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Where to get support

Be active

  • Keeping up with your physical health is also important for your mental health:
  • This is provided as information only. If you have a medical condition, you should continue to follow advice given by your health practitioner/GP.
  • To promote healthy ageing, we have produced a series of gentle exercise videos on YouTube to help you keep active at home.

Connect

  • Maintaining healthy relationships with people you trust is important for your mental wellbeing. Think about how you can stay in touch with friends and family while you are at home – by phone, messaging, video calls or online – whether it's people you usually see often or reconnecting with old friends or neighbours.
  • We are all going through this together so even when we’re not face-to-face, continue to keep in contact and look out for each other.

Give

  • Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you. Think what activities you can do at home that might benefit others.
  • Warwickshire County Council offer practical advice about giving or receiving help at this time.
  • Remember to follow Government guidance and if you must leave the house, maintain social distancing measures (for example, keep a two-metre distance between you).

Keep learning

  • Create a new daily routine that prioritises looking after yourself. You could try reading more or watching movies, having an exercise routine, trying new relaxation techniques, or finding new knowledge on the internet. Try and rest and view this as a new if unusual experience that might have its benefits.
  • Give ideas for passing the time when you’re social distancing: share your favourite books, recipe ideas or make playlists for each other. Whatever you enjoy doing in your spare time, share it with each other.
  • Remember that you can access digital reading material online for free from Warwickshire Libraries. If you normally enjoy newspapers and magazines but are not able to visit shops, you can also access newspapers and magazines online for free via Press Reader.
  • You could also have a look at online courses, such as those available from the Open University and Future Learn.

Take notice

  • Take notice of nature – bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. It can improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress or anger, and make you feel more relaxed. You could try the following:
    • Spend time with the windows open to let in fresh air.
    • Spend time in your garden if you have one.
  • Take notice of yourself - there are lots of different ways that you can relax, take notice of the present moment and use your creative side.

Help and support for suicidal thoughts

If you need immediate support:

  • Samaritans – call 116 123
  • Dear Life: a website dedicated to help you find support in a crisis or if you are worried about someone. You can find information, training, and support available in Coventry and Warwickshire to keep you safe and well.
  • For urgent medical needs call your GP, or NHS 111. If you are in a life-threatening situation call 999.

Reading Well and Warwickshire Libraries

As we observe social distancing, remember that you can access digital reading material online for free from Warwickshire Libraries. If you normally enjoy newspapers and magazines but are not able to visit shops, you can also access newspapers and magazines online for free via Press Reader.

To access both, visit the Self-help books page. You will need your library card number and a PIN; this will be the same PIN which you use to access other online resources. There are instructions and a help page online plus email support if you need further help.

You can apply online for a library card if you do not currently have one. You can access e-book and e-audio copies of the Reading Well collections. These are national self-help collections. The following titles available in e-book or e-audio format from Warwickshire Libraries:

Reading Well for mental health:

  • A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink – eBook and e-audio
  • A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax – eBook and e-audio
  • Grief Works by Julia Samuel – eBook and e-audio
  • Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig – eBook and e-audio

Reading Well self-help for young people:

  • Blame My Brain by Nicola Morgan – eBook
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon – eBook
  • The Teenage Guide to Stress by Nicola Morgan – eBook
  • The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens by Jennifer Shannon – eBook
  • The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens by Jennifer Shannon – eBook
  • Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens by Sheri van Dijk – eBook

Reading Well for children:

  • Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe – eBook
  • Clownfish by Alan Durant – eBook
  • Check Mates by Stewart Foster – eBook

For some people, the current rules around social distancing and remaining at home can mean that they are at greater risk of suffering abuse. If you are suffering abuse, remember you are not alone. Help is at hand and support services continue to be available across Warwickshire during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please visit our page on domestic abuse for more information.

