Looking after your emotional health and wellbeing
Spending time in your home can make you feel isolated and lonely, and this affects our emotional health and wellbeing. It is normal to experience low mood, anxiety or stress but there are things that can help.
Connect
Do plan and make regular phone calls, instant messages and text to friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.
Do use digital solutions like Facebook and Twitter or video chat to keep in contact.
Do plan with people what you will talk about next, for example TV programmes, films or an eBook.
Do listen to music or podcast to help feel connected and less lonely.
Do try activities that stimulate your mind like puzzles or free online courses by FutureLearn www.futurelearn.com and OpenLearn https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
Do join an online peer support group, such as Elefriends run by Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/support-community-elefriends/
Be Active
Do get outside for a walk, run or cycle. Remember to keep your distance from others and wash your hands when you get home.
Do keep active at home, it’s important in maintaining your physical and mental well-being. Visit the Active Calderdale website for advice – https://active.calderdale.gov.uk
Do take regular breaks from work. Stand up from your desk and take a walk around the house every hour.
Do regular stretches, either standing or seated.
Do encourage your family, friends and neighbours to get active too. You could even get active at the same time over a video chat!Do share how you’re getting active on social media! Use #ActiveCdale on Twitter and Instagram, and your photos and videos can be shared with others to inspire them!
Look after yourself
Do maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes eating well, keeping hydrated and sleep helps with emotions.
Do respond supportively and allow children to talk about their emotions and express themselves in games or in drawings.
Do limit time you or your family spend watching or listening to media that you find upsetting.
Do keep regular routines where possible, or help create new ones such as learning, play and relaxation.
Do download free NHS approved mobile phone apps for mental health, sleep, lifestyle and other topics – https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library
Do visit Every Mind Matters for more information on coronavirus and mental wellbeing www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
Don’t use gambling platforms, smoking, alcohol or other drugs to deal your emotions.
Don’t let embarrassment stop you from talking with others about what’s happened. Talking is an important way of dealing with the situation.
Get support
We are all individuals and there is no right or wrong way to cope or feel. For most of us, especially if we have never experience problems with anxiety or low mood before, these feelings will gradually disappear over time. However, some of us will need more help.
Do contact national and local sources of support
Emotional health and wellbeing
For all ages:
- Mental health helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new confidential helpline offers support and guidance to anyone registered with a GP practice in Calderdale by calling free on 0800 183 0558. As well as information and advice, trained telephone advisors can help people.
- COVID-19 support line. Overgate Hospice has set up ‘Hear for You’ COVID-19 support line which provides telephone advice and support for health and social care professionals providing a frontline service in response to COVID-19, relatives and friends of patients being cared for in any health and social care setting in relation to COVID-19, bereaved relatives and friends. The telephone number is 01422 387172 and the line is open between 10am and 6pm seven days a week
For adults:
- IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) – when we feel like we can’t cope, feel anxious, low or have problems sleeping, going out of the house. Sometimes this can start to affect our everyday lives and prevent us from doing the things we normally do. There are 2 providers providing IAPT services in Calderdale, the options are:
- South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Calderdale IAPT – Your GP can refer you or you can self -refer by ringing the IAPT number 01484 343700 or visit www.askforiapt.co.uk
- VitaMinds Calderdale. Providing free and confidential talking therapies- Self-refer online at www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/vitaminds or call 0333 0153 494 Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 8.00pm, Fridays 8.00am – 5.00pm or email atiapt.calderdale@nhs.net
- The Samaritans offer a listening ear if you need to talk to someone. You can ring them on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
- The Silver Line on 0800 4 70 80 90 is a free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours every day of the year.
- Healthy Minds is Calderdale’s local mental health charity – you can contact them on 01422 345154 or visit healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
- Safespace is run by Healthy Minds and provides out of hours support for people in emotional distress. It is open every evening from 6pm to 10.30pm, with calls taken up to 10pm. Call 01422 345154 or contact by Facebook (Safespace Calderdale) or email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
- The Employee Assistance Programme is a 24 hour confidential helpline, to support all staff, working within the Health and Social Care sector; in paid and voluntary roles, across Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield; through any of life’s issues or problems. The service will offer support in a confidential, friendly non-judgmental manner, through experienced therapists or advisors. To contact the service ring 0800 028 0199
The service supports people who:
- Are at risk of Stress, Anxiety and Low mood.
- Have financial issues.
- Experiencing relationship difficulties.
- Require legal support.
- Dedicated app for social care workers https://workforce.adultsocialcare.uk/
Children and young peoples’ emotional health and wellbeing
- Please see the Open Minds Partnership page at https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/cyp-ehwd-c19/
Bereavement
- See above for ‘Hear for You’ in relation to bereavement due to COVID-19
- West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership ‘Grief and Loss Support Service’ – free service for people in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, for anyone suffering any form of grief and loss, or those worried about losing someone, whether this relates to a family member, friend or member of their community or those feeling impacted by the deaths of public figures and/or the volume of deaths across the country. People can self-refer to the service or will be signposted by other agencies. Call the FREE helpline: 0808 1963833 open 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. Chat online: lossandgriefwyh.co.uk
- CRUSE Bereavement Care offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Its helpline 0808 808 1677 is open from 9.30am to 5pm Mondays to Friday, with extended opening hours till 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. You can also e-mail on helpline@cruse.org.uk or visit their website at https://www.cruse.org.uk/
- The National Bereavement Alliance is a group of organisations providing support to those who are bereaved. Information on support available can be found at its website https://nationalbereavementalliance.org.uk/support/
Other help and support
Other helplines and support groups can also offer expert advice for you or a loved one – for details, please click here
Remember
Don’t struggle at home if you are on your own, elderly or vulnerable. For assistance contact Volunteer hub volunteeringcovid19@calderdale.gov.uk or Calderdale Council’s contact centre 01422 288001