People in Merseyside struggling with their mental health during the coronavirus lockdown can turn to a list of places to access help.
Health officials in Merseyside said being unable to socialise as normal due these unprecedented times can affect people's mental wellbeing.
Anxiety about your health, job security and finances, social isolation and changes in routines and family relationships are some of the many ways a person's mental health can worsen during the pandemic.
It is also a very difficult time for those who had already been dealing with problems with their mental health before the coronavirus outbreak.
But there is support in place across Merseyside from a number of helplines and services for those who are struggling.
24/7 helpline for urgent help
Mersey Care’s 24 hour, seven days a week helpline enables people with urgent mental health needs to receive support. The service offers:
- 24/7 access to mental health support services
- Opportunity for service users to receive urgent mental health support who would normally have attended A&E departments
- 24/7 contact line for emergency services that will divert mental health activity away from A&E departments
- 24/7 contact line for primary care colleagues for urgent/emergency referrals for mental health assessments.
Anyone with an urgent health need is asked to call the helpline on 0151 296 7200.
Health professionals, police officers, paramedics, current service users, carers, family members are also asked to call this number.
New Liverpool therapy service
A new therapy service for people suffering with mental health problems in Liverpool during the coronavirus pandemic has been launched.
The new telephone-based initiative is called "Working Conversations for the Coronavirus crisis."
It is designed to help those in desperate need of emotional help amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Up to eight therapists, usually based in the city centre, have embarked on the project which is free of charge, and initially offers 15 minute chats with distressed callers - although there is flexibility for longer sessions if required.
If you feel in need of the service, call or text Kate on 07894 612249 or email suzi@psychological-therapies-unit.co.uk stating your phone number in the message.
'Kind to your mind'
The 'Kind to your mind' campaign is another telephone helpline set up by Merseyside and Cheshire partnerships.
The campaign is aimed at supporting people across Merseyside and Cheshire by providing mental and physical well-being resources on the kindtoyourmind.org website.
Help includes podcasts, featuring interviews with experts, covering topics such as building resilience, mental health, nutrition, physical activity and sleep.
More support
People are also asked to contact their local GP surgery if they are struggling with their mental health and finding it difficult to cope with everyday life.
But there is also national helplines for those in need:
The Life Rooms, Mersey Care’s wellbeing and recovery centres, are also bringing some of their courses and activities to the living room.
The sessions, led by tutors with personal experience in mental health, range from easy workouts to online cooking.
Donnna Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Mersey Care’ s Local Division, said: “Being unable to socialise as normal in the current circumstances can affect people’s mental health and it’s important there’s access to help for those that need it.
“Working with our partners in Cheshire and Merseyside, we’ve developed a number of 24/7 options to help those who are struggling. They range from urgent mental health support, to talk therapy and home courses that anyone can follow from the Life Rooms.
“It’s vitally important the NHS works together to ensure we divert people away from stretched emergency resources and we believe our 24/7 mental health services provide excellent alternative treatment.”
