Mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic can be tough on your mental health and you might be worried about how you and those you love will cope. We have put together some useful and important links that we would invite you to read and share amongst friends, families, employers and employees:
- Cumbria County Council have put together an interactive map which helps find local support who can offer advice and help - including obtaining essential food and medicine supplies, during the COVID-19 pandemic https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/
- You will also find a comprehensive alphabetical list of mental health and wellbeing charities throughout the county https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/charities.asp
- The county council can also offer help surrounding all sorts of welfare, health and social care needs. With quick links to contacts who can help with debt advice, free school meals and legal support https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/welfare/
- Check out the Suicide Prevention Network in the North West and North East website, which has easily printable material on how to speak to someone in distress http://www.stopsuicidenenc.org/campaign-toolkit/
- Every Life Matters has produced a COVID 19 Wellbeing and Mental Health booklet and a working from home guide - https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/covid-19/
- Leapers supports the mental health of freelancers and the self-employed and they have put together lots of resources which can help everyone, including ‘Working well during lockdown – Winter Edition’ guide https://www.leapers.co/resources/little-guides/coronavirus-working-from-home/#chapter2
- If you need to talk to someone the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 or online at samaritans.org.
- Mindline Cumbria offers support and guidance about mental health over the phone on 0300 561 000 or text ‘Mind’ to 810666. You can also go online and chat to trained professionals at mindlinecumbria.org
- Togetherall is a service offering free online support to anyone aged 16 and over in north Cumbria facing increased anxiety and other mental health challenges. You can access Togetherall at togetherall.com. It provides online peer-peer support, access to an anonymous community and lots of information, as well as courses and resources covering a range of mental health and wellbeing topics. The service can be accessed by registering with your postcode and logging in.
- Kooth is a free online service for young people over 11. Visit kooth.com
- The NHS has produced information on talking therapies and how you can access their help. To find help, click here to read more.
