Wellbeing

Tips to improve your wellbeing

Talk about your feelings or worries with someone. Don’t struggle on by yourself, talk to family or friends about how you are feeling. Talking to someone about how you feel can often help reduce your anxiety and help you to see things from a different perspective. If you have no one to talk to, think about calling one of the listed telephone support services listed on this website.

Deal with problems. Don’t ignore them; if your problems are mounting up or you are struggling with a big problem, break it down into smaller chunks and deal with one bit at a time. If you are unable to sort the problem out and struggling to cope, pick up the phone and call one of the listed services for support and advice.

Prioritise. Decide what has to be done and what can wait; it may help to make a list and put the priorities in order of importance.

Sleep Well. Lack of sleep reduces your ability to handle stress and can affect your mood. If you are not getting enough sleep, try to look at ways of improving this (see the listed self -help websites for useful information on sleep).

Healthy eating- Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables; try to reduce fatty and fried food and food high in sugar and salt. For more advice on healthy eating visit: – www.nhs.uk/Livewell/healthy-eating.

Exercise- Try to ﬁnd time to exercise in your day; just 30 minutes can be beneﬁcial and if you struggle with low mood, stress or anxiety, regular exercise can really make a difference to the way you feel. Take a walk, cycle, swim, join a ﬁtness or dance class and try to make it part of your daily or weekly routine.
For further information visit:- www.nhs.uk/Livewell www.nhs. uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/mental-beneﬁts-of-exercise.aspx

Mindfulness, Is becoming more aware of the present moment, so that we can enjoy the world around us more, rather than going over and over unhelpful thoughts which do not beneﬁt us. For further information on Mindfulness visit:- www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness

See NHS Five Steps to mental wellbeing at :- www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing

Useful Contact Details for Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Adult Mental Health Provision

24 hour Emergency Mental Health Support

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Access Team
Provide 24 hour cover for all mental health services in North Staffordshire; provides crisis support, assessments, advice and signposting
Contact:- 0300 123 0907 Option 1

Out of Hours GP Service for Staffordshire

Contact:-111

If there is immediate danger of serious harm Contact:- 999

Mental Health Helplines

The Samaritans

Provide telephone and face-to-face support for anyone who needs to talk to someone at any time of the day or night; you do not need to be suicidal to contact this service.

National Samaritans Helpline (24 hour support) 116 123 (Free number)

or Email:- jo@samaritans.org

For your local Samaritans Branch; please call 116 123 or visit their

website at https://www.samaritans.org/branches

Local Samaritans Contact Details

Stoke-on-Trent Samaritans 01782 213555 (cost of a local call)

Leek Samaritans 01538 384100 (cost of a local call)

Stafford Samaritans 01785 243333 (cost of a local call)

SANE

Offer emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental health issues and improve their quality of life

Contact:- 0300 304 7000 Open Daily 4.30pm-10.30pm

website:- http://www.sane.org.uk

Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline

Available to anyone who is over 18 years old, living in Staffordshire, who may be going through a difficult time and need someone to talk to. The service operates evenings and weekends, 365 days a year (7pm-2am weekdays; 2pm-2am weekends)

Contact:- 0808 800 2234
Email:- staffordshire.helpline@brighter-futures.org.uk
website:- http://www.brighter-futures.org.uk

Staffordshire Mental Health Directory

Provides information and contact details about local organisations & projects in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who provide advice and support throughout the community:- www.stokementalhealth.info

Free Primary Care Mental Health Support Services

The provision of psychological therapy, one-to-one and group support for those struggling with a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and social anxiety; some of the organisations also provide support on managing long-term health conditions such as Diabetes, Heart conditions, Musculoskeletal difficulties, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Pain

Healthy Minds Stoke-on-Trent

Provide a primary care psychological therapy service for people aged 18 years or older who are registered with a GP in Stoke-on-Trent

Contact details:- 0300 123 0907 then press Option 2
website:- http://healthy-minds.org.uk

Changes Health and Wellbeing Service

Changes is a user-led organisation and offers a unique recovery service throughout Staffordshire for those struggling with any type of mental distress; they offer the 12 step recovery programme, support groups, mental health training and resources

Contact details:- Head Office:-01782 413101
Email: stoke@changes.org.uk ; Website:- http://www.changes.org.uk

North Staffordshire Wellbeing Service

Covers Newcastle and Staffordshire Moorlands; specialises in symptoms of anxiety and depression but also delivers rehabilitation programmes for a range of physical health conditions. The team consists of Wellbeing Practitioners, Nurse Therapists, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists and Counsellors

Contact details:- 01782 711651
website :- http://northstaffswellbeing.co.uk
Community Mental Wellbeing Support

Brighter Futures

Provide support for those struggling with mental health problems, substance misuse, homelessness, financial issues, etc.

Contact:- 01782 406000; http://www.brighter-futures.org.uk

ECHO offers mutual support and information for people who have experienced self-harm

Contact:- 07500 444116; Email:- info@brighter-futures.org.uk

The Dove Service

Provide bereavement counselling & terminal illness counselling for residents in Stoke-On-Trent and North Staffordshire

Contact:-01782 683155

website:- www.thedoveservice.org.uk

Mind

Provide nationwide Mental Health information and support

Mental Health Info Line:- 0300 123 3393 or text 86463

National number:- 020 8519 2122; Website:- www.mind.org.uk

Mind Legal Line:-0300 466 6463

North Staffs Mind

Provide mental health support, advice and information; also provide a free counselling service

Contact:- 01782 262100; website:- http://nsmind.org.uk/

Rethink

A nationwide mental health charity, providing mental health information, services and support

Contact:- 0300 5000 927
website:- https://www.rethink.org/

Healthy Communities Service

Staffordshire County Council provides a Healthy Communities Service for people aged 50 and over in identified areas across Staffordshire; the service can help you with weight management, falls prevention, physical activity and stop smoking. For more information visit:-

website:- https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/health/care/Health-and-Wellbeing/Healthy-Lifestyles/Healthy-lifestyles.aspx

For further information on healthy living, including healthy eating, exercise and mindfulness visit:-

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/

Mental Wellbeing Self-Help Websites and Resources

These provide self-help support, information and self-help literature on a range of mental wellbeing issues such as depression and low mood, anger, anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias, post-natal depression and sleep problems

Relaxation and Mindfulness Downloads

These may help to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and panic. For deep breathing exercises, relaxation and mindfulness visit the website:-

www.counsellingservice.manchester.ac.uk/self-help

The ‘Overcoming’ Series of Self-Help Books

Provide self-help, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for mental health and psychological problems

website:- http://www.overcoming.co.uk