This World Mental Health Day, we have been capturing a snapshot of real lives, by using local people’s own words to help us understand the reality of living in Oxfordshire; what helps people to stay well and look after their own mental health.
On the 10 October as part of our local World Mental Health Day 2020 we wanted to share your experiences and advice to help others.
Some of the stresses I usually have in a day are due to college and academic stresses like assignments, especially with the term starting again.
Mental Wealth Academy, Service User
Over this upcoming week I am most looking forward to catching up with one of my friends who I haven’t seen in a while. One thing that helps me with my mental health is going out, especially on walks with my dog and boyfriend.
Some advice I would give other people who are suffering with their mental health at the moment would be to definitely talk to someone, as you are not alone and there is so much support out there. Another piece of advice I would give is to have a positive mantra which can help relax you and reduce your anxiety.
I find the Mental Wealth Academy useful because they are able to help me through tough and difficult times, as well as having someone to talk to helps get things off my chest and the guidance and support they offer makes day to day life a lot easier.
- Dial 999 if your life, or the life of someone you know, is in immediate risk.
- Dial 111 if you need medical help quickly, but it’s not an immediate risk, or if it is out-of-hours for your General Practitioner (GP) surgery.
- Contact your General Practitioner (GP) if you are experiencing mental health problems and are not known to local mental health services.
- Call Childline if you are under 19 in the UK with any issue you are going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it is something big or small, their trained counsellors are here to support you. 0800 1111 (Monday-Sunday, 9am – midnight).
- Text YoungMinds Crisis Messenger if you are under 25 and experiencing a mental health crisis and need support. This free text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK, you can text YM to 85258.
- Contact the Mental Wealth Academy, if you are 16-25 and living in Oxfordshire.
- Call Papyrus Hopeline UK if you are under 35 and experiencing suicidal thoughts. They provide confidential support and suicide intervention through the helpline, with trained professionals giving support, advice and information to young people, or people worried about a young person being at risk of suicide. 0800 068 4141 (Mon to Fri, 9am – 10pm) (Weekends and bank holidays, 2pm to 10pm).
- Call Oxford Safe Haven if you are 18 years or older and you experience a mental health crisis at the weekend. They offer crisis support over the weekend (Friday-Monday 6pm-10pm) and can be reached on 01865 903 037.
- Call Banbury Safe Haven if you are 18 years or older and you experience a mental health crisis at the weekend. They offer crisis support over the weekend (Friday-Monday 6pm-10pm) and can be reached on 01295 270004.
- Call Samaritans for emotional support on the phone, 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Call free on 116 123.
- Call CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) if you’re a male in the UK who needs to talk or find support, on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight, 365 days a year).