Mental Health is extremely important to consider for anyone, but for those with LTHC’s and/or disabilities symptoms can be closely connected with stress, change and uncertainty. Therefore, Time To Heal have updated their Mental Health page in line with the amazing resources produced by The Royal Voluntary Service, Rethink Mental Illness and MIND. All three work closely with The Undefeatables Campaign which has been the focus this month.
The Royal Voluntary Service have also played a huge part in striving to support those in need through CORONA Virus and in connection with The Samaritans to bring in The NHS Responders Programme. We will link this back to health via The Pituitary Foundation who recognise and actively support those with LTHC’s and the Psychological Impact it has on peoples daily lives.
We’ll browse over a few ideas but head to the Time To Heal Mental Health Page for more information and some great links, tips and opportunities.
There’s a real selection box here and incorporating a bit of everything offered could really boost your mental health, allow you to develop new skills, build confidence and support your physical health and well-being. This is especially important right now, especially with COVID and the increased pressure and anxiety that this can cause. These could be related to lockdown restrictions but also the potential for difficulties and challenges that will now be faced with lockdown being eased and how we return to where we were before. So the support of these four organisations becomes even more essential.
The Royal Voluntary Service
The Royal Voluntary Society has a COVID programme including a Virtual Village Hall. This encourages people to come together and enjoy some gentle exercise such as yoga and has a range of levels from seated to standing. The activities can be used live or accessed from the site at a convenient time. The innovative Noticeboard also includes creative art and craft activities, recipes and baking, music, singing, reading, writing, gardening and special events.
NHS Volunteer Responders are there to support people in the community that are struggling to cope or just need someone to talk to. There are many opportunities to help others if you have the time. You will be well supported and choose your roles from making a phone call to supporting testing and vaccination centres to driving someone to the hospital, they have all areas covered.
Rethink Mental Illness
REthink Mental Illness have support based around COVID-19 via four sections of their site;
Use of The Mental Health Act
Supporting Yourself
Support For Carers &
Hub Site For COVID Specific Support
The Undefeatable's Advice Page allows you to access personal stories, great resources such as the 15 ways to move more at home leaflet and a winter exercise tool kit for which you need to use the Request Form. You will then be sent full details on how to take small steps to developing your coping strategies through exercise indoors and outdoors.
MIND
MIND as you might expect do not disappoint! They have so many resources to access including the Get Set Go Page, Get Active Page and Contacts through their Infoline page.
You’ll also find information on campaigning, Volunteering and Membership. Returning To Physical Activity as lockdown eases offers some fantastic tips ranging from managing thoughts and feelings to practical steps you can take to make adjustments a bit easier as lockdown starts to lift.
Pituitary Foundation
Although this Charity is not a part of the We Are Undefeatables programme they have put significant detail together to support those with Pituitary Conditions. The downloadable Psychological Impact of a Pituitary Foundation booklet is a great resource to aid understanding and access targeted supported to a range of complex, life limiting and life threatening conditions. It includes methods to relieve stress, deal with the grief of loosing the life you had previously, problems with treatment and the impact of other conditions and uncontrollable scenarios. This is highly prevalent in todays society and the impact of diagnosis is key. This is especially hard for those diagnosed amongst all the continued confusion around COV-ID 19 with hospital appointments difficult to come by.
So the Mental Health Support is out there, we just have to find the best fit and the We Are Undefeatables Campaign has really brought together some amazing resources through partnership work. Won’t be for everyone and can’t promise that what you decide to try will help but you should never be alone or be left feeling that you don’t matter. If you need help then please reach out….
As always some important links!
Time To Heal - Mental Health
Royal Voluntary Service - NHS Responders
Keeping Active With Health Conditions
Virtual Village Hall
Rethink Mental Illness - Undefeatables Page
REthink - Living With Mental Illness
REthink -Winter Activity Pack
Mind (Mental Health) Undefeatables Page
Get Set Go Page
Get Active Page
Support Helplines
MIND - Returning To Exercise As Lockdown Eases
The Pituitary Foundation - Psychological Impact of Pituitary Conditions
Coming up next Week....
We focus on the links between the We Are Undefeatable's Campaign and its connection within local councils, thus providing residents with the information that they need and require to support their local population to become more active. Through the promotion of local case studies, other local and National programmes, activity finders and support for providers we will see how this can impact on participation of those with LTHC’s and Disabilities.