Tag Archives: Mental health

County Council celebrates ten years of East Sussex 1Space

In the same year that London hosted the Olympics and Curiosity Rover landed on Mars, East Sussex 1Space was launched by East Sussex County Council.

1Space is an online directory with a focus on care, support and wellbeing services for people who live in the county.

To mark the 10^th anniversary, the County Council is running a survey until 28 February 2023 that will inform and guide improvements to the site. If you can spare a few minutes, please answer five quick questions telling us what you think of East Sussex 1Space.

Since its launch in November 2012, 1Space has grown from small beginnings of around 700 entries to now include more than 2,000 services.

On 1Space you’ll find information about organisations and groups offering services to East Sussex residents, including:

food banks
organisations who can help with money and housing issues
mental health
residential services
care in the community
activities for the less active
support groups, and much more

In November 2021, 1Space expanded to include East Sussex Local Offer services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

County Council makes accessing cost-of-living resources easier with dedicated webpage

Accessing benefits and resources linked with rises in the cost of living has been made simpler following the launch of East Sussex County Council’s dedicated website page.

The ‘Support with the cost of living’ home page brings together key resources in one place to take the confusion out of finding advice, information and support to deal with increasing expenses.

Advice includes how to maximise benefits, tackle concerns around housing, pay essential bills, and gain access to mental health services to ease the worry this winter

The County Council’s ‘Support with the cost-of-living’ page assists people in the following areas:

Money, including help with benefits
Your mental health
Transport
Employment and learning
Your home

Learning Disability England also has accessible advice about saving money, keeping warm, grants and campaigns on its website.

How are you feeling?

Have you taken a moment recently to stop and check in on how you’re feeling? In the distraction of daily life, it can be easy to miss some of the signs our minds and bodies give us to slow down and take care of ourselves, or when things aren’t quite right.

COVID-19 has created range of reasons you may be feeling particularly low or worried at the moment. Worries about the virus, family members, work and money, as well as the impact of isolation, change and uncertainty have affected many of us lately. They might be having an impact for you too. Continue reading →

Looking after your mental health

The colder, darker winter months can be hard on our mental health. The winter blues, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), affects around 2 million people in the UK. Even if you don’t feel like you are struggling, it’s a good idea to take some simple steps to protect your mental health and make sure you are feeling your best:

Get outdoors – make the most of natural light by getting outside for at least half an hour a day and sitting close to windows when you are inside during the daytime.

Keep active – though you might struggle to motivate yourself, keeping active can be very effective in lifting your mood and increasing your energy levels. Even just an hour’s walk a day can make a big difference.

Keep warm – being cold has been shown to increase symptoms of depression. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food when the weather is chilly. Wear warm clothes and shoes, and aim to keep your home between 18C and 21C (or 64F and 70F degrees).

Eat healthily – if you are feeling down, you are more likely to reach for foods that are high in fat, carbohydrates and sugar. Try to balance your cravings with plenty of fruit and vegetables to boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter.

Stay social – It’s been shown that socialising is good for your mental health and helps ward off the winter blues. Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while.

If you are really struggling with your mental health this winter, seek help. Visit the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website for information on services that can support you or call the Sussex Mental Healthline on 0800 0309 500.

You can also find a directory of local mental health services on the East Sussex County Council website.

Getting help with your mental health

The impact and experience of the past 18 months has been difficult for us all. That’s why it’s so important to look after our mental health and wellbeing.

Every Mind Matters has launched a new campaign to support the nation’s mental wellbeing. The campaign shows the little things we can all do and how these can make a big difference; helping us to lead happier, healthier lives and cope with life’s challenges.

By answering five simple questions online, you’ll get a personalised mental health action plan with practical tips for helping deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood, sleep better, and feel more in control.

Visit Every Mind Matters to see what works for you.

Find information on more mental health resources on the Your East Sussex website, including ten top tips for mental health and wellbeing from the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and where to turn if you need urgent support.

Don’t wait to seek support for your mental health

Health in Mind is the free NHS Talking Therapies service for people experiencing emotional stress and symptoms of anxiety or low mood.

We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, and struggling from time to time is common and perfectly normal.

Worries about coronavirus, family members or money, as well as the impact of isolation have affected many people in our community and might be having an impact for you.

We know that at mild levels, symptoms can be hard to spot. Here are few examples of reasons a referral to Health in Mind could make a huge difference: Continue reading →

Helping family and friend carers take care of their own mental health

Senior psychologists are encouraging family and friend carers across Sussex to look after their own mental health during the coronavirus crisis – and offering advice and guidance to help them.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – which provides specialist mental health and learning disability services in Sussex and Hampshire – has published information and support for family and friend carers so they can manage the way they are feeling, particularly if they are not receiving the usual everyday support because of the current crisis. Continue reading →

Mental health resources and support

Knowing where to get mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic is really important. Many people will want to know how to maintain good mental health, or be worried about their own mental health or the mental health of someone close to them. Fortunately, there is a range of support available you can access to support mental wellbeing. Continue reading →

Helping people take care of their mental health during the coronavirus outbreak

Senior psychologists from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are offering advice and guidance to help people take care of their mental health during the coronavirus crisis – and beyond.

The Trust, which provides specialist mental health and learning disability services in Sussex and Hampshire, has published information and support to make sure people can help manage the way they are feeling in what are difficult and challenging times for everyone. Continue reading →

Wellbeing drop-in service now open to even more young people in East Sussex

Young people in East Sussex who need help with mental health, wellbeing, housing, employment, education and more can now access support from the award-winning i-Rock service in Newhaven and Eastbourne. Continue reading →