Mental wellbeing support

Looking after your mental health

The NHS's Every Mind Matters campaign has now released expert advice on how best to look after mental wellbeing while staying at home during the coronavirus outbreak. The advice contains practical steps a person can take and includes videos, tutorials and links to other useful resources: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters

The Government has issued guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (Covid-19).

Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak is also available.

Further information can be found at www.gov.uk/government/news/new-advice-to-support-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak

There is a range of local support services available:

Growing Healthy Sunderland

The team offers a range of health and wellbeing support to parents, children and young people in Sunderland including:

• Virtual school nurse drop ins for children in year 7 through to year 13
• Advice and information for new parents - breastfeeding, emotional support, sleeping advice

Contact the team by calling 0300 003 1552 or via their Facebook page, where you can also find about more about the support available, see www.facebook.com/GrowingHealthySunderland

IMPACT North East

This service provides counselling, family support and behaviour support. They have volunteers offering telephone and video counselling and group support to people living in Sunderland. They also have a project for blue light workers offering telephone counselling. They can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/impactschoolservices

Sunderland Counselling Services

All their services will be by telephone, rather than face-to-face. If you live in Sunderland and need support you can call the team on 0301231145 between from 9am to 4.30pm, or email office@sundelandcounselling.org.uk

North Star Counselling

Provides online and telephone support for children, young people and their families. They will also post out support packs. Contact Nicola on 07717288713 for further information or visit their website at www.creativemindsnsc.wixsite.com/creativeminds-norths

Samaritans

This service is there for you if you are in crisis. It is a 24 hours 7 days a week service which is free to call from any phone on 116 123 www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan

Sunderland Initial Response Team (IRT)

The Initial Response Team provides practical advice, emotional support from qualified nursing staff and when appropriate, routing to the right service.

The service is available 24/7 throughout the year by calling 0303 123 1145.

The team is made up of a clinical lead, qualified mental health clinicians and experienced support staff. The team are also supported by clinicians from specialist areas of care such as children's and young people's mental health services, learning disability services and older persons' mental health services.

Crisis support

Sunderland Crisis team can be contacted by calling 03031231145

NHS Direct 111

The service has psychiatric nurses on the switchboard who can offer advice - NHS 111

Headway Wearside

Support for those who have suffered from a stroke or brain injuries. They can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Headway-Wearside or by calling Kim on 07830346985

Washington Mind

This charity supports people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. They provide telephone and online support, and can be contacted by calling 0191 417 8043, texting 07507 330 995 or emailing info@washingtonmindorg.uk. More information is available on their website www.washingtonmind.org.uk

All updates we receive will be added to the wellbeing info website https://wellbeinginfo.org/

Sunderland Mind

An independent charity run by local people for local people. They provide confidential, high-quality services for individuals, carers and families experiencing emotional or mental health problems.

Staff are busy working from home to provide as much support for the community as possible. They can be contacted from Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm by calling 07984 595 542. Any messages left will be answered as soon as they can.

Support for carers

Sunderland Carers Centre, can be contacted by calling 0191 549 3768, using the quick contact section of their website - www.sunderlandcarers.co.uk or by messaging them via social media (Facebook/Twitter).

More than Grandparents are offering support to kinship carers who are raising their grandchildren or a relative or friend's child in Sunderland by providing home delivery services and ideas on how to entertain the children. Based in Hendon you can call Melanie on 07501 191 338 or email morethangranparents@gmail.com. Visit www.morethangrandparents.com for further information.

People who have substance misuse/addiction

NERAF are providing telephone support, if you need support call 0191 514 8520

Support for people who are self-isolating due to cancer

FACT Sunderland are offering support with household products and food to people who have to self-isolate due to receiving treatment, or suffering from cancer.  If you need to contact the team please call 07759 139 351 or email info@fact-cancersupport.co.uk

St Benedict's Hospice provide a variety of support for people who are in the at-risk group due to a terminally ill disease, for further information call 0191 512 8400.