St Helens Mind run a support group called ‘Men Supporting Men’ in an enjoyable, safe and welcoming place to meet with others at the United Reformed Church. The group focuses on opportunities to socialise with others by having activities such as quizzes, discussions and film mornings.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is about supporting men, particularly those aged 15-35. It’s about giving you a break, a way of getting things off your chest and sorting your head out. If you’re going through a tough time and live on Merseyside then they could help you get back to enjoying your life. They provide a helpline (0800 58 58 58) and a website full of information, blogs and stories on issues relating to depression and suicide.
Together UK have a community based support service which can help people manage in their own home. This covers how to deal with finances/budgets, security/safety of your home, managing property repairs, support to access community services and activities, help to make social contacts, and help with finding leisure opportunities and hobbies.
Making Space’s Developing Options Service works with people with mental health problems who are not under the care of a CPN, Psychiatrist or Care Coordinator. The service is aimed at people who wish to make positive changes in their life but don’t know how to, and help is provided in creating a support plan aimed at giving people choice and control over their own lives e.g. budgeting, employment, socialising, access to support.
Community Mental Health Floating Support Service provide housing related support in the community to Adults from the age of 18 years who have severe and enduring mental health issues and other complex needs. Support is geared towards promoting independence and assisting individuals to achieve their goals and aspirations, referral is via a named Professional.
For information on the range of NHS Mental Health services available locally see North West Borough Health Care Trust website. Here you will find information on the Assessment Team, the Recovery Team, the Staying Home Team and the Think Wellbeing service, amongst others.
Many local charities and voluntary groups can be contacted directly to enquire about accessing services that they provide.
Useful online resources to find out more about mental health include:
- Mind (infoline 0300 123 3393) is a mental health charity that ensures anyone with a mental health problem has someone to turn to
- Sane (helpline 0845 767 8000) provides emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness
- Rethink (helpline 0300 5000 927) provide practical advice and information
- The NHS website
- Mental health awareness charities and campaigns such as Time to Change, Rethink, Stamp out Stigma and the Mental Health Foundation.
- Every Mind Matters created by Public Health England, gives advice and tips online to help look after your mental health and wellbeing.
There are a variety of organisations that can provide support to people with mental health problems in St Helens – these include local NHS services, charities and voluntary groups. Services and treatments available may include:
- counselling
- peer support groups
- social prescribing (non-medical sources of support)
- self-help e.g. books on prescription
- advanced therapies (such as psychotherapy)
- medication
Further information on mental health and treatments available can be found on the following links
www.nhs.uk
North West Borough Healthcare Trust
Creative Alternatives is funded by Public Health to provide creative activities is St Helens as an alternative or in addition to standard treatments for people who experience mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress.
The local Alzheimer’s Society can provide information and support face-to-face, over the phone (0151 420 8010) or by e-mail via their Dementia Adviser and Dementia Support services. The national Alzheimer’s Society also have a national helpline (0333 150 3456)
Hargreaves Dementia Trust is a local charity that supports people with dementia and their Carers. They provide information, advice and guidance for anyone affected by dementia, and they also run a monthly support group for Carers called ‘Making Sense’; the group meets every second Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm at The Baptist Church Hall, corner of Tolver Street and Hall Street, St. Helens, and is an opportunity for Carers to meet up and gain emotional support.
Dementia UK is a national charity committed to improving quality of life for all people affected by dementia. Their telephone helpline (0800 888 6678) offers practical advice and emotional support to people affected by dementia, alternatively email [email protected] or complete the online form.
Further information about dementia can also be found via the Dementia Centre.
Assist Trauma Care is a charity that offers help and support for individuals and charities affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. Their website has lots of information about PTSD.
Self-help books and CDs are available to help with PTSD through the ‘Books on Prescription’ service available at your local library.
Further information about post-traumatic stress can also be found online via Mind, Sane and The NHS Website.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is about supporting men, particularly those aged 15-35. It’s about giving you a break, a way of getting things off your chest and sorting your head out. They provide a helpline (0800 58 58 58) and a website full of information, blogs and stories on issues relating to depression and suicide.
Combat Stress offers mental health support for Veterans. Helpline 0800 138 1619
Post-natal depression:
Life can offer face-to-face support and information or alternatively via their national helpline (0808 802 5433)
National Childbirth Trust can offer information and support on a local level through other parents who have gone through similar experiences, or alternatively the NCT has a national helpline (0300 330 0700) too
Further information about post-natal depression can also be found through The Birth Trauma Association (e-mail support available), The Association for Post-Natal Illness (helpline 0207 386 0868), Mind and The NHS website.
For local NHS support and services see North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Phobias are classed as an anxiety disorder and categorised into either simple phobias (e.g. animals, flying, dentists) or complex phobias (more deep-rooted e.g. agoraphobia or social phobia).
Self Help Services offer specific cCBT (Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) programmes to assist in overcoming phobias.
Self-help books and CDs are available to help with phobias through the ‘Books on Prescription’ service available at your local library.
Further information about phobias can also be found online via Triumph Over Phobia, Mind and The NHS Website .
For local sources of support see Think Wellbeing St Helens.
The local NHS can provide individual counselling and group treatments for people with OCD through the Primary Care Mental Health Team – access into this service should be made through Think Wellbeing -St Helens.
OCD Action is a national charity that provides general information and support about OCD. They have a helpline (0845 390 6232), an online discussion forum, an advocacy programme plus they run support groups across the country (the nearest groups to St Helens are in Warrington and Southport).
Self-help books and CDs are available to help with OCD through the ‘Books on Prescription’ service available at your local library.
Further information about OCD can also be found online via The NHS Website, Mind and Sane.
