Mental health, what do we really know or understand about it?
Chances are you know people affected by it. It could be one of your parents or siblings, a friend, colleague, neighbour or yourself.
One in four people exist with it and not by choice. It’s like getting a virus, one day you are okay, the next you know something isn’t quite right but you can’t quite put your finger on it.
There are outward signs which friends or family might notice like agitation, restlessness or becoming withdrawn. This could indicate something or nothing. Just asking “are you okay?” could open a really useful and constructive conversation.
Don’t be fobbed off by the response “I’m okay how are you?”. This is the quickest and easiest way of avoiding an awkward conversation.
There are many types of mental health issue; these range from anxiety, adhd, eating disorders, work related stress, bipolar, depression, ptsd and more.
Talking to someone can make all the difference. So could taking some form of medication.
The first and hardest step is to realise and accept there is something wrong. If you don’t feel like you can talk to your family then you can talk in confidence with your GP. The only time they will involve other parties is if they truly believe you are going to harm yourself or another person.
A GP can refer you for counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy, a specialist in a specific field, or ask you to keep checking in with them.
They may also discuss how you feel about taking medication. They will only prescribe something if you agree to it. However, once you start taking medication you may be taking it for 3 to 6 months, a year or life. There is no sure or fast answer as we are all different.
There are alternative types of therapy which may help. If you want to try them or learn more look up Reiki, meditation, mindfulness, acupuncture, crystal light therapy, emotional freedom technique or tapping, neuro linguistic programming, hypnotherapy, thought field therapy – there are many more!
There are many reasons we might feel sad, down or have difficulty at some times.
We have learnt right and wrong, good and bad and more from our parents, teachers and different authority figures and television.
We first learn how to tell a lie between the ages of two and four. This could be to protect ourselves or another from being told off.
We learn that boys don’t cry and grasses get beaten up. Parents send us to our rooms until we’ve calmed down. We bottle things and emotions up. Put on a game face.
At Tactical we offer training and development, coaching and mentoring, mental health awareness courses, and more courses available where required and have an open door and communication policy. We also have a trained NLP Master Practitioner on our books as further support. We have telephone numbers to numerous support agencies (please see the end of the article if you or someone you know needs one) which are freely available to staff.
We recognise the value of saying “well done”. It promotes self worth. We recognise the value of a team. You feel included. We have an appointed personal coach and point of contact, General Manager Steve Nardone.
Mental Health
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
General Practitioner
Your GP or an alternative local surgery can help with treatment plans, CBT, counselling etc.
Men’s Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
NHS
999 emergency 111 non-emergency
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org
PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm, and 2pm to 5pm on weekends)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
Shout Crisis
Text line number 85258
If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support, Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts Abuse or assault Self-harm Bullying Relationship challenges
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)
NSPCC
Children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Police
999 emergency or 101 non-emergency
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling)
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
Website: www.begambleaware.org
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
Website: www.ukna.org
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0844 477 9400 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Crime victims
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.victimsupport.org
Eating disorders
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
Learning disabilities
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Parenting
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)
Website: www.familylives.org.uk
Relationships
Relate
The UK’s largest provider of relationship support.
Website: www.relate.org.uk