It’s OK Not To Be OK This Christmas
It’s been a tough year for everyone, and it can especially difficult at this time of year, more so with the latest restrictions on Christmas visiting.
And do you know what? It’s OK not to be OK .
If you need some help with your mental health over the festive period there is help at hand.
If you need help
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis and you already get help from your GP, phone your GP or care team first. If you can’t talk to them call 111. If you need an emergency ambulance, phone 999.
Over the phone
Sometime it’s helpful just to talk to someone, especially if being alone at home is making you feel low.
- The NHS 24 Mental Health Hub is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – dial 111
- You can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – dial 116 123
The Samaritans also provide information on th effects of coronavirus on mental health.
You can phone Breathing Space for advice and support on 0800 83 85 87. The service is open:
- Monday to Thursday 6pm to 2am
- Friday 5pm to Monday 6am
You can visit the Breathing Space website for some tips on staying connected and other information.
Online
There are a lot of online resources specifically designed to help you cope with staying home and the stress of the coronavirus pandemic.
NHS Inform’s coronavirus page has suggestions and advice for coping with the effects of the pandemic on your mental wellbeing.
SAMH has a lot of resources and information on coronavirus and your mental wellbeing. It includes help with anxiety, OCD, issues for older people and young people, benefits, and coping with distressing news coverage.
Older people can visit Age Scotland to learn more about keeping active and boosting mental wellbeing at this time. You can also phone the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222. It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Young people can find a lot of information on coping with the coronavirus pandemic on the Young Scot website.
The Young Minds blog also has a range of resources, and useful advice about how coronavirus can affect young people with different mental health conditions.
Clear Your Head has more information on finding support.
Visit our Coping with money worries page for information on the financial support available to you during the coronavirus pandemic.
For more general mental wellbeing advice, we have a wide range of resources:
Complete a self-help guide for anxiety
Complete a self-help guide for panic
Complete a self-help guide for depression
Explore all of our mental health self-help guides
Learn different ways to improve your mental wellbeing
Help from Aberdeen Football Club
Aberdeen Football Club became Scotland’s first professional football team to offer supporters access to a mental health app.
Supporters can get support and guidance on mental health during the COVID‐19 crisis and beyond through the revolutionary NHS‐approved* app ‘Thrive’.
Working alongside AFC’s health and wellbeing partner, Health Shield, the Club will offer 10,000 free licences for the innovative, trusted app which provides proactive and preventative help to supporters during this challenging period.
With one in four people estimated to suffer from mental health issues as a result of COVID‐19, the intuitive ‘Thrive’ app takes users through a journey to assess, manage and improve their wellbeing with a range of mindfulness tips, tools and techniques.
AFC supporters can find out more about Thrive by clicking here and following the simple steps to download the free app.
