Discover what support is available online from national organisations
Looking after our wellbeing has never been more important.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic we’re still up against a constantly changing landscape of restrictions, uncertainty and increased stress in just about every area of our lives. Combine this with the stress of Festive Period, which can be tricky to navigate for all sorts of reasons, and this winter could be the most challenging some of us will face.
In our latest Community Spotlight Blog, we are highlighting some of the online wellbeing resources available to help support you and the wider community through this challenging period. Many of these are quick and easy to access, so you can find assistance and relief in the course of a busy workday, or when you get a free five minutes to yourself at the end of the day, or if during the holidays you find yourself needing some extra support or resources to help you cope.
You can also discover online support from Inverclyde organisations - click here.
The National Wellbeing Hub
The National Wellbeing Hub is a great website, full of quick-read articles and helpful hints and tips.
Check out the section on free wellbeing apps available to Health & Social Care workers and Unpaid Carers. These include stress and anxiety reduction, sleep support and building resilience.
There is also great advice aimed at managers to help support their staff with health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
The website is very user friendly, and resources are categorised – for Help for Carers, Help for my Colleagues, and Help for Me.
Aye Mind
The Aye Mind toolkit is an online resource pack aimed at improving youth mental health through technology. If you work with young people or want to support your own children or young person’s wellbeing this could be a great resource to help you get the conversation started.
Health in Mind
Health in Mind is a Scottish Charity who have been helping promote and improve mental health and wellbeing since 1982. This link takes you to their Wellbeing Resources, subdivided into helpful sections, including COVID-19, Winter Wellbeing and many more.
➡ https://www.health-in-mind.org.uk/wellbeing_resources/d139/
Mind
Mind have lots of resources available too. This links to an extensive A-Z Directory of Mental Health Diagnoses and issues, each with lots of information explaining the condition, symptoms, self-care options, other available treatments, information for family and friends of sufferers, as well as useful links for further help. This directory is a really great learning tool with support also available via online chat-boxes, and a telephone helpline.
➡ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/
Alzheimer’s Association
The Festive Season can be especially difficult when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, adding in the complications surrounding COVID restrictions can feel impossible. This resource page has information and helpful suggestions for celebrating the holidays with all these difficulties in the mix.
➡ https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/holidays
Clear Your Head
The NHS have launched their own wellbeing service, Clear Your Head (you might have seen the adverts on TV). This link takes you to the website which has helpful resources for stress reduction, getting active, creating a routine that works for you, and feeling calmer. It also has an extensive link page, with access to other services that might be able to offer advice, support and relief for a huge variety of mental health issues and other crises, as well as the link to NHS Inform, which can keep you up-to-date with all the latest COVID-19 information (also see below).
NHS Inform - Healthy Know How
Healthy Know How is an NHS campaign to help people prepare and manage their health during the Pandemic to maximise the effectiveness of services and try to prevent them becoming overwhelmed. Check out their advice on prescriptions and choosing the best service for whatever issue you’re facing.
Helplines
Scottish Women’s Aid – 0800 027 1234 or www.womensaid.scot or email helpline@sdafmh.org.uk
National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 or www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Money Talk Team – 0800 085 7145
Emergency Mental Health Support
NHS24MentalHealthHub on 111 (available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
The Samaritans on 116 123 (again, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 (Mon-Thurs 6pm – 2am; Fri-Mon 6pm – 6am)
Text SHOUT to 85258
Covid-19 Resources
NHS Inform Website – wider health information as well as COVID-specific resources - https://www.nhsinform.scot/
Information on downloading and using the COVID Status App, or “COVID Passport” - https://www.nhsinform.scot/nhs-scotland-covid-status/
Booking portal for vaccinations and boosters - https://www.nhsinform.scot/flu-vaccine/invitations-and-appointments/book-a-flu-or-coronavirus-booster-vaccination/
Booking portal for COVID testing - https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-testing/
Stroke Association National Helpline - 0303 3033 100
Author:
Megan Murray
Publish Date:
Dec 20, 2021