Mental Health and Wellbeing

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Everyone faces challenges in life. How big or difficult these challenges are will be different for each of us but we all know what it’s like to feel drained and struggling to cope. This page offers support and advice on finding ways to build on our strengths and to increase our resilience in order to meet the challenges we all encounter from time to time.

It is also about going further than coping and surviving and realising that there is good evidence that a range of simple actions are strongly linked to people feeling happier and more satisfied with their lives. It is about knowing that there are actions you can take that will build up your health and wellbeing and then doing something about it yourself – taking small steps to living well.

Public Health England has published new advice to support mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak. PHE has also updated the Every Mind Matters platform with specific advice on maintaining good mental wellbeing during the outbreak.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-aspects-of-coronavirus-covid-19#additional-advice-for-groups-with-specific-mental-health-needs

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/

Action for Happiness – Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society, with an aim of reducing mental ill health. Explore the ‘Ten Keys to Happier Living’ as strategies for promoting wellbeing.

https://www.actionforhappiness.org/10-keys-to-happier-living

Five Ways to Well-being – Developed by the New Economics Foundation to promote well-being

Connect
Be Active
Take Notice
Keep Learning
Give
There are a number of websites that explore how these concepts can be lived out to foster greater well-being.

Mind -

https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/five-ways-to-wellbeing/

NHS -

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/

Gov.uk -

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/five-ways-to-mental-wellbeing

The British Psychological Society – A resource paper on Coronavirus and UK school closures: General support and advice for schools and parents/Carers, including a section on mental health and well-being.

https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%20-%20Files/Coronavirus%20and%20UK%20schools%20closures%20-%20support%20and%20advice.pdf

NHS Every Mind Matters – NHS site with advice on how to look after your mental health and well-being, especially in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

NHS Every Mind Matters Your Mind Plan – A n online Mind Plan Quiz that provides tailored advice that responds to your answers -

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/your-mind-plan-quiz/?WT.tsrc=Search&WT.mc_id=MentalHealthGeneric&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZr3W2CwDv6yBQPTNttiwJMhdPCRsy-JsIcA0iy_mNXfxz98CU7KEzUaAgqCEALw_wcB

Mind – Tips on mental health and wellbeing in relation to the coronavirus

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

Mental Health at Work – A useful portal signposting resources to assist in mental health and wellbeing – including when working from home.

https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/toolkit/coronavirus-and-isolation-supporting-yourself-and-your-colleagues/

BBC News - Professor of Public Health Linda Bauld offers advice for those struggling with their mental health during coronavirus social distancing and self-isolation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-51955595/coronavirus-mental-health-advice-for-self-isolation

Mental Health UK - Advice from Mental Health UK on looking after your mental health and Well-being in relation to the Coronavirus

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/covid-19-and-your-mental-health/

Young Minds – Advice for young people on well-being whilst self-isolating

https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/looking-after-your-mental-health-while-self-isolating/

NHS Advice “Worried about your teenager?” - Advice for parents on mental health issues affecting young people.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/worried-about-your-teenager/

Advice from Carmelites for this time of Confinement.

Ten practical suggestions from an enclosed religious order on how to get through these days at home.

https://carmelitasdescalzascadiz.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/10-consejos-de-una-monja-de-clausura-para-vivir-los-dias-de-confinamiento-y-no-morir-en-el-intento/?fbclid=IwAR0ch4ILGaqYZdPSaUq5RxQgCj0dHvDVcCMxabPGdbuV7b1e5Nlr8k5ikvg

Emerging Minds – Supporting children and young people with their worries and anxiety about COVID-19

(Resources for children, young people, parents/Carers and education professionals)

https://emergingminds.org.uk/recommended-resources-supporting-children-and-young-people-with-worries-and-anxiety-links/

The Ministry of Parenting – support and resources for parents, and training materials for practitioners

http://www.theministryofparenting.com/articles-relating-to-cornavirus-2/

Mental Health & Wellbeing for Staff

Young Minds - https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/school-resources/caring-for-the-wellbeing-of-teachers-and-school-staff/#how-to-support-wellbeing-in-your-school

Mentally Healthy Schools -

Supporting Staff Well-being Guidance - https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/whole-school-approach/supporting-staff-wellbeing/
Coronavirus Mental Health Toolkit - https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/1998/coronavirus-mental-health-and-wellbeing-toolkit-2.pdf

Support Staff Doc - https://www.annafreud.org/media/7653/3rdanna-freud-booklet-staff-wellbeing-web-pdf-21-june.pdf
Looking after each other and ourselves -file:///E:/Mental%20Health%20and%20Wellbeing/Staff%20Wellbeing/looking-after-each-other-ourselves-final.pdf
Video Training on well-being for staff - https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/schools-in-mind/expert-advice-and-guidance-videos/
Schools in Mind – Sign up the newsletter and resources - https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/schools-in-mind/

Action for Happiness - https://www.actionforhappiness.org/10-keys (Similar to the five ways to wellbeing mentioned in previous bulletins)

Ten Keys Guidebook- https://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/530511/ten_keys_guidebook.pdf

Education Support

Mental Health at Work - https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/toolkit/coronavirus-and-isolation-supporting-yourself-and-your-colleagues/?utm_source=MIND%20%28THE%20NATIONAL%20ASSOCIATION%20FOR%20MENTAL%20HEALTH%29&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11451871_HTWW_MHAW_2_April_Manual_SP_oneoff&dm_i=CZC,6TGBJ,WYJ0ZO,RAZP4,1

Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

The Schools Bus – Free Mental Health Calendar for school staff (30 Mental Health Tips) - https://hub4leaders.co.uk/learning-hub/resources/staff-mental-health-calendar/staff-mental-health-calendar/

Dr Pooky Knightsbridge - 5 tips for staying mentally well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GmQijmUrkk&feature=youtu.be

Anxiety/Mental health/loneliness

How to reduce high anxiety now: Thinking about past pleasant memories may help some people with immediate stress (article)
Free, daily meditation sessions online
WHO guidance to support mental health during this time
MIND coronavirus and your wellbeing
9 ways to stay positive during this period
Blog from Anna Mathur, Psychotherapist - dealing with Coronavirus anxiety
Sensory stuck at home - support group on Facebook for adults
Telephone befriending service for the elderly
Living life to the full - Free online course to change your life for the better
Mindfulness and meditation
Autistic Health and Wellbeing- a space for autistic people to share the things that they have found helpful and healing
5 Ways to wellbeing
Self-Help Resources for those with mental health conditions
Bereavement counseling