Wokingham Borough Council is reminding residents that they are not alone and help and support is available locally if they are struggling with their mental health this March.
Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing and affects how we think, feel and act. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or financial status.
Executive member for adult social care and public health Cllr Charles Margetts said: “One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Feelings of isolation, shame and hesitation can prevent people from seeking advice and getting the support they need. We want to break down these barriers and provide residents with easy access to support.
“We have been working with mental health services throughout Wokingham Borough to deliver help and support to residents to improve their wellbeing. Our priority is to offer our residents access quality care and support, at the right time. If you are suffering with your mental health, you are not alone, help is available.”
The Wokingham Wellbeing Service
In partnership with Wokingham Borough Council and Mind in Berkshire, the Wokingham Wellbeing Service is helping to support local people with every day stresses and wellbeing challenges. It is particularly there to help people who are experiencing low mood, feeling anxious, overwhelmed or isolated or are dealing with many responsibilities and are unsure where to start.
Following a successful 18-month pilot, the scheme has now been commissioned for three years and is dedicated to providing early support to help prevent mental health issues escalating.
Mind in Berkshire’s wellbeing workers can offer residents free one-to-one appointments for people aged 18 and over. The sessions enable people to put practical things in place that can help them feel more able to manage everyday stress and wellbeing challenges. Wellbeing workers can give you time, space and support to listen to your concerns and help you identify what is important to you, tell you about relevant services, resources and tools you can access to improve your wellbeing, and support you to identify goals and encourage you to work towards them.
The Wokingham Wellbeing Service is available via all GP practices in Wokingham borough and can offer residents face-to-face support (available in certain GP practices), telephone or video sessions. To make a referral, ask your GP or visit the Wokingham Wellbeing Service’s Joy App website. You can also email: wokinghamwellbeing@oxfordshiremind.org.uk
The Wokingham Recovery College
The Wokingham Recovery College gives people with mental health problems the chance to access education, wo
rkshops and training programmes designed to help them on their road to recovery. It aims to help people become experts in their own self-care and enable family, friends and staff to better understand mental health.
The college’s tutors have professional and real-world experience of mental and physical health challenges, including staff peers and mental health professionals. The college is a safe, non-judgemental space where residents can confidentially share their experiences and voice any issues they may be facing.
The college runs a series of free events every month and the upcoming classes include:
- Friends and family support group – 2 March, 1.30pm to 3pm
- Hearing voices group – 3 and 17 March, 11am to 12pm (online class)
- Understanding emotions, 4 March, 10am to 11.30am (online class)
- Moving on with journaling, 8, 15 and 22 March, 10am to 11.30am
- Living a more mindful life, 9, 16, 23 and 30 March, 1.30pm to 2.45pm (online class)
- Improving self-esteem, 10 March, 10am to 11.30am (online class)
- Recovering together, 14 and 28 March, 1.30pm to 3pm (online class)
- Creating collage, 17 March, 11am to 3.30pm
- Crafty creations, 18 and 25 March, 10am to 12pm
- Have your say, 22 March, 2.30pm to 3.30pm (online class)
- Managing low mood, 29 March, 10am to 11.30am
To view the timetable of courses or to enrol at the Recovery College, visit the Wokingham Recovery College webpage or call (0118) 989 0707.
Talking Therapies
Talking Therapies is an NHS service available to Wokingham borough residents, offering support to people struggling with depression, stress, anxiety and phobias. Any resident aged 17 years and above and registered with a Berkshire GP practice can access this service. To refer yourself to this service, speak to your GP who will be able to refer you to Talking Therapies.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing excessive paranoia, worry, anxiety, long-lasting sadness, irritability, extreme changes in moods, social withdrawal and dramatic changes in eating or sleeping patterns, help is available. For more information, visit the Wokingham Borough Council emotional and mental health support webpage or call (0300) 365 2000.
Citizens Advice Wokingham
One Front Door, a service led by Citizens Advice Wokingham and delivered in partnership with many local voluntary sector organisations, is supported by the council, and offers support with loneliness and mental health.
The service was set-up at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to provide a single point of contact for advice and continues to be available to provide support to borough residents on a range of different topics, including struggling with rent, bills or feeling overwhelmed.
One Front Door can assist residents struggling with low esteem and mental health by making referrals to befriending charities and peer support groups. For more information, visit the Citizens Advice website or call (0808) 278 7958.
The Friendship Alliance
The Friendship Alliance is an initiative brought together by The Link Visiting Scheme, Age UK, Involve Community Services and the Wokingham Volunteer Centre to tackle loneliness and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of Wokingham Borough residents.
For more information contact Jayne Steak on jayne@linkvisiting.org or call 07464 834 949.
If you need immediate mental health support, call the Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are concerned that someone’s safety or life is in imminent danger, call 999 immediately.
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