Support with your mental health
7 simple stress-relieving steps
The last year has seen many of us live our lives in stressful environments due to the pandemic.
Here are 7 top tips to help you deal with stress. Try at least one of these and see what a difference it can make:
- If you're having a stressful work day at home, make sure you take time to go for a walk once a day. Fresh air really can improve your mood.
- Take a break from your desk to do some small stretches. This will help move your muscles and alleviate tension.
- Manage Your Mind is a free weekly workshop that teaches people different techniques for relaxation, including how to manage anxiety in everyday stressful situations.
- Try a mindfulness app. It’s a great way to escape to a calming place. Visit the App Store or Google Play to download.
- Maybe you're struggling with sleep. Listen to a relaxing podcast or some nature-based background music to help you drift off peacefully.
- Try the NHS’s top tips for breathing techniques that can help with stressful situations.
- Our Healthy Way programme provides a session on stress management. This is where you'll understand the different forms of stress, how it impacts the body, our health and how it affects diabetes risk.
Support with your mental health
Approximately one in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, and one in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week.
If you're experiencing difficulties with your mental health, do not suffer in silence. Asking for help shows strength in character and sets the course for change and recovery.
For information relating to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, NHS Moodzone can provide practical advice, interactive tools, videos and audio guides to promote mental and emotional wellbeing.
Where you can go for help
Asking for help can be a hard step to make – there are many ways though that you can get confidential support. Mental health support can be provided in various forms such as: face-to-face, telephone, and online.
In the first instance, talk to your GP. They should be able to assess your heath and support you to make a choice on your next step towards recovery.
Medway Talking Therapies
Medway Talking Therapies offer short-term free counselling services for people over 18 suffering from mild to moderate depression, anxiety and other common causes of mental health issues.
Qwell
Qwell offer free online wellbeing and mental health support for everyone.
Find out about Qwell and sign up
Mental health crisis
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, phone NHS 111, option 2. You'll then be put through to local services.
In an emergency call 999.
Medway's Community Support Mental Health Outreach Team (CSMHOT)
Our dedicated mental health and social care professionals work with you, one-to-one, to create your individual recovery plan together.
The CSMHOT service is only available through referral from the Adult Social Care team.
Find out more about CSMHOT support