MENTALLY HEALTHY COMMUNITY PAGE - MH&WB

Our activity at College starts to get quieter at this time of year, and Winter Break can be both a welcome relaxation and an unusual time of the year. Your wellbeing might be affected by this happening around you. It's a time of year that often puts extra pressure on us, and can affect our mental health in lots of different ways.

In this section we are sharing key supports and tips to maintain good wellbeing during this time.

There are five steps we can all take to protect and look after our mental wellbeing. They are called the Five Ways to Wellbeing. Here are some winter themed ideas for everyone during Winter Break:

There are many helplines and support available over the Winter Break including mental health support and for food and social needs. For a list of helplines, text message services and crisis messengers look here:

MH&WB: Helpines and orgs (west-lothian.ac.uk)

Over winter  if you need urgent support but don't want to go to A&E, you could:

• Contact NHS 111.
• Contact your local crisis team (CRHT), if you're under their care.
• Contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. Note: GP surgeries are closed on Bank Holidays but, if you phone your nearest surgery, the answering machines will usually give you advice on how to get hold of an out-of-hours doctor.
• Call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email them on jo@samaritans.org – they're always open and are there to listen.

Here is a poster from our Students Association with key contacts for support:

Remaining active within your abilities can be really helpful for mental and physical health. Remember not to push yourself too hard, and try to have fun with your activity. To build your own '12 Days of Fitness routine' think of 12 different exercises you feel able to do. There is a guide here: 12 Days of Fitness : NCHPAD - Building Healthy Inclusive Communities

Here is a Christmas Family Dance Workout, if you like cheesy songs: 

Try to take some time to be present and notice the things around you. Whether that's coseying up under a blanket with a candle on and noticing it's warm flicker or having a break from social media and technology.

Try some different types of meditation: 

More affordable winter recipe ideas from Delicious magazine: 62 Budget winter recipes - delicious. magazine (deliciousmagazine.co.uk)

Interesting podcast about Victorian Christmas: BBC Radio 4 - You're Dead To Me, The Victorian Christmas

Winter Break, and Christmas for those who celebrate, is a hard time of year for lots of people, for many different reasons. It can make existing problems feel worse, and add new ones. Please look after yourselves after this winter break, use strategies to keep yourselves well and reach out for support if needed.

Support for Learning will be back WORKING FROM HOME on JANUARY 6TH 2022. If you don't already have a contact, please email supportlearning@west-lothian.ac.uk and we will get in touch with you ASAP after this date.