Winter can be a wonderful time, and our beautiful county still has lots to offer both indoors and outdoors during the colder months. It’s also a season that can pose some added challenges to our health and wellbeing as the temperatures drop – from extra bugs doing the rounds, to more slip and fall risks, difficulty staying warm at home, and impacts to our mood. Over winter it’s especially important we look after ourselves and those around us to help stay as well as we can. It’s also important to know what help and support is out there when we do need it, as there’s lots of places you can turn to.

With that in mind, here are some top tips to help you keep as well as possible in mind, body, and spirit over the winter, and where you can get extra support for your health and wellbeing.

Boost your immunity

Getting your vaccinations is one of the best things you can do to protect your health. If you’re in a priority group for the free flu and COVID-19 jabs but haven’t had them yet, do book once you’re invited by the NHS. Lots of people qualify for the free jabs, you can find out if you’re in a priority group on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website. If you aren’t eligible for the free flu jab, you can still pay for one at your local pharmacy.

Measles cases have risen recently so we’re encouraging everyone in East Sussex to check they’ve had the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) jab. Children and adults who have missed out can catch up with the jab at any time. Contact your GP practice if you haven’t had it yet.

Remember the simple things

Sometimes the simplest things can be the most effective. Regularly washing your hands with warm water and soap and catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue before binning it can reduce the spread of germs. If you don’t feel well, stay at home if you can.

Get the right care

Find out what NHS services are available locally, and how to get the right care at the right time for you on NHS Sussex web pages: Get the right care.

Keep warm at home

Keeping your home warm is important for your health, and it’s recommended you heat it to at least 18C over winter. Wearing several layers of thinner clothing can keep you warmer than one thicker layer, and you should check you have shoes that grip well to prevent falls if you go outside in cold weather. You can find lots more tips for staying warm and well on the Warm East Sussex website.

If you struggle to stay warm at home, you can contact the Warm Home Check Service for advice and support. Visit warmeastsussex.org.uk, text WARM to 80011, or call 0800 464 7307.

Help with anxiety, low mood and your mental health

From self care to urgent help in a crisis, there’s a range of mental health support available.

• Every Mind Matters offers simple steps to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing, including a personalised Mind Plan to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep and boost your mood to feel more in control: Every Mind Matters
• If you’re experiencing non-urgent symptoms of stress, anxiety, or low mood you can refer yourself to Health in Mind (the East Sussex NHS Talking Therapies Service) by visiting Health in Mind or by calling 0300 003 0130. Health in Mind is a free local NHS service offering a wide range of support including courses and 1:1 therapy for over 18s.
• The Sussex Mental Healthline offers crisis care for people in urgent need of help with their mental health. Call NHS 111 and select option 2 or call 0800 0309 500 (free phone). Hearing and speech impaired callers can text on 0300 5000 101.
• If you are in a mental health crisis or having suicidal thoughts, you can also phone Samaritans for free on 116 123.
• By texting the word SUSSEX to 85258, you can access a free, confidential, 24/7 service from Shout and have a text conversation with a trained volunteer. The volunteers offer real-time support if you are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed. You may prefer this to speaking on the phone.

You can find out more about the range of mental health services available locally in the East Sussex Mental Health Directory.

Keeping connected and getting involved

Meeting up with our friends and making new connections is essential for our personal wellbeing, as is spending time doing things we enjoy, but we know that it can feel more difficult than usual to get out and about at the moment. Luckily, there are lots of fun ways in East Sussex to feel more involved in our communities and connect with other people, many of them free and low-cost activities.

• Our 17 libraries are hubs of local activity, and they offer a range of free things to do. From author events to board games, help to use the internet, poetry readings, conversation groups and children’s rhymetime, there’s something for everyone. Feel free to come in, relax in the warm and find something that suits you. Connecting to knowledge and learning new things through libraries can also really boost our sense of wellbeing. And if you can’t get to your nearest library, there’s plenty of e-books, e-audio and e-magazine to access, or volunteers from the Home Library Service could come to you. Visit eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries, or phone 0345 60 80 196.
• If you would like to find a new activity or hobby, start doing something you enjoy again, the East Sussex Community Information Service (ESCIS) is a great way to discover what’s on in your area. Visit escis.org.uk or ask in your local library.
• Volunteering is also a great way to get involved and meet people. Tribe is a free app that connects people interested in volunteering with local organisations and their volunteering opportunities. Volunteering roles are regularly updated, and volunteers can choose to work in a way that suits their lifestyle, location, and skill. Find out more at eastsussex.gov.uk/tribe or download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
• You can sign up for a monthly email on what’s happening in East Sussex on the Your East Sussex website.

If you’re finding it hard to leave your home to access the community, or even to move around your home safely, you can get in touch with Health and Social Care Connect to find out how equipment and adaptations could help.

If transport is an issue, travelling around the county recently got a little bit easier with the new FlexiBus services, which run in places that either don’t have a bus service or very limited bus services. You can travel on Flexibus or any other local bus for free during off peak hours (after 9.30am on weekdays) if you are a concessionary bus pass holder. These are available to eligible older and disabled people. Find out if you are eligible and apply on the East Sussex County Council website. You can also phone 0300 33 09 471 or visit your local library to pick up an application form.

Support if you’re a carer

You’re a carer if you look after someone, it could be a friend, family member or neighbour who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction could not cope without your support. Whether you are new to caring or haven’t needed help before, please do consider getting in touch with local charity Care for the Carers. Their Carers Centre provides a one-stop shop for support, advice, and guidance to local carers. Visit their website cftc.org.uk, call them on 01323 738 390 from 10am to 5pm every weekday, email info@cftc.org.uk or text on 07860 077300.

Alongside a range of other support, Care for the Carers offers free counselling to support carers to cope with the emotional impact of their caring role.

Finding care, support and wellbeing services online

For an online directory of care, support and wellbeing services visit East Sussex 1Space. You’ll find information about residential services, care in the community, activities for the less active, support groups and organisations who can help with money and housing issues. Find what you need to live independently, safely and in good health at 1space.eastsussex.gov.uk.

Contacting adult social care

If you need to talk to someone about your care and support needs, you can get in touch with Health and Social Care Connect. Phone 0345 60 80 191 between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week including bank holidays, or email HSCC@eastsussex.gov.uk.

You can read more about HSCC in our recent feature on the service.