Winter Mental Health Advice & Support Contacts
Looking after your mental health through the winter
The winter months can pose significant challenges to our mental health. As temperatures drop and days become shorter and darker, we may struggle to engage in activities that we typically find enjoyable.
Mind has offered valuable tips for maintaining your mental health during the winter season, which you can find detailed below.
Please use this webpage to understand how to spot the signs that Winter may be affecting your mental health.
What can I do?
If you find that your mood tends to decline during the winter months, there are several strategies you can consider to enhance your well-being. While these suggestions may be beneficial, it is important to note that their effectiveness can vary from person to person and may depend on individual circumstances.
1) Prioritize Your Physical Health
Maintaining your physical health can significantly impact your emotional well-being.
During the winter months, it is beneficial to engage in regular physical activity. Such activities can effectively improve your mood and boost energy levels. You need not engage in strenuous exercises; options like yoga, walking, or even household tasks and gardening can be quite effective. Additionally, ensuring a balanced diet, obtaining sufficient Vitamin D, maintaining good sleep, and looking after your hygiene can all contribute positively to your mood during the winter season.
2) Reach out to somebody
Reaching out for support can be challenging, particularly during times of poor mental or emotional health. However, expressing your feelings can significantly improve your mood. Engaging in conversation with someone who understands and listens can be particularly beneficial. Consider speaking with:
- A trusted friend or family member with whom you feel comfortable
- A helpline or befriending service
- A peer support group
- A professional, such as a general practitioner or therapist.
3) Plan ahead
Organizing your belongings the night before can enhance your sense of preparedness and reduce anxiety for the day ahead. Additionally, preparing lunches and meals in advance can be beneficial, especially if you tend to struggle with meal planning during the winter months. It is essential to schedule moments of relaxation, especially during the busy winter months. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, do not hesitate to rearrange your plans or take time for yourself as needed.
Mind have some tips on relaxation: Relaxation tips
4) Maximize Exposure to Natural Light
Many individuals benefit from spending time in natural light. Activities such as taking walks, enjoying time in parks or gardens, or simply sitting by a window can greatly enhance well-being.
You can read more on Mind’s website: Home - Mind
Contacts for Support
Wellbeing for Warwickshire - Home - Wellbeing for Warwickshire
Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Wellbeing Line on 0800 616171
Wellbeing for Life - Wellbeing for Life – Wellbeing for life
Talking Therapies - Home | Coventry, Warks & Solihull Talking Therapies
Safe Haven - 024 7601 7200 Home - CW Safe Haven
Self Harm Support Contacts - Self-harm – Warwickshire County Council
Suicide Prevention Support - Suicide prevention – Warwickshire County Council
Counselling and Bereavement services - Counselling and bereavement services – Warwickshire County Council
Open Hands Community CIC - OPEN HANDS COMMUNITY CIC
Coventry and Warwickshire Mind - Low level early support for over 16 year olds aiming to enhance mental health and wellbeing. https://cwmind.org.uk/ For information and advice about where to get help, call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393 or text 86463.
Dear Life – for people in Coventry and Warwickshire who are desperately seeking support, or anyone who is worried about a loved one or someone they know. As well as raising awareness around suicide, the website provides information and advice as well as the contact details for both local and national suicide prevention support https://www.dearlife.org.uk/
NHS Choices - For advice, support and to find services near to you. Visit: https://www.nhs.uk/ and Search ‘Mental health and Wellbeing’
A Directory of Mental Health Support in Warwickshire – A comprehensive directory has been compiled by Warwickshire CAVA of all Mental Health Support available to residents across Warwickshire. To access the directory visit https://www.wcava.org.uk/ and search ‘directory of mental health support’ for details of all services in a document that you can download
The Big White Wall - Having a tough time or feeling down or stressed? Big White Wall is a safe online community of people who support and help each other by sharing experiences, guided by trained professionals. Visit https://togetherall.com/en-gb/
Mental Health Matters - For mental health, emotional support, visit https://www.mhm.org.uk/ , or call 0800 616 171 - it’s available 24/7 or email: info@mhm.org.uk
Quit 4 Good Warwickshire - Stop Smoking Service. 2 types of service are provided to help and support people with stopping smoking: Face-to-face with a Stop Smoking Advisor in a local venue and an on-line stop smoking service. Visit Quit4Good homepage – Quit4Good for more details.
Change, Grow, Live (CGL) – Free and confidential drug and alcohol service for adults, families, carers and affected others in Warwickshire. For drug or alcohol advice, support and treatment is available from CGL Warwickshire. Please Tel: 01926 353 513 or email: Warwickshire.Info@cgl.org.uk or refer yourself online at https://www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-service-warwickshire/rugby
GamCare – If gambling is a problem that is affecting you and others close to you, GamCare is a leading national provider of FREE information, advice and support for anyone affected by the problem gambling. Visit https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ for more details and live chat, or call the helpline on 0808 8020 133 which is available 24/7
EQuIP Equality and Inclusion Partnership - Support discrimination on Age, Disability, Gender, Gender Reassignment, Marriage, Civil Partnerships, Pregnancy and Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sexual Orientation. Discrimination casework and supporting diverse communities. Please call 07377 431997 or send a message from their online contact page.
Support in the workplace
Coventry and Warwickshire IPS Employment & Training Service
Mental health services for young people
Rise - Coventry and Warwickshire’s wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people - Home | CAMHS
Kooth - Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous place for young people aged 11-25 to find online support and counselling. - Home - Kooth
CAHMS Resources - CAHMS Resources was created for young people, carers and professionals to pool together lots of helpful resources from across the internet that are available to help support your mental health and well-being - HOME | CAMHS Resources
Every Mind Matters - Expert advice and practical tips from Public Health England to help look after a child's mental health and self care for young people - Every Mind Matters - NHS
Young People's Mental Health - The Royal College of Psychiatrists have worked with young people to create some useful resources about young people's mental health. It is aimed at young people and their parents and carers. - Young People's Mental Health
This May Help - This May Help supports parents and carers with concerns about their child’s mental health, across important subject areas such as self-harm, eating disorders, school avoidance and more. - This May Help
Dimensions Tool - The Dimensions tool is a web-based app that will help you find wellbeing support in the Coventry and Warwickshire area that is specific to your needs or someone else’s needs. - Dimensions Tool