Mental Health Awareness Week in Shropshire
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week this week (until Sunday 21 May); a chance to highlight the importance of being open about how we are feeling and reaching out for help when we need it.
At Shropshire Council we have a range of tools to help with this at an early stage, which can be used for support when things start to feel difficult.
Everyone who lives and works in Shropshire has free access to Togetherall, which is an online peer-to-peer mental health support service moderated by trained mental health professionals. Users can create an anonymous account and interact with others about concerns that they have, or share supportive techniques for managing mental health. If you are feeling lonely, stressed or just not yourself, you can find a supportive community on Togetherall. You can also find articles, courses and resources relating to a wide variety of issues, from fears and phobias to sleeping and eating concerns.
Shropshire Council’s prescribing programme offers a non-medical approach to support for a range of social, emotional and practical needs. Lots of people are referred to the Healthy Lives social prescribing team for mental health concerns, to speak to an adviser and create a plan to help them resolve their concerns at an early stage and put them back in charge of their wellbeing. Along with our partners in the voluntary and community sector, we have access to a huge community directory so that support can be tailored to individual needs. Referrals can be made by a GP and health professionals, as well as other partners in the community. Individuals can also self-refer online or by phone.
We know that stress and anxiety about money can affect people’s mental health and wellbeing and, for lots of people, this has been heightened by the rising cost of living in recent months.
Shropshire Council’s cost of living campaign includes lots of information brought together by our specialist teams and community partners to offer practical support for anybody who is struggling. The cost-of-living webpages are a good place to start, with a checklist to make sure that you are maximising your income, and a mental health and wellbeing page with links to resources.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, public health, and communities, said:-
“Mental Health Awareness Week is a great reminder to prioritise our emotional wellbeing and to look out for signs that we, or other people we know, need help. Taking small steps to look after our mental health day-to-day can help to prevent problems escalating, and connecting with other people and with our wider communities can help with this.
“The mental health and wellbeing pages on Shropshire Council’s website have some really useful links to services that can help when things begin to feel difficult. By connecting with each other and using the tools that are available, we can help everybody to live their best lives in Shropshire.”
If you or somebody you know is in crisis and needs urgent mental health support, you can find a local contact number here: Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
