Festive season mental health support highlighted by NHS24

WITH another festive season impacted by the Covid pandemic, NHS 24 are encouraging people to put mental health first.

Lots of people are feeling anxious and unsure of where to turn for a bit of support so the team behind NHS inform and the 111 service have compiled some of advice as to where people can turn to for support:

Clear Your Head website

It’s natural to not feel yourself at times, and for anyone feeling that way, the Clear Your Head web site has simple tips for anyone feeling down, as well as guides on what to do to support others. Visit clearyourhead.scot

NHSinform.scot

Anyone in Scotland with a digital device and having problems with anger or stress, having trouble sleeping, or struggling to cope with challenging situations, can find support by answering a few simple questions through this guide, nhsinform.scot/get-help-with-your-mental-wellbeing

During the summer of 2021 hundreds of visitors to NHSinform were directed to seek immediate telephone help while thousands more went on to self-directed care online using SilverCloud, a website with courses to improve mental wellbeing based on cognitive behavioural therapy.

An extensive range of mental wellbeing resources is available at www.nhsinform.scot/mental-wellbeing

NHSinform also has a number of resources for users of British Sign Language that cover mental health issues at www.nhsinform.scot/BSL

Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87

Answering almost 9,000 calls a month, the Breathing Space service continues to grow and evolve with the web chat service now offering online support.

Callers contact Breathing Space for a wide range of reasons, including relationship issues, stress, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. However, over the last year the service has seen an increase in issues such as bereavement, work and money worries, and loneliness.

Breathing Space’s trained advisors ensure that each call is treated with patience and respect, knowing that it can often be the first time that a caller has contacted the service or talked about a problem.

111

For those experiencing mental distress the 111 Mental Health Hub is available 24 hours a day, seven days of the week by calling 111 and following the telephone prompts. Anyone may call. There is no upper or lower age limit. The most common reasons for calling include thinking about suicide, anxieties, low mood, psychosis, and self-harm.

Where necessary, clinical support is offered and callers may be referred to local support services, community mental health teams, or exceptionally, emergency services. This team can also help with medication issues.