We are committed to providing up to date, appropriate and helpful information for you to access on our advice and support page.

Part of our role is to provide clear information and advice that may be needed to help you make the right decisions about health and social care.

We also provide an information and signposting service about accessing health and social care services. If we don’t know the answer to your question we will be able to guide you to someone who does.

Urgent help

If you or someone you know needs urgent help for their Mental Health please call 999 or go to your nearest A&E (Accident and Emergency) department.

If you need to talk to someone you can contact the Samaritans. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Call free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

1 in 4 of us will experience a Mental Health problem during our lifetime.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 6 young people are now struggling with their mental health as opposed to 1 in 10 pre-pandemic.

1 in 5 people have thoughts of suicide and 1 in 15 sadly attempt suicide.

You may be worried about your own mental health or maybe someone you know is struggling and has spoken to you about their feelings. They may be showing signs you are unfamiliar with and their mood has changed.

Some of the more well-known symptoms of someone struggling with their mental health are:

 Anxious or irritable
 Mood swings
 Seeming withdrawn
 Self-harming
 Saying or doing unusual things
 Struggling to cope with work or studies
 Problems with concentration or memory

but you may not even notice anything as things like depression can often be invisible. Do not feel guilty if you haven’t noticed.

What you can do is:

• Keep in touch – even if it’s just a weekly call or text to check how they are. Let them know they can get in touch with you if they need to talk. This is a simple, low-pressure way to tell them you’re there for them.
• Encourage them to get out and about. A walk in the local park or a visit to an art gallery can be a great way to lift their spirits and allow them to talk if they want to. Avoid nights out drinking as alcohol can make depression worse.
• Ask them how they’re looking after themselves and whether there’s anything you can do to support them, such as helping them find a counsellor or looking after their children while they go to a therapy appointment.
• Listen properly. Just letting someone talk – and cry if they need to – can be invaluable. You don’t need to have answers for them. Giving them time and space to talk is one of the most supportive things you can do.

What you shouldn’t do

• Tell them to pull themselves together or snap out of it – they would if they could.
• Point out all the positives in their life. Depression is an illness that makes it very difficult for people to feel hopeful or optimistic, and telling them to count their blessings is likely to make them feel guilty and ashamed.
• Pressure them to talk about their mental health all the time. Let them know they can if they want to – that’s crucial – but remember simply getting them out of the house or talking about other things may be just as helpful.
• Assume they’re better after a few weeks or months. Even if someone seems brighter for a while, this doesn’t necessarily mean their depression has gone for good. Depression can be long term and some people are susceptible to recurring bouts of depression. Those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) will also tend to feel very low and lethargic during the winter months.

Most of all let them know you are there for them.

How to care for your mental health this winter?

Looking after our mental health during the colder, darker months is vital, as winter weather can cause many of us to feel gloomy. Here are some ways you can lift your spirits:

• Breathe. Experiencing periods of depression and heightened anxiety often leaves us on edge and tense. We should pause and take several slow, deep breaths, allowing ourselves a moment of calm and a chance to reset. 
• Find time for yourself. Depression and anxiety can be isolating, so spending time alone can be the last thing we want to do. But it’s important that we try to do things that have made us happy before. Whether you take time to get back into a hobby that has fallen by the wayside or indulge in some self-care, take time for yourself. 
• Keep active. Low moods and energy levels leave us wanting to stay in bed or curl up on a sofa, but exercise releases endorphins. You do not need to overexert yourself or spend hours exercising. If you can, something as simple as a short walk is all you need to kick-start your recovery. 
• Get outdoors. While the winter weather does not motivate us to go outside, connecting with nature has been proven to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. The Mental Health Foundation found that spending time in nature can bring consolation in times of stress, reduce feelings of social isolation and effectively protect our mental health. 
• Sleep well. It can be hard to switch off when we’re anxious or depressed, but sleep is the body’s way of healing and recovering. Rest supports our mental and physical wellbeing. Consider creating a bedtime routine for yourself to encourage a good night’s sleep, avoiding caffeine after three o’clock and screens up to an hour before bed. 
• Eat well. When we experience periods of depression and anxiety, we should avoid recreational drugs and alcohol and cut back on ”unhealthy” foods, swapping them instead for healthier, nutrient-dense foods that will provide the nutrients and vitamins our bodies need for healing and energy.
• Stay connected. Make sure you keep in contact with friends and loved ones – even if this is via text or phone.

Reaching out for extra support.

For some, self-care is an effective way of managing their mental health and overall wellbeing, but sometimes, we need extra support. There is no shame in asking for help. Should you need additional support to look after your mental health and wellbeing this winter, why not consider the following:

• Friends and family. If you’re not sure where to begin, reaching out to friends and family is a great place to start. A problem shared is a problem halved.
• Workplace support. Mental wellbeing in the workplace has become more of a priority, with many organisations offering mental health support services to their staff. If you don’t want to confide in a loved one because you feel guilty or embarrassed, using a workplace mental health support scheme could be the right first step.
• Your GP. They may be able to offer you support and treatment. They can also refer you if appropriate or recommend local options.
• Mental health professionals. You may be able to self-refer to the NHS in some areas. This means you don’t need to see your GP first. You can also access therapists through certain charities or privately.
• Charity helplines and support groups. See the websites listed below for some examples.

While mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can leave us feeling estranged and isolated from friends and family, the reality is that our friends and family are a support network we can reach out to for help when we’re not quite ourselves. Remember it’s ok not to be ok and that you’re not alone.

Other urgent help and support

If you need urgent NHS mental health support, call our Mental Health Central Access Point. A 24/7 free helpline for people of all ages in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Offering round-the-clock access to urgent support, signposting and referral for yourself  or on behalf of someone else. Calls are handled by Turning Point’s experienced recovery workers and they are supported by NHS  clinicians.

Mind

Our Infoline provides an information and signposting service. We’re open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).

Infoline: 0300 123 3393

Email: info@mind.org.uk

Post: Mind Infoline,

PO Box 75225,

London, E15 9FS

Ask us about

• mental health problems
• where to get help near you
• treatment options
• advocacy services.

Rethink

The Rethink Mental Illness advice and information service offers practical help on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits, and carers rights.

We also offer general information on living with mental illness, medication and care.

Call: 0808 801 0525

email: advice@rethink.org

Open – Monday – Friday

9.30am – 4.00pm

Closed weekends

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

We’re CALM and we stand together, united against suicide, with everyone in the UK. Stand with us, join the campaign and together we can save more lives.

Anyone can feel suicidal. So we need to be there for everyone. From advice on our website about issues you might be facing; through to free, confidential chats with our helpline staff, online or on the phone, we’re here for anyone who’s struggling, every single day of the year. No matter what.

Our helpline and webchat are open 365 days a year, offering practical suggestions for all of life’s problems – whether that’s anxiety, relationship concerns, health worries, money worries or suicidal thoughts. Our staff answer a call every 66 seconds – they listen, talk and help people struggling with life to make a plan so they can begin to look to the future.

CALM’s helpline and livechat are open from 5pm to midnight everyday. 365 days a year.

Tel: 0800 585858

Webchat