Mental Wellbeing

If anyone experiences low mental wellbeing over a long period of time they are more likely to develop a mental health illness.  If someone already has a mental health illness, they are more likely to experience periods of low mental wellbeing than someone who hasn't. But that doesn't mean the person won't have periods of good wellbeing.

Our Mental health can be impacted at any time in our lives, whether this is from a relationship breakdown, a bereavement or financial worries so lets get taking about mental health, its OK to ask!

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

How are you?
How are you feeling at the moment?
What’s been happening for you recently?

Assist

You mentioned you are feeling low, why do you think that is?
What have you been doing to make yourself feel better?
What more would you like to do or do more of that would help?
Reflect back what has been said to you; “you said you have not been sleeping well, tell me a bit more about that?

It may be worth asking about the causes and what could possibly be done to address them e.g. debt management, housing support, stress management.

If you find concerns in the answers provided to these questions, review the support provided in the Assist or Act sections that may be used to signpost the affected individuals 

 

Talk about the Five Ways to Wellbeing.  The mental health equivalent to the dietary advice to have ‘5 a day’ fruit and vegetables for physical health.

1. Connect - With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community.

  • As being well connected is good for your mental wellbeing… Is there anything you could be doing more of?
  • Can you think of connections that you would like to make or remake?

2. Be Active - Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

  • What activities do you engage in on a regular basis? How would I like to develop this?
  • Are there any minor adjustments you can make in your life that can help you to be more active?

3. Take Notice -  Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, eating lunch or talking to friends. 

  • How can you practice slowing down and pausing more often?
  • What difference will incorporating this into your daily life make?

4. Keep Learning - Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. 

  • What would you like to learn about? What interests you? What do you value? What would you find useful?
  • What do you need to do to make learning something you look forward to?

5. Give - Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. 

  • Do you notice what it’s like for you when you give to others?
  • What else could you give others that you hadn’t thought of before?

 

Act

Give reassurances that there are lots of sources of support 

National Services

Adults

Children and Young people

Perinatal

Parents

Carers

Veterans

Workplace

If you are worried that this person is in crisis, please see section for Suicide Prevention

 If no immediate risk:

Samaritans - (All age groups)

Tel: Call 116 123, open 24 hours a day.

Papyrus - (Young people)

Tel: Call 0800 068 41 41

Text: 07786209697

Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Opening hours
Mon-Fri: 10am-10pm, weekends: 2pm-10pm & bank holidays: 2pm-5pm

Shout 

24/7 free confidential text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Text 'SHOUT' to 85258

Shout: the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)

 

National Services 

  • Encourage the person to contact their GP. Their GP will be able support the person in many ways
  • Mind 'The charity for better mental health' has an extensive range of self help resources available
  • The NHS have has a range of self-help tools available
  • Andy's Man Club provides a weekly talking group, a place for men to come together in a safe environment to talk about issues/problems they be have faced or currently been facing.  Meetings take place regularly in different locations across the region, where applicable these can be found in the local support and contact details section.
  • CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer accredited, confidential and free support to men anywhere in the UK through a helpline and web and webchat service.  They talk through any issue with you and offer support, advice and signposting.
  • Better Health Every Mind Matters website​. NHS-assured information & advice on common mental wellbeing concerns: anxiety, stress, low mood & poor sleep​

Tips to manage mental wellbeing based on Mind’s ‘5 ways to wellbeing’. 

Plus self-help CBT techniques section​ Life’s challenges - practical tips on dealing with drivers of poor mental health eg coping with money worries and job uncertainty, maintaining healthy relationships and loneliness​

  • The Mind Plan – free, personalised plan. Answer 5 quick questions on how you’ve been feeling over the last 2 weeks and you’ll get recommendations on practical self-care actions that could help. You can customise the plan and get it emailed to you​

​Free email support programmes – complete the Mind Plan to sign up for regular emails with further tips on building wellbeing actions into everyday life, or go to the “anxiety” page to sign up for a tailored email programme with expert advice and practical tips to help deal with anxiety

Support Services - Adults

'Talking Therapies' Here, you can explore various talking therapies and counselling options available through the NHS to support your mental health. Discover how these free and confidential services can help you manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues by providing professional guidance and support. Take the first step towards better mental well-being with NHS Talking Therapies.

NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Find local Mental health services available to you: 

Mental health services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Support Services - Children and Young People

Children and Young People can contact the 'The Mix which is a leading support service that can help young people to take on any challenge they are facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. 

Support Services - Perinatal

PANDAS Foundation

The PANDAS Foundation is here to help support and advise any parent who is experiencing a perinatal mental illness. We are also here to inform and guide family members, carers, friends and employers as to how they can support someone who is suffering.

Tel: 0843 2898401 (0900 - 2000 hrs, 7 days per week)

Web: http://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/

Support services - Parents

YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline, which parents/careers can call if they are worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving.  They also run a group called Parents Say, for parents whose children are accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Web: https://youngminds.org.uk/

Support Services - Carers

The Carers Trust

It is important that you take care of your own health, even if you are busy looking after someone else's health.  Being healthy is not only important for you, but it also helps the person you care after too.  The website contains some helpful guides on relationship management and information on self-care and respite care.

Web: https://carers.org/article/taking-care-yourself

Carers First: Help and support for unpaid carers

UK | Carers UK

 

Support Services - Veterans

Veterans Combat Stress is the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans. They offer free, confidential 24-hour support to Service and ex-Service personnel who are experiencing mental health issues, including feeling suicidal.

Tel: 0800 138 1619

Web: https://www.combatstress.org.uk/help-you

Support Services - Workplace

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website, the UK's independent regulator for workplace health and safety provides guidance, regulations, and resources to help you maintain a safe and healthy work environment across various industries. Visit the HSE website for more information.

Find information on risk factors, signs and causes of work-related stress with guidance for both employers and employees here

Find in-depth information on supporting workplace health and wellbeing in the MECC section Workplace Health and Wellbeing

Local Support and Contact Details