The theme to this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 18 – Sunday 24 May) is kindness. Oxford City Council is marking it by thanking all those in our communities who show kindness to others.
In partnership with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, the council is also promoting the range of support available – whether that is practical support to help with the challenges of coronavirus, activities to keep well in body and in mind, through to more specialist advice and help with mental health. Posters and leaflets are being distributed, including in all food parcels sent out by the council to those in need.
Oxford City Council continues to operate its single point of contact for those needing practical help – from emergency food supplies, prescription deliveries to shopping.
Also, the online Activity Hub provides links to advice on exercise, mental health, volunteering, learning and cultural activities. The links have been chosen to offer a range of activities to suit different age groups, physical fitness and abilities.
In addition, it is promoting a new mental health helpline launched by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. This helpline makes it quicker and easier for people of all ages in Oxford to get the right advice they need for their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The helpline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people who need mental health care when their situation is not life threatening.
People can call the helpline when they need to find out when and where to get help and to access support from mental health professionals for a range of conditions and symptoms including anxiety, low mood, stress, worry, difficulty with relationships, crying often, feeling helpless, confusion, hallucinations or hearing voices.
“This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, a time to promote the range of support available. This is particularly relevant now when we have the additional anxieties caused by coronavirus, from isolation, job losses and new pressures on relationships.
“We continue to provide practical support, from food supplies to prescription deliveries. Also, to help people keep active in mind and body, our online Activity Hub has lots of ideas and resources. With some restrictions now lifted, safely getting exercise is so important.
“Given that the theme of this mental health awareness week is kindness, be kind to yourself – we all need to take care of ourselves at this time. Get out and enjoy nature, take a walk, take up a hobby – but also be kind to everybody else. Just a few kind words to somebody can make all the difference to how they’re feeling that day.”
Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Healthy Oxford, Oxford City Council
“When people need mental health care, support or advice they should call the 24/7 Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Helpline. Our trained mental health advisers will be able to make sure people get the care that is right for them.”
Rob Bale, Clinical Director for Mental Health in Oxfordshire at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
The helpline number for adults is 01865 904997. For children and young people the number is 01865 904998.
Oxford City Council continue to provide support, whether that is advice on benefits or housing, or practical help with food supplies, collecting shopping or prescriptions, or linking up with an Oxford Hub volunteer, contact 01865 249 811 or complete an online form.
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