The winter season can often affect how we feel physically and mentally with shorter days and colder weather. These challenges might make it harder to spend time with family and friends, especially during festive times when we really want to be together.
Here is some helpful information about the services you can access for yourself or a loved one:
- Healthy Minds website (healthyminds.services): the website allows you to find mental health support that is tailored your needs. There are different options to access support ie face to face, over the phone, support groups, live chat, through an app, as well as getting practical mental health tips and advice.
- Guide-Line: Feel like you need to talk to someone? Guide-Line provides confidential, emotional support 365 days a year.
Call: 08001 884 884 (8am to 12am)
Live chat online at: www.mindinbradford.org.uk/chat (8am to 12am) - Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies (for anxiety and depression): A free and confidential NHS service for people aged 16 and over who are registered with a GP in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven.
Visit: www.bdctalkingtherapies.nhs.uk
Call: 01274 221234 from 9am to 5pm (closed during bank holidays)
Email: talkingtherapiesadmin@bdct.nhs.uk
Write: Bradford District and Craven Talking Therapies, New Mill, Level 5, Saltaire, BD18 3LA - Kooth: a free, safe, and anonymous online community available 24/7, 365 days of the year and provides discussion forums, resources and access to online counselling for children and young people aged 10 to 18.
Visit: www.kooth.com - West Yorkshire Night OWLS: a confidential support line for children, young people, their parents, and carers. This service is available from 8pm to 8am.
Call: 0800 1488 244
Text: 07984 376950
Live chat: www.lslcs.org.uk/services/night-owls-helpline
For urgent mental health crisis support, please contact:
- First Response: call 0800 952 1181 as this service offers support 24 hours a day, seven days a week to people of all ages living in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven. When a First Response telephone assessment indicates the need for a face-to-face assessment, we will aim to see you within four hours. Or, you can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
- Safe Spaces: anyone that is aged seven and over can contact Safe Spaces, a crisis service in the community, available 365 days a year from 12pm to 2.30am. To access Safe Spaces, call First Response on 0800 952 1181 and ask for ‘Safe Spaces’.
You can find financial, housing, and wellbeing support for the cost of living on the following websites:
- Bradford Council (costoflivingbradford.co.uk)
- North Yorkshire Council (gov.uk/community-and-volunteering/cost-living-support)
Looking after your physical health
It is also important to take care of your physical health, as both mental and physical health are equally important to your overall health. Visit the Living Well website (www.mylivingwell.co.uk) or call 01274 438884 to find out how to live healthier and be active, it includes support for anyone looking to quit smoking, how to eat well, and get support with drugs and alcohol dependency.