Mental Health and Wellbeing
We’ve been supporting the mental health and wellbeing of North Yorkshire residents for almost thirty years.
We also take the mental health and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers seriously too, which is why we’re working towards the NYCC Workplace Wellbeing Award and have a nominated Staff Wellbeing Champion.
This page brings together some of our favourite resources for mental health, mindfulness and wellbeing. We hope that these are useful learning tools and can signpost you to further support if you need it.
If you are looking to find out more about our PEACE of Mind project you can do so here or take a look at the PEACE of Mind project booklet that has been developed as part of the programme and has a long list of mental health resources and helplines you can contact.
If you are in urgent distress and need immediate help, call the Samaritans on 116 123. In the event of an emergency, always call 999.
Resources for Adults
Brené Brown on Empathy vs Sympathy
Resources for Children and Young People
Ideas for Creativeness and Mindfulness
Jar of Hope
Each time you or a family member thinks of something they wish they could do or can’t wait to do once lockdown is over, you write it on a piece of paper and put it into a jar. Once we are able to do things again, you can use the jar for a lucky dip and make sure to do all the things you hoped to do at this time! This could be used beyond lockdown too.
Daily Reminder
Use a blackboard or piece of paper with some blue tac and fill it with photos and colourful writing. It could include loved ones, good memories, things that make you smile and you can keep adding to it when something nice happens however small it is (e.g you ate a tasty meal, a joke that made you laugh). Then place it somewhere you will see it every day, such as the fridge, or the wall opposite your bed. Use it as a daily reminder of the good things in your life.
Circle of Control (Stephen Covey)
It may not work for all, but it is a way to try and gain some control over your thoughts when everything starts to feel a bit overwhelming or you get brain fog. Use the circle to list your concerns. In the inner ring, what is within your control, in the middle ring, what is in your sphere of influence and in the outer ring, what is out of your control.
Self-Care Day 2018
PEACE of Mind Project
PEACE of Mind was a programme of events Rural Arts that ran throughout the months of September and October to promote mental wellbeing and open conversations up around mental health.
In September we hosted the brilliant show “We are What We Overcome” by Matthew McGuinness, as well as running a dance workshop and a visit from the animals at Aquatic Finatic.
Throughout September and October, we also ran a host of creative activities, including soapmaking, printmaking, painting and more!
Madhyamaka KMC will be facilitating a meditation workshop and are a an internationally renowned Kadampa Meditation Centre. They were the first centre founded by renowned Buddhist Teacher Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche and has been located at Kilnwick Percy Hall since 1986. Thousands of people attend their courses, meditation classes and events throughout the year.
Based in Northallerton, Aquatic Finatics run pet therapy that is available to a wide range of establishments and will be visiting rural arts on Saturday 24th September. Their experienced pet handlers interact between people and pets, thus creating a wonderful experience. There are a wide range of benefits through pet therapy, including reduced stress and anxiety, as well as improving a person’s social, emotional, and cognitive processing.
Dandelion Arts
Dandelion Arts’ work centres around the wonderful uplifting experience of
sharing stories and being heard.
The organisation’s work strives to energise and empathise through
community engagement.
Some of their work involves shining a light in dark places. Tackling difficult
issues. They attach humour when they can, living fully in each moment,
and meeting challenges playfully.
You can visit their website here: https://www.dandelionarts.co.uk/
North Yorkshire Sports
North Yorkshire Sport was founded in 1999 as an Active Partnership (formerly County Sport Partnership), covering the 7 District Authorities of North Yorkshire. Their overall aims as an organisation are to promote and encourage increased participation in Sport & Active Recreation, whether as a participant, volunteer or coach. They also aim to create meaningful and lasting partnerships with a range of key partners interested in sport and the health & wellbeing of North Yorkshire residents. North Yorkshire Sports provide a range of activities and projects focusing on mental wellbeing, including their Mental Health Champions programme, Ramblers Wellbeing Walks and Action Towards Inclusion programme. You can visit their website at: https://www.northyorkshiresport.co.uk/
Saint’s Michael’s exists to ensure local people affected by terminal illness across the Harrogate district can access high quality, personalised care. Saint Michael’s values choice, autonomy and seeks to empower those in need of our services. This means offering support where and when it matters most. They know that without the hospice, local people and their families could be left to face the complex issues and forgotten challenges of terminal illness alone. The organisation exists to ensure a better future is possible.
