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Stay positive and look after your mental wellbeing

Dealing with stress? Focus on what’s in your control

During the COVID-19 outbreak, all of us will experience some level of increased stress. Some of us will be affected as we adjust to our ‘new normal’, others may have worries about paying bills, and some may be anxious about the future and what it may look like.

Dr Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap (external link), suggests there is something simple that you can do: “…the single most useful thing anyone can do in any type of crisis – coronavirus-related or otherwise – is to: focus on what’s in your control.”

The more you focus on what you can control, the more clearly you can understand that not everything is out of control. London’s digital wellbeing service, Good Thinking (external link), has access to a free app called My Possible Self  (external link) which can help guide you in this process.

Haringey council are working with hundreds of London’s health, care, charity, education and business organisations through Thrive LDN (external link) to ensure the mental health of Londoners remains a priority.

NHS England has released new guidance for those with learning disabilities which provides useful information to help support mental health and wellbeing:

See also: Safe Haven Helpline for those who need support in a crisis. A safe, confidential helpline for anyone living in, or who have an existing GP, in Haringey and is aged 18+. 

Dealing with loneliness

During the coronavirus outbreak, for many people there will be a tough, but necessary period of social isolation. Many of us will miss seeing family and friends and taking part in our usual hobbies, interests and activities.

At this time, it’s especially important we stay in touch with people who are alone.

Campaign to End Loneliness have published lots of advice and tips (external link) about dealing with isolation and tackling loneliness during the current outbreak.

Some people may benefit from a more formal social arrangement such as befriending, where you are matched with a befriender who can either contact you via phone or in person.

Charities such as Age UK (external link), Independent Age (external link) and Sense (external link) offer these services. The Befriending Network has a directory of services in the UK. This can be a good option if you find leaving your home difficult.

Community Connectors (external link) and Navigators can help you find local services, groups and activities that suit you. These may help you with your loneliness and improve your health and wellbeing more broadly. Talk to your GP about how to access these services.

Useful websites and resources

If you are worried about coronavirus and how it may affect you, there are many websites with tips and advice to help you through this difficult period. Some of these are:

  • Good Thinking (external link): an online resource which provides digital mental wellbeing support for adults in London. They have dedicated pages to offer support throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Our Haringey Wellbeing Network now operates via telephone and email: 07508 511 128 | HaringeyWellbeingNetwork@mih.org.uk
  • MIND (external link)
    • Residents: the charity has a dedicated page on their website to support those struggling with mental wellness during the outbreak. Their regular services remain open and staff are staying in touch with people by phone and email: 020 8340 2474 | admin@mih.org.uk
    • Key Workers: in response to COVID-19, MIND is offering free counselling for Key Workers in Haringey. Get in touch with their counselling team to sign up. Email: counselling@mih.org.uk or call: 07956 369 729
  • Public Health England guidance (external link):PHE has published guidance for the public on how to manage the mental health challenges of COVID-19. It includes sections concerning people with learning disabilities, autism and dementia, as well as how to deal with mental health crises or emergencies at this time.
  • Every Mind Matters – NHS online Support (external link): the online hub has some useful tips and advice for taking care of your mental wellbeing and physical health whilst staying at home during the outbreak. 
  • Young Minds (external link): a platform providing dedicated mental health support and advice to young people who are anxious, concerned or stressed following the coronavirus outbreak. 
  • Mencap (external link): A charity working with people with a learning disability – and their families and carers. 
  • UNICEF (external link) has shared some top tips to help young people to cope during this challenging time.
  • Thrive Framework offers a broad range of mental health support locally. For those who need crisis support, Haringey’s crisis helpline is open 24/7 – 0300 0200 500.
  • Kooth (external link) provides free, online mental health and wellbeing support to 11-18-year olds, and up to 25 years for those with additional needs.
  • Cruse website (external link): the bereavement care charity Cruse is helping families affected by coronavirus. You can find a broad range of guidance, including easy read fact sheets online. You can also contact the charity’s free national helpline on 0808 808 1677 or email them at helpline@cruse.org.uk
  • SHOUT (external link): the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help
  • MHST Telephone Support Line: a team of Mental Health Practitioners is available to listen and support with worries and emotions. The service is open to all Haringey Schools to support children / young people, parents/ carers, school staff from 9am-3pm Monday-Friday. Tel: 0208 702 6035 from 9am-3pm Monday-Friday or email: Beh-tr.camhstrailblazerinbox@nhs.net
  • Hope Again (external link): a service providing support for children and young people going through bereavement
  • Suicide bereavement support service (external link): Rethink Mental Illness provides support to those bereaved by suicide who live, work or study in the London boroughs of Haringey, Camden, Islington, Barnet and Enfield.
  • Haringey’s Educational Psychology Service has put together some information to help parents and guardians support their children through a bereavement or traumatic incident during this difficult time:  Bereavement Guide for Families (PDF, 288KB)
  • Healthy London Partnership – A mental health toolkit for schools (external link): Resources relating to COVID-19 including guides to help manage mental health, advice guides and personal stories from organisations aiming to support better mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.