Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council are reminding residents of the mental health and wellbeing support services available to help those struggling to cope over the festive period....
Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council are reminding residents of the mental health and wellbeing support services available to help those struggling to cope over the festive period. The added social, financial and family pressures can mean that Christmas is a difficult time for many people, especially those who are vulnerable, lonely or facing difficult life circumstances.
There is a range of mental health and wellbeing support services offered in a variety of ways across Coventry and Warwickshire:
Speak to someone in person at Coventry Wellbeing Hubs or Warwickshire Wellbeing Hubs – for more information on free one to one support, walk-in sessions and drop-in sessions visit:
- cwmind.org.uk/coventry-wellbeing-hub/ or call 024 7622 4417 in Coventry
- cwmind.org.uk/wbw or call 02477 712288 in Warwickshire
You can see the opening times for services over the Christmas period here.
Speak to a trained professional at Mental Health Matters, which operates a free 24-hour help line for Coventry and Warwickshire residents. It is open 365 days a year and provides an independent and confidential service to anyone who has a query about mental health related issues. They can offer emotional support as well as information on mental health related matters. Visit: www.mhm.org.uk/coventry-warwickshire-helpline or call 0800 616171.
Go online at: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ which is a free NHS-approved online resource which provides expert advice, practical tips, and experiences from real people to help manage mental health issues and those of others.
Other support in Warwickshire:
Go online at bigwhitewall.com to access their completely anonymous online community, free to people living in Warwickshire and available 24/7.
Visit Warwickshire Libraries for Reading Well Books on Prescription (BOP) recommended self-help books, audio CDs and e-books warwickshire.gov.uk/booksonprescription
Cllr Les Caborn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health, said: “Christmas can be a wonderful time of year, but the added pressures it puts on finances and relationships mean it can be a challenging and lonely time for some. There is a wide range of support services accessible to all to help people who are feeling low, stressed or struggling to cope. Go online, pick up the telephone or meet with support workers who are there to help those in need during the festive season.”
Cllr Kamran Caan, Coventry City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Sport, said: “As much as Christmas is a joyous time of year for most of us, some people face being alone, whilst others feel stressed and anxious with the pressures the festive period brings. We want to tackle that as much as possible, so to do that, we have a variety of support services available to help those feeling down or who might be struggling. If you feel you need support over the festive season, please make sure you reach out and speak to someone to get the help you need.”
If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free at any time, from any phone on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of the nearest branch. Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.
To find out more about the Mental Health and Wellbeing support services available within Warwickshire, visit warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth. More information on support services available in Coventry, can be found at www.coventry.gov.uk/mentalhealth.
To find out about events and services in your local area, explore the Coventry Directory or the Warwickshire Directory