There is a lot of information out there at the moment about mental health and a mass of other things. We know this and we understand this. We know you may be feeling overwhelmed at the news, the statistics and the uncertainty. There are a lot of things to be thinking about or to try not to think about.
We want to help. We want to ease some of that stress and encourage you to use the information that is out there. It is in a lot of different places – all trying to help you and your team’s mental health and to ease any stress you all may be feeling at this time.
We have collected a list of services in Milton Keynes as well as listed some of those that are operating on a national level.
LOCAL
Arthur Ellis Mental Health – Group support services for the over 70’s by use of phone, tablet or computer. These include: Adult Mentoring, Child and Young People Mentoring and Family Group Sessions. Self referral form can be found on the website or email: info@arthurellismhs.com
CNWL Mental Health Services (Central and North West London) includes MK – Oversee CAMHs, Community Eating Disorder for Children and Young People, IAPT.
Call: 01908 725099
Email: support@talkforchange.org.uk (Self referral)
IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies ) Milton Keynes –
Talk For Change – Self referral. Psychological therapies. Free NHS confidential, providing psychological treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. Telephone sessions available.
Mind BLMK – One to one support by phone and/or email. Wellbeing calls to people in the community who feel they need support. Crisis Cafe operating remotely. Tuesday to Friday 5pm to 11pm. Call: 01525 722 225.
Call: Victoria Sharp 07842 405 045
Email – Victoria.Sharp@mind-blmk.org.uk
Milton Keynes Urgent Care Team (ASTI) – A community team which assesses people who have severe and/or enduring mental illness. It is a single point of access into mental health services.
An assessment will be completed. Advice or information may be given. A care plan may be put in place. A referral might be made to Milton Keynes Memory Assessment Service or The Milton Keynes Recovery and Rehabilitation Team.
Call: 01908 724365, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Referrals are accepted from any individual experiencing severe and/or enduring mental health difficulties or who are having a mental health crisis.
Their family and carers and any other partner may refer e.g. general practitioners (GP), primary care professionals, statutory and non statutory agencies.
Referrals should be made by telephone, fax or by letter on the contact details provided on the website http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk Put ASTI in the search bar and Milton Keynes in the dropdown box and mental health in the dropdown box.
Relate MK – Relate has increased the availability of their counsellors to support people’s relationships. They have Live Chat, telephone and webcam counselling services. Details on their website.
Call: 01908 310010
Christina’s Counselling (Bletchley) – Offering counselling through video link and phone calls during this difficult time for everyone.
Call: 07855 307286
Open: Mon – Fri 9am – 8pm
Email: Christina@counsellinginmiltonkeynes.co.uk
Service Six – A specialist provider of outcome based professional therapeutic support, diversionary and activity services for thousands of hard-to-reach disadvantaged children, young people, adults and families.
Self help tips and guidance here: https://www.servicesix.co.uk/self-help.html
Telephone: 01933 277520 / 01933 273746
Address: 15 Sassoon Mews, Wellingborough, NN8 3LT
NATIONAL
Every Mind Matters (One You NHS) – Advice on staying at home & mental health. Tips and advice on how to handle anxiety surrounding coronavirus.
Urgent support: Call: 116 123
Text: SHOUT to 85258
Visit the Samaritans website.
Frazzled Cafe – Frazzled Cafe was started by Ruby Wax. They provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment where people who are feeling frazzled and overwhelmed by the stresses of modern day life can meet and talk about how they’re feeling and their experiences. Usually in person but now online.
Mind – Providing an information hub about various ways to look after your mental health during the Covid-19 crisis.
Contact: Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Text: 86463
Mental Health First Aid England – Provide resources for those working remotely and for mental health first aiders working remotely here: https://mhfaengland.org/remote-working-resources/
Useful tips for working from home to support mental health here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es8l7JAyYMk&feature=youtu.be
Combat Stress for Veterans Mental Health – Provides support and treatment to war veterans suffering with their mental health or from mental health disorders such as PTSD. Offering self – care tips for mental healths during Covid-19, as well as resources available and signposts on their dedicated page.
Veterans and their families can call 0800 138 1619.
Serving personnel and their families can call 0800 323 4444.
You can also text on 07537 404719 and email helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Heads Up – Provides a toolbox and online check up service to support men struggling with their mental health. Also provides signposts and helplines if people wished to contact anyone.
SANE – SANE provides support and information for those who are in need of support for their mental health and also raises awareness for mental health illnesses.
Email: support@sane.org.uk
Telephone: 07984967708
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharitySANE/
CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK and the cause of 18 deaths every day.
Helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (Open 5pm – Midnight)
Webchat is accessed via the website: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/ (Open 5pm – Midnight)
Befrienders Worldwide – Providing international helplines, using volunteers to help to support suicide prevention. May be relevant to those in the UK who are concerned about family members abroad. The Befrienders Worldwide member centres and volunteers continue to provide confidential, emotional support no matter the cause of suffering. Please do not hesitate to contact your local Befrienders Worldwide help service by searching for a helpline in your country.
For general information concerning our international Befrienders Worldwide work you can email us: info@befrienders.org
Government Guidance on looking after Mental Health during COVID – 19 Crisis
WHAT ARE WE DOING AT COMMUNITY ACTION: MK ?
We as an organisation are trying to look after each other in this time of need. Here is what we are doing to look after our mental health and each other:
- Our HR manager is providing us with helpful tips and guidance from trusted sources about working from home and looking after our mental health. They are also providing a daily drop-in service where you can take some time out of your working day to talk about anything you need to over video chat – and always with a cup of tea or coffee to hand!
- We are committed to flexible working as we understand our colleagues have children at home with them and work schedules don’t always go to plan!
- Our team schedules a ‘catch up’ video call every morning in order to make sure that we are all ok and to catch up and check in with each other as a team.
- We are using our Google Hangouts for both work and non-work related chat as a way of staying connected to each other.
- We often post lovely quotes or sayings to keep us motivated, or funny memes, images or videos to make us laugh in our chats to keep us going and to keep us smiling throughout the day!
We hope you have found this useful and that you will continue to look after yours, your family’s and your colleague’s mental health.
From our team to yours, we encourage you in these scary and difficult times, to #KeepSmiling !
Image caption: Colleagues at CA:MK keeping spirits up – #KeepSmiling !