Mental Health support

  • Warwickshire mental health and wellbeing support
  • Local 24/7 support:
    • Mental Health Helpline and webchat – confidential, and freely available 24/7. Anyone can access a team of trained and experienced support workers by calling 0800 616 171 or via the Time Online webchat If you’re not able to get through first time, then please keep trying.
    • Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall) is available free for Warwickshire residents (16+). Togetherall is a safe, online anonymous community of people who help each other by sharing what’s troubling them, guided by trained professionals. There are also structured self-help courses that you can enrol on to help you feel more in control of your mental health.
  • Support available at specific times:
    • Wellbeing for Warwickshire (WbW) – to help you cope during this period, the WbW Hubs will be offering telephone support to anyone who feels they are in need of contact. To talk to a member of staff or book an appointment, call the Hubs Team on 024 7771 2288. Or you can email wbw@cwmind.org.uk for more information.
      Wellbeing for Warwickshire service update (PDF, 120 KB)
    • Warwickshire Safe Haven – providing support for people (18+) who are feeling distressed and overwhelmed in the evenings (6-11pm, every evening) 
      Call: 024 7771 4554 
      Text: 07970 042270 
      Email: safehaven@cwmind.org.uk
      Safe Haven Flyer (PDF, 166 KB)
    • Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) - many organisations now have Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) that offer mental health and wellbeing support. Find out if your organisation has an EAP that you can
    • IAPT – IAPT services are available for people experiencing mild to severe anxiety and depression.  They can provide advice, information and therapy.  Please note this service involves an initial assessment which then determines the support you will be offered.  Call 024 7667 1090 to self-refer.
    • Making Space (Warwickshire Mental Health Co-Production Service) is hosting a number of Zoom (video call) sessions so that individuals can virtually come together, talk about their experiences and seek advice during the current crisis. The details for the sessions are as follows:  Every Monday from 5pm onwards.  Every Thursday from 11am onwards. Every Saturday from 1pm onwards. For details on how to join, please email elizabeth.pfute@makingspace.co.uk
    • Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison (TIL) Service - TILS can provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your mental health, including social needs and a physical health check-up. Call the single point of entry on 0300 323 0137 (9am-9pm). Veterans and their families can also access a 24/7 emotional support line on 0300 323 0139. 
    • Help for expectant and new parents - If you are expecting a baby or have just become a new parent you may be feeling particularly worried at the current time, and you may be finding it hard to cope. Help is available on the Family Information Service webpage.
  • Apps: 
    • Stay Alive – a free app for those at risk of suicide and those worried about someone. It is packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
    • Find more apps on the NHS Library
    • Care Companion – a free 24/7 online tool full of information to support carers and their cared-for, also providing COVID-19 updates from reliable sources. Registering sets up a confidential profile to access all information tailored to your circumstances.
  • Other resources
    • Mental Health at work: Paying attention to workplace mental health has never been more important. Mental Health at Work is here to help you find what you need.
    • Mental Health at work: resources
    • Every Mind Matters plan: Your Mind Plan is the free online tool that’s part of Every Mind Matters, the new platform to support good mental health. It asks you five simple questions, about:
      • your mood;
      • your sleep;
      • if you’re stressed;
      • if you have anxiety;
      • if you’re worried about anything.
        You’ll then receive an action plan, with simple ideas and tips you can try, all based on recommendations from mental health experts. They’ve been updated to reflect the current situation with coronavirus, whether you’re staying at home or worried about somebody else. You’re free to swap any of the suggested actions for something that suits you better. And you can then get the plan emailed to you so you can refer to it in the future.
  • DVSW - Domestic Violence and Abuse Service Warwickshire: The Domestic Violence and Abuse Service Warwickshire is commissioned by Warwickshire County Council to deliver both the refuge accommodation and the countywide community outreach services. If you are concerned about someone's safety, with their consent, you can make a referral to Refuge (PDF, 186 KB) on their behalf. 
  • Recovery & Wellbeing Academy: The academy provides the opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills to become the expert in managing your own mental health and wellbeing. The academy believes that we are stronger together and works in partnership with experts by experience and experts by education in each subject area. Due to the current Covid 19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines we are currently unable to provide our full offer of classroom-based courses. Some courses are now available `ONLINE' via Zoom.
  • Sleep enablers and preventers & sleep and lifestyle from Unilever: Sleep and our mental health are closely related. Stress and worry can keep you awake at night, and that in turn can make you feel anxious or depressed. This one-page PDF from Unilever offers advice on what behaviours can help you to have a good night’s sleep, and which habits you might want to change.
  • Adaptability resource from Unilever: Adaptability is the ability to modify and change your thoughts, emotions and behaviours in response to change. When you and your colleagues are adaptable, you are able to better cope with stressful situations. This one-page PDF guide from Unilever offers advice on becoming more adaptable – including teaching yourself to approach problems through multiple ‘lenses’ to get a well-rounded view of conflicting viewpoints.