Mental Health Support Resources

Written on 17 November 2020.

Managing our mental health has been a particular challenge in 2020. At Wessex Care, we are aware of the impact that isolation and stress can have on mental health, as well as looking after clients that live with conditions such as dementia. Many of our staff specialise in helping others to manage the day-to-day and long term affects that mental health challenges bring and we would like to share some useful resources that can help those of you who are struggling, whether it is with your own mental health or in support of a loved one.

What can I do to improve my mental health?

Mental health challenges come in many forms and for a formal diagnosis, you should always speak to your GP. This article is aimed at providing resources which can generally help with stress, anxiety and depression, however we need to make you aware that various approaches work differently for many individuals and there is no ‘one size fits all’ type process, so if you feel you may need further help, you should contact your local health practitioner for professional advice.

Negative mental health symptoms can make us feel tired, stressed, physically ill, cause headaches, cause loss of motivation and generally make us feel ‘low mood’. Other symptoms can include broken sleep, changes in appetite and in extreme cases, episodes of high and low mood changes which require a specialist care programme.

In some cases, a practitioner may offer you a form of anti-depressant medication to help you cope with the symptoms of stress that you are experiencing. You may opt to participate in talking therapies such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you tackle some of the emotional issues that could be triggering your stress. You may also be advised to read up on some self help tools to help you implement a new daily routine and improve some of the areas in your life that could help you manage your mental health for the short or long-term.

In any case, if you are feeling stressed, anxious, have low mood or have overwhelming feelings of depression, you should reach out to someone (professional or someone you know) and remember that you are never alone. In the same way, it is also a great support tool to have regular chats with family and friends who may also need your support through difficult times.

Self-Help Tools for Mental Health & Well Being

Whether you are looking for self-help tools for managing your mental health or looking to support someone you know that is in need, we have put together a list of resources for you to find out more about help lines, daily routines, exercises (not just physical exercises but practical ones) and support mechanisms that can help you and your loved ones through difficult times.

Resources For Carers & Health Care Workers

• MindEd Staff Resilience Hub
• Mental Health at Work
• Mind – Supporting someone with a mental health issue
• Adult Social Care App – Government Resource
• Samaritans dedicated help line for carers and health workers

Resources for Everyone

• Samaritans helpline – free to call, anytime – Call 116 123.
• Mental Health Foundation
• Shout text service – free to text, anytime – Text 85258.
• NHS Mental Health Resources
• Government Guidance on Public Mental Health during the pandemic
• A comprehensive list of mental health support apps to help with everything such as sleep and managing anxiety

We hope that you find these resources useful. Please share them with a friend or on your social media, as you never know who may need to read this today. This year has been challenging and now more than ever, the conversation around mental health and well being is gaining awareness and helping us all to be more conscious of looking after our mental and emotional well being as well as our physical well being.

How can Wessex Care help with mental health?

One of our care centres, Milford Manor, is a dedicated specialist residential care service for adults and older people who have a mental health challenge which may include complex dementia and are in need of a high level of care and support.

We also care for residents in our other homes and care centres, continually addressing all their care needs, including mental health and wellbeing, to support them as much as possible. Our community team offer a support network for older and vulnerable adults who may live alone and rely on essential care services such as these.

We are of course taking extra precautions during the pandemic to protect all health aspects of our clients at this time. For more information on Wessex Care services or to request a brochure, please contact our team on 01722 336933 or via our website contact page.