Mental Health Awareness Week seeks to ease lockdown strain

Elizabeth Simpson

Today is the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week (May 18-24), and mental health charity, Manchester Mind has issued a reminder that it will continue to support people experiencing mental ill-health during the pandemic, delivering vital services and playing a part in the city-wide community response by providing nutritious meals to those most in need.

Tying into this year’s Mental Health Awareness theme of “kindness”, Manchester Mind is urging the public to display their own acts of kindness, towards themselves and with one another, but is also asking them to share the message that Manchester Mind is here to help, so no-one is left struggling with their mental health.

Manchester Mind usually operates from the Zion Community Resource Centre in Hulme and also delivers services for young people from its base in Levenshulme.

Services have been rapidly adjusted so they can be accessed from home by those in need, either online or by telephone.

Services continue to be delivered to all those who were already receiving support from Manchester Mind.

In addition, anyone who is experiencing a mental health issue for the first time is encouraged to get in touch to access help.

In response to COVID-19, Manchester Mind has introduced two new listening services, one for young people, aged 15-25, and another for over-25s.

The listening services are for anyone struggling with their mental health, social isolation, worries and anxieties.

Callers can talk to someone who will take the time to listen and understand, while also signposting other helpful support services.

For adults who are struggling with their mental health, they also offer free and impartial advice for benefits, including Universal Credit claims, debts and housing.

For young people (aged 15-25) they provide counselling, advice – for benefits, work, housing, studies or money worries – and a virtual wellbeing café.

Meanwhile, like many other businesses, Manchester Mind’s community café and its outside catering enterprise, Good Mood Food, have both temporarily ceased trading, meaning the loss of a vital income for the charity.

Recognising that poor mental health, loneliness and lack of access to healthy food are intertwined, within days of the lockdown the team responded to the crisis to do what they do best, cooking and delivering high quality, healthy and nutritionally balanced meals, to those in the greatest need.

They have been turning food donations from Fareshare into hundreds of home-cooked meals, on average producing more than 1,500 meals per week for Manchester City Council’s community hub, Maverick Stars Trust – for young people who would normally receive school lunches – and Just Life.

Elizabeth Simpson, Manchester Mind chief executive, said: “We know now, more than ever, people are struggling with their mental health.

“We know that some people may be experiencing poor mental health for the first time, or existing conditions may be exacerbated.

“We are here and ready to help anyone in Manchester who needs our support. Please help us share this important message.”

Manchester Mind can be contacted on 0161-769 5732 or for young people’s services on 0161-221 3054.

Cheshire East Council has also launched an online mental health information point during Mental Health Awareness Week.

The information point, which can be found at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ mentalhealthinfopoint contains a range of information and resources that residents can use to help overcome any anxieties they may have during this time of uncertainty, including:

● Self-help techniques to manage symptoms or prevent problems developing or getting worse

● Personalised help using a questionnaire to find out what support is available during the Covid-19 crisis, and

● Urgent help from the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership 24/7 mental health support line on 0300 303 3972.

Cllr Jill Rhodes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for public health and corporate services, said: “We know the coronavirus outbreak is having a huge impact on everyone’s daily lives and the effect of social distancing, staying at home and of the virus itself could be deep and long term.

“People may feel low, worried, anxious or be concerned about their health or that of those close to them. Now, more than ever, it’s important to look after your mental wellbeing, as well as your physical health.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool FC’s official charity, LFC Foundation, has received two generous donations totalling £50,000, which will help support its mental health projects and COVID-19 community response work.

It said £25,000 was gratefully received from Steve Morgan Foundation’s emergency fund, which was set up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to help support North West charities and not for profit companies.

In addition, LFC’s chief executive, Peter Moore, donated £25,000 from his charitable organisation – The Peter Moore Foundation – which will be used to fund a full-time member of staff to manage the LFC Foundation’s new mental health projects.

Launched earlier this year, the LFC Foundation’s mental health strategy comprises a number of projects aimed at helping children, young people and adults across its programmes.

Ex-player Jason Mcateer talks about mental health awareness

Some of the projects include, a 12-week programme, in partnership with Action for Children, designed to help children recognise the signs of mental health issues, look at techniques and strategies to improve their mental health and where to go if they have concerns, a dedicated LFC Foundation professional counsellor available to provide crisis intervention to any referred participants and a drop-in community-based provision led by specialists to provide advice and guidance, where needed.

In addition to this, an adult male suicide prevention programme is also planned and will be delivered with specialist service providers and partners to provide targeted support to encourage men to talk if they have problems.

Matt Parish, LFC Foundation director, said: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to both the Steve Morgan Foundation and Peter Moore Foundation for their generous donations. Their support during these difficult times mean a lot and will make a big difference.

“During Mental Health Awareness Week it’s important for us to highlight our projects that, although currently running in a virtual capacity, are continuing to promote the importance of mental health and ways in which we can look after it – particularly in such challenging times.”

Close