We all have mental health and it’s just as important as our physical health. Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. If you’re in good mental health, you can:
- Make the most of your potential
- Cope with life
- Play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends.
For tips on a range of topics relating to stress, sleep and mental wellbeing, as well as signposts to local support, view the special edition of the Hart Families Newsletter for Mental Health Awareness week 2018.
In this section you will find information about:
There are five simple things we can do to take care of ourselves and promote our wellbeing, whether we have a diagnosed mental health problem or not. These are:
- Social interaction – connecting with or keeping in contact with the people around you and developing these relationships. This includes with your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
- Being active – Any kind of regular exercise, whether walking, riding a bike or playing a team sport. If you can develop a hobby or take up a sport or other activity then it will improve your physical health and thereby your mental health and it will give you a focus.
- Learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. This could be anything you like, whether musical, mechanical, artistic.
- Giving – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.
- Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Learn more in Mindfulness for mental wellbeing.
To celebrate UK Older People’s Day 2016 we collaborated with local film-maker John Sutton from Clearwater Photography, to create short films about 3 of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Watch the ‘Full of Life’ films.
We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass. But sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us. Find out more information about types of mental health problems.
Self-help, online and helplines
Mind is a national charity providing information and advice. They also have a supportive online community called Elefriends for people over 18.
Samaritans 116 123 (free to call 24 hours a day) or email jo@samaritans.org
Young Minds is the UK’s leading mental health charity for children and young people. Young Minds Parent Helpline 0808 802 5544; www.youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents
Childline – you can contact Childline about anything. Whatever your worry, it’s better out than in. Call 0800 1111 (free to call 24 hours a day) or 1-2-1 counsellor chat online www.childline.org.uk/get-support/
Papyrus HOPELineUK – for young people who may be having thoughts of suicide or anyone concerned about a young person. Call 0800 068 41 41 (10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends, and 2pm-5pm Bank Holidays)
NHS Moodzone includes information about self-help techniques and resources including Reading Well Books on Prescription, a collection of books you can borrow from your local library
Mental Health & Money Advice - helping you understand, manage and improve your mental health and money issues.
MindEd for families is a free online NHS resource providing advice and support you can trust. Is your child in crisis? Are you worried about them? Perhaps you just want some parenting tips. This site will help you understand and support your child.
MindEd for volunteers and professionals is a free educational resource on children and young people's mental health for volunteers and professionals. This is for you if you volunteer, work or are studying to work with infants, children or teenagers. MindEd has e-learning applicable across the health, social care, education, criminal justice and community settings. It is aimed at anyone from beginner through to specialist.
GPs are there to help you with any problem related to your mental health as well as physical health. They can refer you to a broad range of services, depending on your need.
Urgent help
If you feel in need of immediate help and are in distress or crisis, contact your GP in the first instance. If you cannot contact your GP, you can contact the NHS Out of Hours service on 111 (free to call, 24 hours).
If you need to talk things through you can contact:
- Samaritans: 116 123 (free to call, 24 hours)
- Sane Line: 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm - 10.30pm daily)
If you feel at risk of harming yourself or others, are experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress, and you live in the North East Hampshire & Farnham area:
- Call the Mental Health Crisis Helpline on 0300 456 83 42 and speak to someone trained to help you manage your distress and keep you safe. Available evenings (5.00pm – 9.00am), with 24h cover at weekends and bank holidays.
- Adults can visit a ‘Safe Haven’, an out of hours drop-in service for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or their carer. Safe Havens are available at Aldershot, Guildford and Woking. Information about locations and opening times can be found here.
- Adults can visit The Oasis, a drop in only service for people in mental health crisis or the prevention of a mental health crisis. The service also offers support with drug and alcohol issues. At Just Wellbeing, 86 Cove Road, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 0EU. Open 6.30 - 9.30pm seven days a week including bank holidays.
