Edition 15 – Wednesday 1 July
Mood of the nation
The Office for National Statistics publish weekly findings from their Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.
Click this link to see the latest release.
Cheering stats from this week: almost half of adults (43%) reported that there were some aspects of their lifestyle that had changed for the better since the Covid-19 pandemic. Of those who reported that some aspects of their lifestyle had changed for the better, over half (56%) said that they were now able to spend more quality time with people they lived with, while 50% were enjoying a slower pace of life and 47% preferred that they were spending less time travelling.
Ways to be kind to yourself
Our lovely members at Bedhampton Community Centre have produced a newsletter in readiness for re-opening, and asked their groups for a top tip on “Ways to be Kind to Yourself”.
Here’s a selection that made me smile:
- Sing-a-Lings – Think of a Disney film, and sing your favourite song from it.
- Friendship Group – Write a letter to a friend, without mentioning Covid-19 once!
- South Zone Dance – Have a kitchen disco!
- Sing Sing and Book Club – Read a book with a music theme, or bonus points if you can sing a song with a book theme!
- Solent Country Dancers – Can you remember the Gay Gordons? I’ll give you a start – for-ward 2,3,4 back 2,3,4…
- Short Mat Bowls – Dig in your recycling for your empty bottles, and make yourself an at-home bowling alley (if you can make your own woods and a jack out of your recycling, you’re winning!)
- The Young Creatives – Pick a monologue and learn it in your best theatrical style.
- Line Dancing – Pop on some country music and line dance your way around the house, grapevine to the left and kick ball change your way to the kitchen!
- Craft Club – Using what you have at home, make a gift for a friend or neighbour to put a smile on their face.
Edition 14 – Wednesday 24 June
Work-related stress, worker wellbeing and mental health
The Covid-19 outbreak has increased pressure on workers and HSE has resources to help employers support them with stress and mental health conditions.
Planning, training and support can all reduce pressure and bring stress levels down. Our guidance can help you support employee mental health by managing work-related stress. It includes a talking tool kit to help prevent stress in the changing working environment, available via this link.
Edition 13 – Wednesday 17 June
Managing Moods
Italk’s new online option for Managing Moods is now available to book. The 6-week course is available for direct booking, without needing to see your GP or have an assessment. It’s based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which looks at the links between our thoughts, feelings and actions, to teach proactive ways we can change what we do or how we think, to improve how we feel. You can find the managing moods page and book on your free place using this link.
No internet access?
Italk are also able to offer assessments and treatments by telephone, so please encourage anyone who needs support to self-refer by calling 023 8038 3920.
Edition 12 – Wednesday 10 June
Helpline for young people
Free telephone helpline for young people aged 11 – 17 in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, who are struggling with their mental health. Callers will have immediate access to:
- One to one confidential, emotional support
- Advice on healthy coping skills and resources
- Signposting to useful apps and websites
To access the Hampshire and IOW CYP Crisis Line please call: 0300 303 1590
Victim Support – new 24/7 Live Chat Service and My Support Space
Victim Support now have a free, 24/7 confidential live chat service, available via this link, which is available to all victims of crime.
They have also launched ‘My Support Space’, available via this link, which is a free secure online platform containing interactive guides, tips and videos to topics such as difficult emotions, coping strategies, trauma and sleep. These are all common issues that people may experience after crime, but may be intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Problem gaming
The guidance from the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), available through this link, covers topics ranging from controlling in-app purchases to signs of gambling and healthy gaming behaviour. They offer support for parents and carers as well as those with a gaming or gambling addiction themselves.
Edition 11 – Wednesday 3 June
It is understandable that children and young people may be feeling anxious and upset. Their lives may feel unpredictable and out of control and their usual mechanisms of support through friends, family members and professionals will have changed and may be more limited. Despite the valuable work of many organisations, these anxieties look set to increase as lockdown measures are eased. Dr Prathiba Chitsabesan (the NHS’s Associate National Clinical Director for Children and Young People’s Mental Health) has written two articles advising how to approach these potential issues.
Edition 10 – Thursday 28 May
Mental health resources for charity workers
Charity work can take a toll on our mental health at the best of times. In the current situation, it’s more important than ever to take care of your own mental health, and that of your employees and volunteers. Charity Digital has compiled a selection of online resources to support you, available via this link.
