Claire Clements is founder of Positive Pants (co-founder of award winning Positively Empowered Kids) and brings you this workshop activity for the whole family to enjoy, creating a Positivity Board exploring positive language and images of the things that make you feel happy and positive. All part of children starting to think and learn about how to look after their wellbeing.

Positive Pants helps children and their families to flourish and overcome everyday obstacles by teaching them to recognise, understand and acknowledge their emotions through creative activities. Claire has also created a unique and quirky product to accompany this, actual Positive Pants(!), using positive affirmations to encourage a positive mind-set at the start of the day.

Did you know libraries stock a fantastic collection of books called Reading Well which has books to help people of ages look after their mental health and wellbeing? See the titles and how they could help you here

Watch this moving short film about the desperation and devastation of suicide from The Tomorrow Project at Harmless. An important film and a powerful reminder of the need to talk and that there is hope and help out there.

NB: You may find the content of this film distressing

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or are in suicide crisis, contact crisis@tomorrowproject.org.uk or leave a message on 0115 880 0282 and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.

If you have been bereaved or affected by suicide, contact bereavement@tomorrowproject.org.uk and a member of the bereavement team will get back to you within 72 hours.

Please note: Some viewers may find the content of this film distressing

A film from the team at Harmless and The Tomorrow Project. Hope – a small word but a very important word. Even in the darkest of times there is hope. Life can be difficult for everyone at times, but with the right support it can get better. No matter how big or small you think your problems are, it is okay to ask for help.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or are in suicide crisis, contact crisis@tomorrowproject.org.uk or leave a message on 0115 880 0282 and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.

If you have been bereaved or affected by suicide, contact bereavement@tomorrowproject.org.uk and a member of the bereavement team will get back to you within 72 hours.

Harmless also supports people that self-harm, simply call 0115 8800280 or email info@harmless.org.uk

You can now access a range of NHS services via the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet. Find out more about what you can do by following this link:                                                                      

The NHS App

Whether you want to get started on the NHS App or you’re generally struggling to get online, need some help with using particular applications, or access some free training, the team at Get Nottinghamshire Connected are happy to help. They are operating a dedicated support line which you can contact on 0115 883 8873 Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm or by email. You can find out all about their service by clicking here:

Get Nottinghamshire Connected

Excellent NHS website devoted to providing information, tips and signposting around mental health issues; including a page listing quality assured, free apps on topics such as how to cope with anxiety, relaxation and much more.

There is also dedicated advice around coping with the Coronavirus crisis that is affecting all aspects of life currently. This information also has links to other organisations to help us through this difficult time such as Citizens Advice Bureau and Carers UK.

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Mental health charities are also a good source of trusted information and all have a wealth of general mental health information, blogs, advice and tips along with Coronavirus specific information. Here is a selection:

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing

Young Minds goal is to achieve a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges. They want to ensure all young people get the best possible mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life’s difficulties

www.youngminds.org.uk/blog/talking-to-your-child-about-coronavirus/

The Mental Health Foundation’s vision is for a world with good mental health for all. Their mission is to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Blurt is a social enterprise dedicate to help those affected by depression. Their website has lots of resources, including Coronavirus specific information and help along with blogs and podcasts. Well worth a visit:

www.blurtitout.org/

Wellness in Mind, which connects people in Nottingham city to mental health support services, is running a free telephone support line between 9am-midnight, seven days a week. The phone line is managed by experienced support staff who can help by:

• Talking through your feelings and offering advice about next steps
• Talking in confidence about somebody you are concerned about
• Offering advice about what support may be available to you 

The support line number is 0800 561 0073 (please press option 1)

If it's after midnight and before 9am, you can leave a message on the answerphone and someone will get back to you the following day. 

The organisation is also able to offer advice online, to fill in the referral form on the Wellness in Mind website, click here.

NHS Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust has set up a mental health helpline for local people in crisis. The helpline number is available to call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone in mental health crisis and in need of immediate help and support, across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. 

• Call 0300 303 0165

Click here to visit the website for further information about local NHS help for mental health crisis. 

The Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline is now available 9am-11pm 7 days per week for anyone of any age who needs emotional support or information about what help is available locally for people struggling with their mental health. 

Anyone living in Nottinghamshire can use the service which is being delivered by Turning Point. A team of supportive mental health workers are on hand to provide information and advice e.g. techniques that people can use to manage anxiety. They will also be able to direct people to other services where needed. The helpline website also includes useful information about a range of common mental health issues such as anxiety and low mood and how to promote feelings of wellbeing.

The helpline number is 0300 555 0730. For more information and mental health resources visit the Turning Point website.

​The Tomorrow Project, part of Harmless, offers direct support to those in suicide crisis. They are easy to access and open to all ages and genders across Nottinghamshire. Despite the current national emergency, face-to-face appointments and remote sessions are both available. Self and agency referrals are being accepted and a response will be provided to all within one working day. 

