24/12/2021 | Argyll & Bute
This time of year, can bring a lot of complex emotions and with COVID-19 still affecting all of our lives, it’s important to remember that access to help and support is available for you and your family and friends over this festive period.
During this pandemic, we’ve learned how much we need each other and the importance of looking after ourselves and others.
Whether that’s giving someone who might be feeling especially down or alone a call, supporting a neighbour or going for a walk with a friend, while keeping safe and following COVID-19 guidelines. Often small, everyday actions can make a big difference.
It is also important to know what support is easily available to you, there are a variety of different resources available to all age groups, through a number of channels, where skilled staff are able to provide support on a wide range of topics.
Useful support services include:
Cool2Talk is an online support service for young people aged 12-26. Young people post a question to the website then receive a bespoke answer within 24 hours, 365 days a year, signposting them to appropriate services.
Breathing Space can help when thoughts and feelings overwhelm us, it’s a free, confidential phoneline and web-based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Here in times of difficulty to provide a safe and supportive space by listening, offering advice and information and they have a new web chat option too.
Samaritans provide 24/7 emotional support by phone or email for anyone in the UK. They recently launched a self-help app that helps track how people are feeling and gives recommendations of things that can help people to cope, feel better and stay safe.
Alison McGrory, Health Improvement Principal, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership said:
“Christmas and New Year is a time of joy and celebration, but for many people this time can bring added worry and pressure impacting on mental health and wellbeing. And once again this year we face a festive period with great uncertainty for the future especially with the added concern about the Omicron variant.
“There is lots of support available for people experiencing distress and it is very important to promote this widely to ensure people do not feel alone with their worries. Equally, we can all play an important role in reaching out to people who may feel isolated, alone or vulnerable, for whatever reason, over the festive period to check that they are okay.”
Notes to editors: If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP or the following support services:
• Breathing Space Scotland on 0800 838587 or visit www.breathingspace.scot
• Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258 or visit www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans.aspx
• Cool2Talk www.cool2talk.org
• NHS Inform www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/mental-wellbeing
Further information around support available:
If you or someone else is experiencing mental distress and you are worried about your own or someone else’s immediate safety, please call 999 or go straight to A&E immediately and if you’re calling for someone else, try to establish the person’s name, contact details and location.
If the crisis if not life-threatening but you are concerned about your own or somebody else’s mental wellbeing, advise them to call NHS 24 on 111 or speak to their GP.
Further information
Communications Manager