Mental health resources for anyone struggling in uncertain times

I don’t need to tell you that we’re living in difficult times and the coronavirus pandemic can impact our mental health in many different ways whether it’s losing a job or grieving for a loved one. 

To make it easy to find someone to talk about your mental health whether its panic attacks, OCD, self-harm or depression then I’ve put together a list of charities, organisations, books and podcasts that can help you.

Stay strong and use these great organisations to support you or a loved one to get to a better place.

If you need to speak to someone

• Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans.
• Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, If you’re under 19 then text ‘YM’.
• If you’re under 19, you can call 0800 1111 and talk to Childline. Open 24-hours. The number will not appear on the phone bill. If you’re an adult concerned about a child then call 0808 800 5000.
• Phone Refuge for advice on dealing with domestic violence on 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline).
• The Young Minds Parents Helpline is 0808 802 5544. Call them for free Mon-Fri from 9.30am to 4pm.

NHS mental health services

• NHS urgent mental health line.
• If you want to measure your mood then try this self-assessment quiz.
• If you’re in England, you can self-refer for psychological therapies.

Resources for Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities

• The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network

Anxiety

• How to manage anxiety during the coronavirus crisis
• Coronanxiety support from Anxiety UK

Depression

• Depression advice and resources from Mind charity

OCD

• Overcoming OCD with OCD UK
• OCD and COVID-19
• OCD Action charity

Panic attacks

• No Panic organisation

Self-harm

• Advice on self-harm from SelfharmUK
• Self-harm and suicide prevention from Harmless
• National Self-Harm Network Forum 

For young people:

• The NSPCC offers support for child abuse
• Young Minds charity

For parents:

• Supporting a child with depression
• Young Minds for parents

Support for families:

• SANE for emotional support for families affected by mental illness.

Support for men:

• Men’s Health Forum
• CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men from 15 to 35 years old.

Managing mental health at work

• Time to Change gives advice about your rights at work while suffering from mental health problems.
• How to stay well during furlough or when out of work.
• How a nurse working on a COVID ward manages her mental health.

Apps

• NHS approved apps to help you manage your mental health.

Books I recommend:

• It’s Not OK to Feel Blue (and other lies): Inspirational people open up about their mental health by Scarlett Curtis and Various
• Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon
• Jog on by Bella Mackie
• Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

If you enjoy comedy writing:

• 11 books written by comedians that will make you laugh out loud

Podcasts I recommend:

• Happy Place from Fearne Cotton
• Mad World from Bryony Gordon
• Griefcast from Cariad Lloyd

If you enjoy comedy podcasts:

• 7 British comedy podcasts that will make you laugh out loud
• 7 more British comedy podcasts that will make you laugh out loud

Read advice from other bloggers:

• Stay on top of mental health during uncertain times
• Kickstart your health during lockdown
• How to combat loneliness in lockdown

Read my personal stories (resources included):

• Intrusive thoughts are frightening but inherently normal and human
• The differences between CBT and counselling for treating mental health problems by someone with OCD
• Why it’s so difficult to discuss self-harm and how to get help by a former self-harmer
• Why birdwatching can help with anxiety and OCD
• 10 things the film As Good As It Gets does get so right about mental illness
• Why RED January gave me a new perspective on running

I hope these resources are useful to you and you can find comfort at a difficult time. Thank you for reading and look after yourselves.

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