave.
Age group: 18 years +
How to access: You can refer yourself either online or by calling 0800 073 2200
The Crisis team offer an increased level of care for those with mental health conditions or experiencing emotional and psychological distress
Age group: 11 years +
How to access:
If you or someone you know needs help in a mental health crisis call 0800 169 0398 and choose one of the following options depending on your location:
- Option 1 for Stroud and Cotswolds
- Option 2 for Gloucester and Forest
- Option 3 for Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and North Cotswold
These phones numbers are for Gloucestershire only. If you are in Hereford you can find relevant contact information on their website.
REMEMBER If there is immediate danger to life, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E dept.
Young Glos and InfoBuzz offer a range of support for young people struggling with mental health issues, some courses running during Covid (and the transition out) and some that are part of their usual offer. More info on the support available is on their website and we’ve provided a little summary below for you as well.
Age group:16-25 years (but differs depending on the course)
How to access: You can self-refer via the website for most courses.
The Child & Family Service offers counselling to families, children and young people who are experiencing difficulties. These may stem from changes in family life such as separation, divorce / remarriage, developments within step-families, illness, loss or bereavement. Or there may be worries about how to support a troubled adolescent, a child experiencing bullying or a child or young person in the family finding it hard to make friends or become more independent.
Age group: all welcome
How to access: You can register for support on their website.
Young Glos & Info Buzz
Young Glos and InfoBuzz have a range of courses running at the moment to support young people with their mental health. They are all free to access and running as normal at this time.
Which course is best for you? Find out more about them below to help you decide which is most relevant to your circumstances
Link Chat
One-to-one support for young people struggling with their mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic and transition out. You will be allocated a youth worker and they will work with you for up to 6 months. Support can be given via the telephone, Zoom, text message or in person and can help you address issues such as isolation, loneliness, low mood and anxiety. You will work with your youth worker to develop coping strategies and look ahead to your next steps.
Age: 16-25 years.
You can self-refer for this support.
Linked Up
1:1 support to help you achieve a better understanding of mental illness, practical ways of coping and an overall improvement of your wellbeing. The support will be based around your needs and is informal. It might start out with a phone call and move on to a chat over a cup of tea. A counsellor will work with you on addressing emotional well being and the youth worker will work through practical steps.
Age: 16-25 years.
You can self refer for this support.
Linked up+
1:1 support for young people who are or have been in the care system to help you achieve a better understanding of mental illness, practical ways of coping and an overall improvement of your wellbeing. The support will be based around your needs and is informal. It might start out with a phone call and move on to a chat over a cup of tea. A counsellor will work with you on addressing emotional well being and the youth worker will work through practical steps.
Age: 16-25 years
You can self refer for this support.
Other courses run by Young Glos and Info buzz include:
- Transition Chat - Support for Year 11 pupils who need support as they navigate the next steps into further education or work
- Hidden Victims - Providing families with practical support to cope with a loved one in prison or going through the criminal justice system
- Art Psychotherapy - Working creatively with children who are 'hidden' victims (as above)
- Substance Misuse - For young people 16-25 who feel their substance misuse has gotten out of control, whether use is social or routine.
Click on the link to find out more and how to access these courses.
How are our partners keeping #GoodMentalHealth?
Cheltenham Borough Homes’ Community Investment Officers are hosting Wellness Wednesdays, where the fabulous Alexis hosts weekly crafting tutorials you can do at home that are good for your mental and physical wellbeing.
Check out some of the fun vids from weeks gone by:
