Guide to Services Links and Resources for Health and Wellbeing 2! ! ! ! ! Health!is!a!state!of! complete!physical,! mental!and!social! wellbeing!and!not! merely!the!absence! of!disease!or! infirmity! ! ! ! (World'Health'Organisation)' ! ! ! ! 3! Guide to Services Links and Resources For Health & Wellbeing Contents ! Introduction - Keeping Well 4 - 7 Emergency and Crisis Contacts 8 - 19 Who’s Who in the Community Mental Health Service 20 - 28 'Self Help Resources and Websites 29 - 42 Local Services and Agencies 43 - 68 List of Local Directories 69 - 73 Information on Local Groups and Activities 74 - 86 Index 87 - 94 Survey This is for You - Relaxation CD 4! 1. Eat a balanced diet and drink sensibly: Improving your diet can protect against feelings of anxiety and depression. 2. Maintain friendships: Just listening and talking to friends who are feeling down can make a huge difference. So make sure your devote time to maintaining your friendships both for their sake and your own. 3. Maintain close relationships: Close relationships affect how we feel - so nurture them and if there is a problem within a relationship, try and resolve it. 4. Take exercise: The effects of exercise on mood are immediate. Whether it is a workout in the gym or a simple walk or bike ride, it can be uplifting. Exercise can also be great fun socially. 5. Sleep: Sleep has both physical and mental benefits. Physically it is the time when the body can renew its energy store but sleep also helps us to rebuild our mental energy. 6. Laugh: A good laugh does wonders for the mind and soul. 7. Cry: It is good to cry. Even though it may feel terrible at the time, a good cry can release pent up feelings, and people often feel better afterwards. 8. Ask for help when you need it: The longer you leave a problem, the worse it will get. Don't be scared to ask for help from a family member, friend or professional. 9. Make time for you: Do you sometimes feel like you have no time for yourself? Make time for your hobbies and interests. 10. Remember, work isn't everything: Ninety one million working days a year are lost to mental ill-health in the UK so maintain a balance between work and other interests. 5! Introduction Welcome to the Directory for Health and Wellbeing signposting you to Services and Resources in Argyll & Bute. This directory has been produced as part of the modernisation of mental health services in Argyll & Bute to aid front line staff and members of the public in finding out relevant information on what resources are available in their area to support people to get well, be well and stay well. Overall, our objective is to promote mental wellbeing and prevent mental ill health. Where people do become unwell we are designing the services to promote independence and recovery. ‘There is no such thing as good health without good mental health’ Awareness of the importance of Mental Health and Wellbeing is essential in order to recognise and protect our own mental health and that of friends and loved ones. There are many factors that influence our mental health and wellbeing, life has its ups and downs. When things are going well for us, most of us feel mentally and emotionally well. Everyday set backs, long term illness, bereavement, separation, caring for someone, unemployment, family, housing and money problems are just a few examples that can cause us to feel anxious, stressed or depressed. 6! It is a well-known fact that 1 in 4 people will experience a period of mental health problems at any time during their life. We are all individuals. We all think and behave in our own way and react differently to stresses and strains. Sometimes it can be hard to deal with things, but with the right help, support and understanding it can be easier to cope with the difficult times. Remember, you are not alone. This directory aims to signpost the reader to the support that is at their doorstep. Good mental health can bring a healthier lifestyle, better relationships and greater satisfaction at work and at home. For comments, additions and updates to this directory, please email [email protected] The most updated version of this directory can be downloaded electronically from the following website: www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/CHP/ArgyllandBute You can pick up a copy at your health centre, or local library. Thanks and appreciation is given to all participating agencies and individuals for their contributions to this directory. 7! ! ! ! ! 8! Crisis Contacts Emergency Phone Numbers Crisis Website Addresses 9! Crisis Contacts Emergency Services 999 NHS 24 08454 24 24 24 Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 (24 hours at weekends, Fri–Mon 6pm–6am and Mon–Thurs 6pm–2am) Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 SANEline 0845 7678000 (6.00 – 11.00 pm) Child Line 0800 11 11 Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 027 1234 Rape Crisis Scotland 08088 010 302 (6.00pm – Midnight) (All the above services are open 24 hours a day except where stated otherwise.) 10! My Crisis Contacts Name Number Notes: 11! Planning for an Emergency or Crisis It’s always best to plan for an emergency or crisis when you’re not actually in the middle of one. Things to think about are: Who would support me if I had an emergency or crisis Do I have their contact numbers If I have to be away from home, who would water my plants, look after my pets, cancel my paper, empty my fridge, collect my post etc. Some examples could be your neighbour, a family member, a support worker, a minister or spiritual advisor etc. It can also be useful to have numbers at hand for domestic emergencies such as burst pipes, gas leaks, electricity, police etc. You will find them in your local phone directory. There is some space under “My Crisis Contacts” for contact numbers and you may find it helpful to fill them in now on the previous page. 12! The next pages describe some of the emergency services in more detail. NHS 24 Tel: 08454 24 24 24 Website: www.nhs24.com If you are feeling ill now, contact your GP. If you're ill when your doctor's surgery is closed and you feel it can't wait until it re-opens, call NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24. Calls are charged at local rate. The website www.nhs24.com provides comprehensive up- to-date health information and self care advice for people in Scotland. Breathing Space Tel: 0800 83 85 87 (24 hours at weekends, Fri - Mon 6pm - 6am and Mon - Thurs 6pm - 2am) Website: www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. They are here in times of difficulty to provide a safe and supportive space by listening, offering advice and information. 13! “It is our belief and hope that by empowering people they will have the resources to recover.” Visit their website for information on self help and many links to subjects of interest. Samaritans Contact: Chris P.O. Box 9090 Stirling FK8 2SA Tel: 08457 90 90 90 Email: [email protected] Website: www.samaritans.org Samaritans provide confidential non-judgmental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those, which could lead to suicide. Volunteers offer support by responding to phone calls, emails and letters. Alternatively people can drop in to a branch to have a face to face meeting. SANEline Tel: 0845 767 8000 Website: www.sane.org.uk! SANEline is a national out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems. 14! Anyone who is worried about their own mental health, or have concerns about a family member, friend or acquaintance can access this service. No matter which part of the UK you are calling from, the cost from a landline is the same as a local call. The cost of calling from a mobile may vary and will depend on your network provider. Childline You can contact ChildLine about anything. No problem is too big or too small. Whatever your worry it's better out than in. There are several different ways you can get in touch with us: By calling us on our help line: 0800 11 11 By looking at our website for 1-2-1 chats, emailing and other information that cause you concern. www.childline.org.uk! ! Parentline 0800 028 2233 www.parentingacrossscotland.org Information and support for parents in Scotland. 15! Domestic Abuse Helpline National Helpline 0800 2000 247 or call us on freephone number 0800 027 1234 - free from landlines and mobile phones. Womans Aid runs a website and helpline in partnership with Refuge You will find information and help on www.refuge.org.uk Rape Crisis Helpline Phone free any day between 6pm and midnight on 08088 01 03 02 Local contact: 01369 700 800 Our helpline offers free and confidential support and information. It is for anyone, women and men, affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. We can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres or other services if you need longer-term support. The helpline has a minicom service for deaf or hard of hearing people. We can arrange for language interpreters if your first language is not English. www.ab-rc.org.uk 16! Drugs Information and Helplines National Helpline: Tel: 0800 77 66 00 www.talktofrank.com/emergency-help Most people don’t use drugs and even amongst those that do, emergencies are rare.