Where can I get help with my mental health?
- Posted: February 7th, 2022
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- Category: Advice
Where can I get help with my mental health?
Every year, many of our clients turn to us for advice about a variety of issues and in doing so, disclose to us their difficulties they are experiencing with their mental health. According to the Mental Health Statistics (England), a research briefing published by the House of Commons Library, The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that the prevalence of moderate and severe depressive symptoms among adults in Great Britain rose after the start of the pandemic.
Our advice team is on hand to provide information, advice, signposting and referrals to agencies both locally and nationally, helping clients to take positive action to improve their wellbeing. This is confirmed by recent success in November 2021, where our Advice Matters Team received the Morecambe Bay Business’s Care Sector Award recognising the strengths of providing advice whilst promoting community engagement to improve the wellbeing of our clients
We’ve put together this article which takes you through some of the things we think you should know about if you’re looking for help with managing your mental health.
What help is out there?
Mental health services are mostly free on the NHS, you can usually self-refer to primary services, but in some cases you'll need a referral from a medical professional such as your GP to access secondary services.
There are also a wide variety of national and local voluntary sector organisations, known as third sector services, which you can also self-refer to.
Third sector services in Morecambe and Lancaster
These services are delivered by voluntary organisations that rely on donations and funders to provide primary level mental health support. They are usually free at the point of access but they may ask for contributions towards some of their services.
Positive Futures North West provides group sessions and courses to help build confidence and manage anxiety and depression by bringing people in the district together. You can find out more about Positive Futures and self-refer by visiting their website.
The Adullam Programme provides various courses and group sessions which aim to help people in the district to live life to the full, celebrate their recovery, find purpose and prepare for work. You can find out more about the programme and self refer by visiting their website.
The North Lancashire Counselling Service provides free or low cost counselling services to low-income households. There is usually a waiting list to access counselling through this service. You can find out more about their services and self refer by visiting their website.
The Well Communities provide free support to people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction through therapy, counselling, peer mentoring, employment training and social activities. You can find out more about their services and self refer by visiting their website.
These are just a few services you might want to think about, but there are a number of other specialist organisations in the area which may be able to assist you depending on your individual needs. Your GP or medical professional can help you to find out more about local services on offer in your area.
Primary care services
Mindmatter is a generalist primary mental health service for ages 16+ that provides free telephone counselling services which patients can self refer to. If you can’t self refer, you can ask GP to refer you. If you’re supporting a child or young person with their mental health, you’ll need to speak to your GP about services that are available. There is usually a waiting list to access counselling through this service. If you’re not sure Mindmatter is the right service for you, you could use their self triage page to find out more about which services you should access.
Secondary care services
Secondary services cover hospitals, psychological wellbeing services, community mental health teams (CMHTs) and crisis resolution and home treatment teams (CRHTs). These are specialist services that usually require a referral from a medical professional such as a GP. This is because a medical professional needs to assess your condition(s) to check which services can best meet your needs.
If you’re unhappy about NHS services
You may have several options to make a complaint about health services. One option is to use the complaints procedure, or you may be able to report your concerns to a different organisation, for example, an Ombudsman or the regulatory body of the professional involved. In serious cases, you might want advice about taking legal action.
This section of the national Citizens Advice website provides more information to help you decide whether and how to complain.
We understand that complaining about NHS services during the pandemic is a difficult decision to make, so if you need help to weigh up your options or to find a less formal way of resolving your complaint please get in touch with a member of our advice team.
If you need to speak to someone
There are a variety of free organisations you can contact if you need immediate help with your mental health, within both the third sector and public sector. Who you should contact depends on the type of help you need. You can find more information about these services on their individual websites - standard network rates apply.
Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) NHS - Wellbeing 24/7 Helpline
Call 0800 915 4640 or text HELLO to 07860022846
Shout SMS Support
Text Shout to 85258
Samaritans
Call 116123, email jo@samaritans.org.uk or visit their webchat service
SANEline
Call 07984967708 to request a call back or join their online forum
NSPCC Childline (under 19s)
Call 0800 1111 or visit their webchat service
Crisis Support (Lancaster and Morecambe)
Under 16’s - 0800 953 0110
Over 16’s - 01524 550550 or 01524 550198/550199 out of hours
https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/local-crisis-teams
If you or someone else is immediate danger
Call 999 or go to local A&E department
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
The Well Communities, Inspire (www.inspirenorthlancs.org.uk) and Red Rose Recovery (www.redroserecovery.org.uk) provide free support to people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction through therapy, counselling, peer mentoring, employment training and social activities. You can find out more about their services and self refer by visiting their website.
If you need information
Some people will prefer to use self-help resources which they can use in their own time to help manage their wellbeing, but don’t feel put off from speaking to a medical professional or advice agency if you need more support.
NHS National Website
Condition specific information and advice
NHS LSC FT - Lancashire Recovery College
E-learning courses and group sessions
https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/lancashire-recovery-college
Mental Health and Money Advice
Information and advice about mental health related money issues
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/
Mental Health at Work
Information, resources and toolkits to help you manage mental health at work
https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/
Able Futures
Information, resources and telephone support to help you manage mental health at work
Get self help
E-learning courses and resources for managing mental health
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
Wellbeing and coping
Wellbeing resources and tools funded by NHS England
https://wellbeingandcoping.net/
Mind
Wellbeing resources, peer support, webchat, infoline and legal advice line
Rethink Mental Illness
Free information and advice reports and telephone advice
Action for Happiness
Evidence-based wellbeing resources and local virtual community groups
https://www.actionforhappiness.org/
Togetherall
Wellbeing resources, e-learning courses and community forums
Rehab 4 Addiction can help with rehab listings here:
https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/country-wide/drug-alcohol-rehab-lancashire
If you need more help
Our advisers can’t provide you with counselling or health advice, but we can support you if you are struggling to access the support that you need or you have unresolved advice needs in housing, benefits, debt, employment and family. To speak to one of our advisers, please call our Adviceline on FREEPHONE 0808 278 7882 or email enquiries@northlancashirecab.org.uk.
