To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, our Trust is sharing advice to help you manage your mental wellbeing and shining a light on the services it offers which can support you.
Dr Phil Anderson, our Director of Therapies said: “Many people experience mental health difficulties at one time or another. According to Mind, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.”
It’s important to look out for symptoms, so that you can reach out for help if you need it. These might include:
- low mood
- feeling sad
- losing interest in things you normally enjoy such as activities or socialising
- feeling more tired than usual or unable to sleep
- feeling irritable
- feeling hopeless
- feeling tearful
- having low self-esteem
Common symptoms of anxiety also include:
- trouble concentrating or making decisions
- feeling irritable, tense, or restless
- experiencing nausea or abdominal distress
- having heart palpitations
- sweating, trembling, or shaking
- having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
Dr Anderson explains: “Sometimes these symptoms improve by themselves, but there are also things you can do to take back control and improve how you are feeling.
“Exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on mood and psychological wellbeing. Regular gentle exercise such as going for a walk or yoga can improve how you feel. You could also try running, swimming, or taking part in a fitness class.
“There are also lots of resources to help you deal with worries and unhelpful thoughts on the NHS Every Mind Matters website, including videos and techniques to help you build resilience and boost your mental wellbeing.
“It’s important to share how you’re feeling, rather than keeping things bottled up. Try talking to a friend or someone you trust.”
If you find that self-help does not work for you, evidence-based interventions from a qualified professional are very effective at helping to reduce symptoms and address the causes of low mood and anxiety.
Our Mind Matters Surrey service is the local NHS provider offering free and confidential talking therapies to people aged 17+ registered with a Surrey GP. The service offers individual therapies, guided self-help online and group courses. To access the service, simply click on the refer yourself link and answer the questions on our friendly Limbic chat box. You do not need to be referred by a GP. If you have any questions about Mind Matters or the referral process, call 0300 330 5450 or text 07786 202565 between 8.30am-5.30pm.
Our Recovery College runs a wide range of courses which support people with their health and wellbeing. These are available to people living in Surrey and north-east Hampshire. The courses are open to people experiencing a range of mental and physical health conditions, including anxiety and depression. You can enrol to join a course on the Recovery College website.