We want to use this dedicated day to encourage people to start conversations and recognise the importance of seeking help.
With ever increasing pressures, including the cost of living crisis, people living across Lancashire and South Cumbria are being urged to take time to look after their mental health and prioritise their wellbeing.
Georgia Fifer, Deputy Team Leader of Talking Therapies comments:
“For us it’s really important that we recognise this day to continue raising awareness and to start important conversations.
Mental health problems exist in our lives, families, workplaces and communities, impacting everyone. We need to do as much as possible to prevent mental ill-health, as individuals and as a society.
Our Talking Therapies service is available to all adults over 16, we don’t have a typical service user as mental health can affect everyone at any time.”
Talking Therapies, previously known as Minds Matter, is a psychological therapy service offering a range of free talking therapies. The service can be assessed in person, online or telephone and specialises in psychological interventions to support people’s differing emotional needs including generalised anxiety, panic, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A service user who used the service earlier this year describes her experience:
“I first suffered from a panic attack at the age of 21, and since then I’ve continuously struggled with anxiety. I’ve always classed myself as a worrier, but after graduating things became worse and I begin to feel depressed and struggled to get out of bed and lost my appetite. I firstly visited my GP who suggested I refer myself to talking therapies alongside prescribing me anti-depressants.
At that point I didn’t refer myself but a few years later I finally plucked up the confidence to reach out to the service after hearing really positive feedback from other people and my only regret is that I wish I’d done it sooner.
I was instantly reassured by my therapist, my sessions are with a senior CBT therapist who helps me rationalise my worries and teaches me coping mechanisms. They make me feel at ease, are always professional and nothing ever seems too much hard work. I know I’m in a safe space where I can talk openly and freely without any judgement and I even enjoy the homework element where I put their teachings into practise.
I choose to have my sessions on video call in the comfort of my own home and they send me text reminders before each appointment, which is so useful for a busy full time worker like myself.”
Georgia continues:
“Our teams are made up of psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWP), cognitive behavioural therapists (CBT), counsellors, team leaders, and our supportive admin staff. A practitioner will always discuss the best options available for you during your initial telephone assessment.
Your GP can refer you to our service or you can self-refer online."
Georgia explains there are also things you can do at home to help manage anxious thoughts.
“If you find yourself feeling anxious, it is important to try and focus on the present moment. We are all guilty of worrying about future events but when these thoughts are consuming your mind, try to bring yourself back to the present.
You can practise mindfulness techniques, breathing exercises and speaking to people who you trust. Often starting a conversation is the first step to getting the extra help you might need.”
It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem. Protecting your mental health is just as essential as your physical health and talking openly about mental health issues can help break down barriers and help people understand just how common mental illness is. Normalising these, sometimes difficult conversations provides opportunities to correct misconceptions and empower individuals to ask for help when they need it.
Mental health support is available across Lancashire and South Cumbria from the Talking Therapies service.