- Young people aged 10 to 17 can visit The Young Persons Safe Haven, Hillside Road, Aldershot. Open between 6.30pm and 8.30pm from Tuesday to Friday and the same time on Sunday. No appointment is needed. A free helpline is also available within these hours: 0800 061 4132.
In an emergency phone 999.
If you feel at risk of harming yourself or others and you live in the North Hampshire area:
Go straight to your nearest Accident and Emergency department or contact the Samaritans by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.
In an emergency phone 999.
Support for adults
Talking Therapies
- What does the service provide? Free access to approved therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
- Who is the service for? Anybody aged 16 and above who is feeling stressed, anxious, low in mood or depressed.
- How can I access the service? You can talk to your GP about whether the IAPT service is right for you, or you can contact the service directly.
There are two services in the Hart area:
If you are registered with a GP practice in Fleet, Church Crookham, Crondall, Blackwater or Yateley you can access the TalkPlus service.
If you are registered with a GP practice in Odiham, Hook or Hartley Wintney, you can access the italk service.
Wellbeing Centre Hart and Rushmoor (provided by Andover Mind)
- What does the service provide? Supports people with mental health needs in their recovery journey including engaging with groups in the community, employment support, wellbeing and emotional support. The service also provides advice and information and services to help prevent the onset of mental health conditions.
- How can I access the service? You can speak to your GP or Community Mental Health Team (if already in contact with one), or contact the Wellbeing Centre direct on 01252 317481 or email well-beinghartrushmoor@andovermind.org.uk. You can also drop in to the weekly well-being service on Wednesdays from 9:15am until 12pm, in rooms GF3 and GF4 at Hart District Council offices, Harlington Way, Fleet, GU51 4AE.
North East Hampshire & Farnham Recovery College
You can enrol if you are registered with a GP practice in Fleet, Church Crookham, Crondall, Blackwater or Yateley.
The Recovery College can support you to improve your health and wellbeing and pursue your own unique life goals, with or without the ongoing symptoms of an illness or condition.
Courses are aimed at everyone aged 18 and over in the North East Hampshire and Farnham area and delivered in a variety of locations. Whether you want to improve your health and wellbeing, have a physical or mental health condition that you want to learn how to manage, or care for someone who has a physical or mental health condition, there are courses for you.
- Develop skills such as learning to sleep well or getting into work
- Build your confidence and learn how to manage low self-esteem
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with Pilates, seated exercise or healthy eating courses
- Explore your creative side with art, music or creative writing
- Learn more about physical and mental health conditions
Visit the website to find out more, email Recovery.College@sabp.nhs.uk, phone 01276 454150 or text 07920 207046 and ask for the Recovery College.
The Recovery College
You can enrol if you are receiving support from the italk service or mental health services from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, or if you have received support from these services within the previous 2 years.
The Recovery College takes an educational approach to equip you with the knowledge and skills to get on with your life, despite mental illness.
Enrolment takes minutes and the Recovery College offers courses all over Hampshire. You only need to enrol once and then you can book onto our courses over the phone 02380 294461 or by email recovery.college@
southernhealth.nhs.uk. For more information visit the website.
Sunshine and Showers groups
- What does the service provide? Local depression and anxiety support groups.
- Who is the service for? People with mild to moderate depression or anxiety.
- How can I access the service? Visit the website, telephone Megan Ravenhill at Hart Voluntary Action 01252 815652 or email admin@hartvolaction.org.uk.
Fleet OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) & BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) Support Group
- What does the service provide? We aim to support, educate and raise awareness during our monthly meetings. Every 3 months we invite a speaker to come and talk about relevant issues. The group is user-led and professionally supported by the national charity OCD Action. First Wednesday of every month 7.00 - 9.00 pm, at The Key Centre, Elvetham Heath.
- Who is the service for? People with OCD and/or BDD and for their families, friends and carers.
- How can I access the service? Contact Angela Forster on 01252 819431 or email ocdfleet@gmail.com.
