People can feel down and sad for many reasons, stress at work, worrying about friends or family. But feeling low can get you down and can have implications for your relationships and work life. NHS choices has a very good online Mood Assessment Quiz and advice which may help you decide where to go next.
If you feel you need to talk to someone right away, the Samaritans offers a telephone service staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can contact them on 08457 90 90 90.
You can also now call 111 and choose option 2 to speak to a mental health advisor. You can call for FREE from 9am to midnight, seven days a week.
Melo
Melo is a new site designed by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to promote mental wellbeing for people living in Gwent. It has lots of useful information and links to further help, please take a look.
Road to Wellbeing
You may want to have a look at the Gwent Five Ways to Wellbeing Website. The Five Ways to Wellbeing is the equivalent of ‘five fruit and vegetables a day’. They are five simple things that can improve and help support mental well-being.
You can also access the Road to Wellbeing courses, Stress control and Activate your life, which are free non interactive lecture type courses, held locally.
If you have been feeling low and depressed for more than a few weeks or you are finding your symptoms are making everyday life more difficult then make an appointment to discuss things with your doctor.
Online help
There are also some very good self help websites which may help you cope with how you are feeling at the moment. They are based on the principle of CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Your doctor may also have advised you to have a look at some of these below:
You can also access some self help sites below:
Guidance for parents Self-harm parents experiences at Healthtalk.org
If you have smart phone, you could consider having a look at these useful apps. Just search on your phone/tablet App Store:
- Mind shift – a free app which looks at overcoming anxiety
- Whats Up? – a free app designed to help cope with depression, anxiety, anger, stress and more
- Head Space – a free app to help you reframe stress using mindfulness. Relax with guided mediations and mindfulness techniques
- Calm Harm – a free app that provides tasks that help to distract you, and manage the urge to self harm.
- Insight Timer – a free app which contains meditations and mindfulness exercises.
Mental Health Resources for COVID-19
Adults
You may find some of these resources helping, particularly relating the the COVID-19 Pandemic:
MIND – mental health charity with fantastic resources, including a specific area for COVID related mental health issues
Beating the isolation blues – wellbeing pack developed in the North West to help deal with wellbeing during COVID
Helpers – 6-week course using psychological theory to support mental health during COVID
Coping with coronavirus – Self-help guides and information written by psychologists from UCL
Headspace – mindfulness app
Sleep council – for all things sleep-related
Sleepstation – sleep improvement programme, now free in some parts of the UK via NHS support
CalmHarm App (good for young people too) – to help manage self-harm urges
SHOUT – 24/7 crisis helpline – just text to 85258
Bereavement support – NHS search engine to find services in your area
Bereavement support through CRUSE
Relationship difficulties – free online sessions
Exercise – free exercise plans/videos including pilates, yoga etc. through NHS
Breathing with your belly – abdominal breathing to reduce stress and anxiety
Children and Young People
Think Ninja – mental health support app for 10-18 year olds
Princes Trust – excellent signposting information for mental health issues for young people
Happy Maps – excellent website with information, resources and signposting for children of all ages and parents
Young Minds – mental health support for children and young people, up to age 19
CHUMS – mental health support for children and young people
Book recommendation for children with anxiety
Very good for parents too! -‘What to do when you worry too much. A kid’s guide to overcoming anxiety.’ by Dawn Huebner, published by the American Psychological Association
Please also look at our Child and Family Support page.
