Treat your mental wellbeing in the same way as you would treat your physical health

In many ways mental wellbeing is like physical wellbeing; if you experience changes in your body you don’t hesitate to seek help, and the same should apply to your mental health.

If you are struggling, feeling low or anxious, or losing interest in activities you normally enjoy, you can take action to address this.

You can also proactively maintain good mental wellbeing – simple things such as a healthy lifestyle, spending quality time with family and friends, volunteering or learning something new can all support your mental health and wellbeing.

There are lots of resources and services available online now to help you look after your mental wellbeing or access the support you need for mild to moderate mental health difficulties:

This is an NHS-approved website full of free resources. It helps you tackle anxiety, low mood, stress, and trouble sleeping. You can also access a free personalised Mind Plan as well as selfhelp cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques. Visit www.nhs.uk/ every-mind-matters

NHS talking therapies are free, effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners.

The therapies can help with common conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

To be eligible you need to be registered with a GP. To find your local NHS talking therapies service and selfrefer go to nhs.uk/talk

n The free NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services.

n It is available to anyone aged 13 and over who is registered with an NHS GP practice in England and the Isle of Man.

n As well as finding local mental health services the NHS App allows you to l Order repeat prescriptions l View your health information l Get health advice using the health A-Z on the NHS website l Find NHS services near you n For more information visit nhs.uk/nhs-app n Connecting with others, being active and doing little things that make you happy can make a big difference to how you feel. n And the friendly group of women and men at Scarborough Mates, a community charity, can certainly attest to this! n The group meet up each weekday at a former railway station building – which has been remodelled and now has a craft room, workshop, model railway room, ceramics room and a kitchen – to try out new activities, exchange ideas and chat over a cuppa. n One of the founders and trustee Charles Airlie said: “We have been going for five years. The essence of the Mates is we help each other. We are trying to tackle isolation.” n Patti Chico, 76, a retired midwife and trainer added: “The camaraderie is wonderful. I cannot praise the place enough, it has such a lovely atmosphere.”

Hub of Hope Hub of Hope, run by the charity Chasing the Stigma, enables you to find out what’s available locally and nationally to help you tackle anxiety, depression, trauma or PTSD and their causes, such as financial concerns, loneliness, gambling or substance misuse. Visit hubofhope. co.uk or download the free app and simply type in your postcode to get started.

Shout

The Shout website includes resources and tips to support you when you’re feeling anxious, low, stressed or overwhelmed. For more information visit giveusashout.org

Samaritans Self-Help

You can use Samaritans

Self-Help to explore relaxation techniques, record your mood every day, look for patterns in how you’re feeling, make a personal safety plan and store images of things that give you hope. Find out more at selfhelp.samaritans.org

Cuppa and a Chat – It’s good to talk

Patti Chico

If you are experiencing more serious issues, having thoughts of suicide, are harming yourself or have thought about self-harm it is important to tell someone, and not struggle alone. If you cannot wait to see a doctor and feel unable to cope or you need somebody to talk to, contact one of the organisations below to get support right away.

NHS urgent support

Papyrus

If you are under 35 and experiencing thoughts of suicide, or for anyone that is concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide, Papyrus’s website, text, email and telephone services are available 9am - midnight, 7 days a week, 365 days a year Visit papyrus-uk. org or call 0800 068 4141. You can also text 07860 039 967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

Find your local 24/7 NHS crisis line on nhs.uk/ urgentmentalhealth or visit 111.nhs.uk

If you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999

If you do not feel you can keep