Mental Wellbeing
Mental health is sometimes described as ’emotional health’ or ‘wellbeing’. It is an important part of overall health, and can be adversely affected by life events such as the end of a relationship or a bereavement, as well as by mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.
Dealing with a Mental Health Crisis or Emergency
A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope with or be in control of your situation.
You may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, feel unable to cope with day-to-day life or work, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hear voices.
A crisis can also be the result of an underlying medical condition, such as confusion or delusions caused by an infection, overdose, illicit drugs or intoxication with alcohol. Confusion may also be associated with dementia.
Depression
Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.
We all go through spells of feeling down, but when you’re depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.
Some people still think that depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They are wrong. Depression is a real illness with real symptoms, and it’s not a sign of weakness or something you can ‘snap out of’ by ‘pulling yourself together’.
The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people can make a full recovery.
Doc Ready
It can be very difficult to talk to people when you’re having problems with your mental health. Doc Ready helps you prepare for the first time you visit a Doctor to discuss your mental health.
Further Information about Doc Ready
Feeling Down or Anxious? Beating the Blue 24/7 can help
Beating the Blues® is an effective treatment for people feeling stressed, depressed, anxious or just down in the dumps. Based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the course is made up of 8 online sessions which last approximately one hour, and helps you to understand the link between how you think and how this influences your feelings and behaviours. The program teaches strategies to help you cope better in the short-term, and workable skills for life so that you can face the future with confidence.
If you are interested in this service please arrange an appointment with your GP.
Further information about Beating the Blues 24/7
HealthTalk
By sharing people’s real-life experiences, healthtalk.org provides free, reliable information about health issues. You can watch people share their stories about cancer, autism, motor-neurone disease, pregnancy, drugs, depression and much more.
Harmless is a user-led organisation that provides a range of services about self-harm including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self-harm, their friends, their families and professionals. Coping with Self-Harm – a guide for parents and carers, is free to download.
LifeLink
For over 27 years Lifelink has supported adults and young people to make positive changes in their lives and realise their own abilities to cope with stress, as well as develop ways of overcoming mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Lifelink believes that everyone is unique, and their aim is for every person they work with to become happier and healthier, wherever they live, work or learn.
Making Space
Further information about Making Space
Mental Health Helplines
Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, click on the link below for details of helplines and support groups that can offer you expert advice.
Mental Health Issues if you’re Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual
Poor levels of mental health among lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people have often been linked to experiences of homophobic and transphobic discrimination and bullying.
Other factors (such as age, religion, where you live or ethnicity) can add extra complications to an already difficult situation.
Mind – for better Mental Health
Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Further information about MIND
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness helps millions of people affected by mental illness by challenging attitudes and changing lives.
Further information about Rethink Mental Illness
Samaritans
Samaritans is a unique charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide.
Every six seconds, they respond to a call for help.
Every year, they answer more than 5 million calls for help by phone, email, SMS, letter, face-to-face at one of their local branches.
They are there 24/7 before, during and after a crisis.
Whether it’s an ‘are you ok?’ at just the right moment, or the midnight support of a trained volunteer; whether it’s better training in the workplace or campaigning for more investment in national and local suicide prevention – they are there.
The Samaritans charity works hard to ensure that there is always someone there for anyone who needs to talk.
Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy, and Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide.
SANE
SANE believes that noone affected by mental illness should face crisis, distress or despair completely alone.
Further information about SANE
Time to Change
Time to Change are a growing movement of people changing how they all think and act about mental health problems. Learning a bit about mental health might make it easier for you to be there for someone who needs your help.
Further information about Time to Change
Wirral Pathfinders
Wirral Pathfinders is a MENTAL HEALTH SELF-HELP SUPPORT GROUP. We aim to support individuals to help themselves to learn to cope with their mental health difficulties. The Pathfinders support each other by providing a listening ear; decreasing isolation; sharing experiences and providing further information where possible. The Wirral Pathfinders motto of ‘We are the friends you have not yet met’ gives a hint to the friendly nature of the group and support available.
Call: 0151 334 2111