Community Access Project
- What does the service provide? Friendly, impartial advice on coping with a wide range of daily living activities including: keeping appointments, socialising and hobbies, encouraging good housekeeping skills, information seeking, and other personal goals. Support to return to education and access other services.
- Who is the service for? People aged between 18 and 65, living in Aldershot, Farnborough and Fleet areas. You can access the service if you are experiencing mental distress and you do not have support from any other mental health worker or receive any one-to-one support from other agencies.
- How can I access the service? Telephone 07894 606244 or email broadhurstcap@hotmail.co.uk.
North Hampshire Mental Health Support Service
- What does the service provide? A community support service provided by Sanctuary Supported Living. Drop-in sessions, support groups, activities and events, telephone support and one-to-one support. Support around self-managing mental health; maintaining your accommodation; accessing education, work and training; building and maintaining positive relationships, managing budgets, health & wellbeing, building confidence, resilience and self-esteem; social inclusion; staying safe.
- Who is the service for? People aged 18 and over
- How can I access the service? Telephone 01256 465334 or email HampshireNorth.MentalHealth@sanctuary-housing.co.uk
St John’s Open Door
St John's Open Door is a drop-in initiative in the West Cove area of Farnborough. They offer a listening ear, a place to be accepted and valued, a place to make friends, signposting to other services, refreshments and a relaxing atmosphere. No referral is necessary. Meetings on the first 3 Wednesdays of every month at 6pm.
Counselling services
Cornerstone is a counselling service based at St Peter’s Church, Yateley. The service offers short and longer term confidential support to individuals and couples, irrespective of religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation.
Relate North Hampshire offers a range of counselling services to couples and individuals including relationship and sex therapy, youth counselling and family counselling. Visit their website to get in touch.
Find other local relationship counselling services on the NHS Choices website.
Other types of mental health service
For information about Community Mental Health Teams and other mental health services:
If you are registered with a GP practice in the North East Hampshire & Farnham area find services near you here.
If you are registered with a GP practice in the North Hampshire area find services near you here.
These services should be accessed via your GP.
Support for children, young people and their parents/carers
Hampshire Youth Access
Hampshire Youth Access (HYA) is a partnership of 12 leading agencies providing counselling, information, advice, and support to children and young people aged 5-17 across Hampshire. They also give advice and information to anyone concerned about a child or young person’s emotional wellbeing. To get in touch call 02382 147 755 or email enquiries@hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk.
Open Monday to Friday between 10am and 6pm, open Saturday from 10am to 1:30pm.
Hampshire CAMHS Service
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are made up of specialist teams offering assessment and treatment to children and young people up to age 18 who have emotional, behavioural or mental health problems. You can talk to a GP, teacher or social worker about getting an appointment with them if you think you need specialist support. You can also approach CAHMS yourself by calling 0300 304 0050. Their trained mental health staff will talk to you about the issues you are having and how they, or one of their partner organisations, may be able to help. Full details and a referral form available on their website.
Open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
The Hampshire Specialist Parenting Support Service
The service provides parenting programmes for parents/carers who have children aged 5-17 that meet any one of the following criteria
• Are diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) or
• Are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or
• Are displaying troubling or challenging behaviours associated with mild-moderate conduct disorder or
• Are teenagers displaying anti-social behaviour including child to parent violence
The service accepts referrals from professionals or self-referral from parents/carers of children who meet the criteria. For more details or to discuss making a referral call 01489 799178 or email hampshireparenting@barnardos.org.uk.
Dementia
Dementia is not a single illness but a series of symptoms caused by the degeneration of the brain and the subsequent gradual loss of mental ability. A person with dementia will primarily experience problems with memory, understanding, judgement, thinking and language.
It is common for other problems to be caused by the condition, such as changes in personality and in the way a person interacts with others in social situations. As dementia progresses, a person's ability to look after themself from day to day may also become affected.
For more information about dementia visit the Alzheimer’s Society website.
Support for people with dementia, their family and carers
Information about care, support and activities for people living with dementia, their family and carers can be found here.
