Don’t let coronavirus concerns affect your mental health – talk to us before things get worse.
That’s the message from Live Well Kent this mental health awareness week.
If you are on a low income, experience poor health or live in insecure housing, you may now be facing even more stress because of the pandemic.
But you don’t have to suffer in silence. We can help with everything from mental and physical health to employment advice and feelings of isolation.
Live Well Kent usually works with people face-to-face, but while the lockdown is in place we will support you over the phone and online.
“We’re still here to provide support, empathy and show you that someone still cares,” explains Live Well Kent’s Julia Hargreaves.
“Our support workers stay in regular contact if you are struggling with your mental health. They will listen to your concerns, share mental health coping techniques, and help you to access support for housing, money and health issues, as well as more specialist help if needed.
“They also run online group activities such as cookery workshops, mindfulness, relaxation and art sessions, and virtual meet-ups with those that have similar experiences to help you feel connected with others during this difficult time.
“And they can help if you find it difficult to access virtual support. We’ve sourced smart phones and tablets so people can talk to their support workers via video call, and printed off information bundles for those who do not use the internet at all.”
Poor mental health can have a knock-on effect on many other areas of your life. If you’re struggling with your mental health, you can find it more difficult to stay employed, maintain a tenancy, manage debts or stay connected to others. Live Well Kent will help you address all the issues you are facing.
We’ll continue to be here for people throughout the coronavirus crisis and beyond. We expect the effect of the crisis on people’s mental health will continue as lockdown eases and we see the longer-term consequences on individuals and communities.
“We predict the number of people needing mental health support will increase over the coming months due to the emotional and economic impact of the virus,” says Julia Hargreaves.
“We’re planning for this likely increase in demand, putting the resources in place to take action quickly and effectively to help communities recover from the impact of the crisis.”
If you are struggling with your mental health or know someone that is, contact us on 0800 567 7699 or search for support in your area.