Mental Health Resources
Below we have gathered a number of resources through those provided online by the mental health charity Mind and BBC’s Headroom Support Services.
In an Emergency
If you or a loved one needs urgent medical help you will need emergency advice: If your life is at risk right now – If you feel like you might attempt suicide, or may have seriously harmed yourself, you need urgent medical help. Please:
- call 999 for an ambulance
- go straight to A&E, if you can
- or call your local crisis team, if you have their number. If you can’t do this by yourself, ask someone to help you. Mental health emergencies are serious. You’re not wasting anyone’s time.
If you don’t want to call 999 – If you can keep yourself safe for a short while, but you still need urgent advice:
- contact NHS 111 if you live in England
- contact NHS 111 or NHS Direct (0845 46 47) if you live in Wales
- contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. Many GPs are now offering these remotely because of coronavirus
- contact a local urgent mental health helpline. These are only currently available in England.
For all other mental health provision
For Adults
Samaritans
To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
SOS Silence of Suicide – for everyone
Call 0300 1020 505 – 4pm to midnight every day Email support@sossilenceofsuicide.org
SOBS-Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Support for people who are bereaved suicide)www.uksobs.org 0300 111 5065
SANEline.
If you’re experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK.
Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (open 24/7).
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service.
Shout.
If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
Griefchat
Free, live instant chat service for people experiencing a bereavement. ttps://griefchat.co.uk/
Resources available for adults and carers of adults:
Mind
0300 123 3393 info@mind.org.uk
The charity Mind has a lot of resources on their website including information on types of mental health problems, where to get help, medication, alternative treatments, and will look for details of help and support in your own area.
Stay Alive App www.stayalive.app/
NHS Self Help leaflets https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/
For Young People
The Mix.
If you’re under 25, you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994(3pm–midnight every day), request support by email using this form on The Mix website or use their crisis text messenger service.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK.
If you’re under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697.
Nightline.
If you’re a student, you can look on the Nightline website to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.
Crisis Messenger for Young People
(text YM to 85258 for free, 24/7 support) https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/youngminds-textline
YoungMinds
www.youngminds.org.uk
Young Minds Parents Helpline
0808 802 5544 from 9:30am – 4pm, Monday – Friday. Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child | YoungMinds
Kooth
(commissioned by the NHS for young people)
https://www.kooth.com/
Resources available for young people and carers of young people:
Children’s Mental Health week
Place2be: Children’s Mental Health Week: lots of resources and articles for both parents, carers, schools and youth groups.
Champion Health: Children’s Mental Health Week 2021 – Toolkit for Children and Parents
BBC
BBC: Mental Health and Wellbeing – Teaching Resources
Young Minds
Children and young people’s mental health charity |
Mind
Mind: for children and young people
NHS:
Every mind matters | Children and young people’s mental health services
NSPCC
Teen Mental Health – A Guide for Parents:
https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/teen-mental-health-a-guide-forparents/
Calm App (Meditation techniques for sleep and stress reduction)
https://www.calm.com/
Cove App
Young peoples opportunity to Create music for your mental health
http://www.cove-app.com/
Calm Harm
(NHS app, provides tasks to help young people resist the urge to self-harm)
www.calmharm.co.uk
Recovery College Free courses
https://www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk/
For specific groups or people:
For Men
Qwell for Men
Online emotional wellbeing and mental health support for men.
https://www.qwell.io/
For LGBTQ+ Switchboard.
If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you can call Switchboard on 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day), email chris@switchboard.lgbt or use their webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.
MindLineTrans+
Mindline Trans+ is an emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary, genderfluid. 0300 3305468 https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-support/mindlinetransplus/
For Carers
Hambleton and Richmond Carers: https://hrcarers.org.uk/
There is a phone number you can call on the home page also.
For Older People
Silverline 0800 4 70 80 90 information, friendship and advice to older people.
For Veterans Combat Stress
www.combatstress.org or 0800 138 1619
For those in Farming
YANA – You Are Not Alone
Help for those in farming affected by stress or depression. www.yanahelp.org or call 0300 323 0400
For Drug and Alcohol support
North Yorkshire Horizons
https://www.nyhorizons.org.uk/ Support service for those in recovery.
Frank
https://www.talktofrank.com/ Information on drugs including how to support someone you care about and what to do in an emergency.