They offer: 

• A quick response, with referrals being responded to within one working day
• Practical and emotional support 
• Regular and direct access to a Crisis Support Officer
• Both face-to-face and remote support sessions
• Available across the whole of Nottinghamshire 

To access the service:

• Email crisis@tomorrowproject.org.uk 
• Call 0115 880 0282 - leave a voice message and a member of the team will respond within one working day
• Visit their website here 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness can be a useful tool in helping manage feelings of anxiety, depression and stress. The NHS Every Mind Matters website has information and a mindful breathing exercise to try in No.2 of their Top Tips section:

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/top-tips-to-improve-your-mental-wellbeing/

The charity Breathworks aims to help people living with pain, illness and stress to re-claim their lives through mindfulness and compassion training including courses, products and teacher training. They are currently offering a free course to support people through this difficult time:

www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/mindful-self-care-for-troubling-times

Ways to cope in difficult times

A new website, co-funded by NHS England and designed by a group of people who want to help anyone who is struggling with the very challenging situation we are all in, aims help us to feel a bit calmer and find new ways to cope. 

Visit Building your Wellbeing and Helping you Cope to try activities lasting from 30 seconds to 30 minutes as well as a downloadable wellbeing plan to personalise and put into practice. The website also has links to other sources of information and support if you are struggling. 

Lots of Apps are available, here are our top tips:

Headspace

Calm 

Stop, Breathe and Think

Stress can be defined as feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable. Here are a few websites with really good information, advice and exercises to help take back control and stop stress controlling everyday life.

The Stress Management Society is a great place to look for information about stress. Take the stress test and find out how to manage stress to help become happier, healthier and more resilient in future 

https://www.stress.org.uk/ 

The Mental Health Foundation has some great podcasts and videos full of relaxation and breathing techniques to combat stress. Why not give them a try?

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stress 

Relate Nottinghamshire, supported by Lottery Awards for All, has funding to deliver a free 30 minute counselling session to anyone over 18 who has been affected by Covid-19 and who lives in Nottinghamshire.

People may have been affected either through being forced to stay at home during lockdown, managing children while schools are closed, loss of income or job, missing family and friends and worried about what is happening now and also what the future holds.

This can put individuals, couples and families under a huge strain and have a massive impact on their mental health. To help alleviate this distress and disruption Relate are offering a free 30 minute counselling session delivered by a highly trained counsellor to help people understand and try to make sense of their situation. To make contact and book a session please email support@relate-nottingham.org.uk

To find out more about Relate Nottinghamshire and how to access relationships support visit: https://www.relate-nottingham.org.uk/

The national Relate website has lots of useful tips and advice on all relationships matters: https://www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/covid-19-advice-and-information

Physical activity is not only recommended to keep our bodies in shape but is proven to help lift mood. It’s especially important right now to take care of mind and body and being at home doesn’t mean we can’t exercise. 

There are loads of resources online and on social media platforms however these are a good place to start:

While leisure centres are closed the team behind Active Nottingham have created a Home Workouts hub where you'll find physical activities for all ages and abilities.

Visit Active Nottingham

The NHS website has a wealth of information and videos for all ages and abilities. From chair based exercises, Pilates and yoga to advanced workouts that will really get your heart racing if you’re missing your trips to the gym:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/

Sport England has launched a campaign called Join the Movement #StayInWorkOut. Designed to help us get or keep active at this time there’s lots of advice, tips and links to online exercise platforms that can provide either free or extended trials:

https://www.sportengland.org/stayinworkout#join_the_movement

Reading can be a great escape from everyday life; whether you love fiction or non-fiction and we have a great selection of eBooks, eAudio and eMagazines to choose from:

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/e-books

Reading Well are collections developed by libraries charity The Reading Agency. The collections, including mental health books for adults, young people and children, support you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading. The books are all recommended by health experts, as well as people with living with the conditions covered and their relatives and carers.

www.reading-well.org.uk/

Many people find art and crafts useful in helping them relax and take some time to be mindful.

Do Think Share is a movement believing we’re all creative and when we create we make positive change. Their website has a host of simple creative activities to try out:

www.dothinkshare.com/

No need to leave the house for inspiration, have a look at our collection of eMagazines and eBooks for ideas:

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/e-books

Adult colouring has become popular and recent years and as well as purchasing colouring books for adults you can find free downloadable colouring pages too, as long as you have access to a printer of course! Or search for colouring apps for adults and children and colour using your phone, iPad or tablet.

Publishers of craft books as well as online craft shops can also be a useful source of ideas too, not only for colouring sheets but also quizzes and other fun activities. Here are a selection we found:

https://www.pavilionbooks.com/2020/03/28/millie-marottas-love-nhs/

www.blog.whsmith.co.uk/20-most-popular-advanced-colouring-downloads/

www.mombooks.com/mom/online-activities/

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas?crafttype=art&projecttype=art-free-downloads

Feel good by helping others through this difficult time. Voluntary organisations are seeking additional help right now. Here are a few ideas:

NHS Volunteer Responders has been set up to support the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak. To do this an 'army' of volunteers is needed who can support the 1.5m people in England who are at most risk from the virus to stay well:

www.goodsamapp.org/NHS

Age UK is seeking people to take part in neighbourly volunteering and help support older people who are staying at home due to the coronavirus epidemic:

www.ageuk.org.uk/notts/get-involved/volunteer/

Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service is maintaining an emergency response page where you can keep up to date with appeals and voluntary opportunities:

www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk/coronavirus-emergency-resources