Edition 9 – Wednesday 20 May
Anger management support for young people and their families
(Hart, Rushmoor & Basingstoke)
Headspace offers free services to young people and their parents, carers and supporters – here to help those who are finding the current restrictions are leading to tensions and possibly angry outbursts at home. Referral is quick and easy, just email or call or text 07464 507974 requesting support and someone will respond within 24 hours to listen to your concerns and offer help.
Edition 8 – Wednesday 13 May
Pandemic is causing poor mental health in a third of children, says healthcare provider
More than three million children in the UK could be struggling with poor mental health due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research from Benenden Health. Nearly a third of parents (29 per cent) revealed they had seen a negative impact on their children’s mental wellbeing since the outbreak of the virus. As a result, Benenden Health has developed a dedicated Covid-19 hub, providing online materials and advice for people including children and parents to help them manage their health and wellbeing. For more information and support, click this link to the Benenden website.
Edition 7 – Wednesday 6 May
Mental Health Awareness week 18-24 May
Ahead of Mental Health Awareness week, the theme of which is ‘kindness’, St John Ambulance have created a range of resources including a series of guides, available via this link, a wellbeing self-assessment tool available through this link, and a kindness calendar for 2020, available via this link.
Helpline for young people
New free telephone helpline for young people aged 11 – 17 in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, who are experiencing mental health crisis. The service started on Monday (4th May), for an initial period of 6 months. Caller will have immediate access to:
- One to one confidential, emotional support
- Advice on healthy coping skills and resources
- Signposting to useful apps and websites
If you would like to access the Hampshire and IOW CYP Crisis Line please call: 0300 303 1590
Winchester Street Reach
Winchester Street Reach is still here, and you can reach them online! On Monday’s and Friday’s find them on the Houseparty app, where you can sign up for free and have group chats with the team and other young people. Mondays: 7 – 8.30pm. Fridays: 6-7.15pm. You can also message them on Instagram and their youth workers will be on hand to offer confidential advice and support or click this link to contact them through their website.
Edition 6 – Wednesday 29 April
Mental wellbeing helpline
Solent Mind advisers can offer support to people feeling anxious or low as well as practical guidance on keeping mentally well during the lockdown. The Solent Mind Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Helpline is available to residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday to Friday, between 10am and 4pm (except bank holidays) on 023 8017 9049. The confidential service can also refer callers to specific local support, such as benefits advice or bereavement services. The helpline is available on – 023 8017 9049 and is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Video counselling for children and young people
121 Youth Counselling is offering Video Counselling Sessions for Young People aged 11-25 who might be struggling with the current situation. The service is open to anyone aged 11-25 who lives in Hart district, goes to school there, or is registered with a Hart GP surgery. They can provide up to 6 free confidential online video counselling sessions. Please visit the Hart Voluntary Action website via this link for more information.
italk
italk are still able to welcome new referrals. Their 1-1 treatments are continuing, with some adjustments, and they are working towards being able to offer their group therapies and educational courses online. For more information on the service’s response to Covid-19 visit the italk website, available through this link. italk have also created a series of bitesize wellbeing videos teaching ways to look after your everyday emotional wellbeing. They are publishing a new video each Saturday on their Facebook page, focussing on the challenges of life at the moment – from making the most of your time and staying motivated, to helping prevent your worries from snowballing.
New mental health toolkit!
The HAPPY KIT is a new mental health toolkit for any professional working with young people! It’s a training booklet covering 14 areas of wellbeing including sleep, anger management, self harm, panic attacks and much more! Each wellbeing topic covers did you know facts and activity ideas. The booklet also comes with educational postcards that can be given out to young people for advice and information. For more information on The Happy Kit, please visit their website via this link.
Edition 5 – Wednesday 22 April
Every Mind Matters campaign
Public Health England has updated its Every Mind Matters platform with new COVID-19 mental health guidance and tips to help people look after their mental and physical health whilst staying at home. There is advice for individuals and parents who are concerned about their children. Click this link to view the other resource packs from PHE.
Edition 4 – Wednesday 15 April
Youth Counselling
Winchester Youth Counselling has asked us to let you know that their service is continuing during the current crisis. They are happy to support young people aged 11-25 and parents of adolescents who live in the district of Winchester who might be struggling at the moment with their mental health.
They can support by phone, Skype or Zoom and if people want to contact them for some temporary support, they can be phoned or e-mailed on 01962 820444 and admin@winchesteryouthcounselling.org.
Edition 2 – Wednesday 1 April
Rethink Mental Illness information hub
The charity’s hub contains practical information and support for people living with mental illness and their carers. It says O2 users can access the site without using up any of their data allowance. You can access the hub via this link.
