20052021

Thursday, May 20, 2021 21

Newbury Weekly News

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Mental Health Awareness

Greenham Trust and West Berkshire Council mental health fund Looking after your mental health and wellbeing Getting help and support for your mental health in West Berkshire Mental health projects in West Berkshire already supported by the fund include: n £8,131.20 for Parenting Special Children for one-to- one support for families where one or more children has a disability. n £6,000 for Berkshire Vision to support its Doorstep initiatives to help to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on mental health and wellbeing in West Berkshire. If you want to find new ways to keep your mind healthy and enhance your wellbeing, Every Mind Matters provides simple steps we can all take to look after our mental health

MENTAL health and wellbeing is about how we think, feel and act. It is linked to how we handle stress, and relate to others. For some people, mental health can be about having a mental health condition that affects thinking, mood and behaviour. People who experience mental health problems are more likely to have poorer physical health, have fewer qualifications and find it harder to get or keep a job, poorer social skills, lower household income, higher rates of anti-social behaviour, higher levels of health risky behaviour – such as smoking, substance abuse or unwanted pregnancy – a higher risk of self-harm and suicide. Although some mental health conditions are caused by biological factors, such as

IF you have experienced any of the following – changes in sleeping patterns, increased or reduced appetite, difficulty in concentrating, feeling restless, feeling lonely, increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs – you might find it helpful to get support. Greenham Trust and West Berkshire Council have partnered to create a fund to support organisations that provide services for mental health and wellbeing. Launched in February to date £62,360 has already been distributed through the ‘Surviving to Thriving’ mental health fund to a range of organisations working hard to support vulnerable groups needing particular help due to the pandemic, lockdown and easing of restrictions.

Befriending volunteer scheme n £2,000 for Newbury Family Counselling Service to pay for additional staffing n £9,401.50 to Fair Close Centre to pay for a new post for six months which will focus on outreach to vulnerable elderly citizens n £7,593.50 for Eight Bells for Mental Health to fund a new part-time administrator in the context of growing and more organisations operating in West Berkshire can apply here: https://greenhamtrust. com/surviving-to-thriving- west-berks-covid-19-mental- health-fund/ Grants of between £500 to £30,000 are available to support activities (possibly online), fund one-off purchases or set up new complex demand Any not-for-profit

and be better prepared for life’s ups and downs. It will also help you to look after the people you care about. Find out more here: https://www. nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/ You can create a free personalised action plan, designed to help you deal with stress, boost your mood, improve your sleep and feel in control. Provide support to friends and family who might not be feeling themselves at the moment. You can reassure your loved one that it’s OK to ask for help and that help is out there. Find mental health support for yourself or others on the West Berkshire Directory. You might also find it helpful to talk to your GP or Talking Therapies.

genes or brain chemistry, others are caused by life experiences, such as trauma or abuse, family history of mental health problems. The coronavirus pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental health and wellbeing of some West Berkshire residents. Anxiety and fear about coronavirus, uncertainty about the future, the impact on daily lives and livelihoods, changing restrictions and much that is outside our own control. Although the measures in place to limit the spread of the virus are lifting, the ongoing uncertainty about what’s coming next could be affecting your mental health and wellbeing or the mental

health of people you care about. Trends are emerging from 2020-21 which underline the need. For example, the Disabled Children’s Partnership, in a survey of 4,000 UK families led by Mencap, have found that in 76 per cent of cases, the vital care and support they relied on had stopped altogether, leaving parents and young siblings taking on all care responsibilities around the clock. And a survey of 16,000 people by Mind found that 72 per cent of young people and 42 per cent of people aged 65+ said loneliness made their mental health worse due to the pandemic.

DONATE: Help more charitable organisations like these by giving what you can to our ‘Surviving to Thriving’ fundraising appeal for West Berkshire here: https://thegoodexchange.com/survivingtothriving APPLY: Apply for a Surviving to Thriving’ charitable grant here: https://greenhamtrust.com/surviving-to-thriving- west-berks-covid-19-mental-health-fund/

“The ‘Surviving to Thriving’ grant will enable us to help more parents to overcome their worries, anxieties, relationship difficulties, depression, etc. and to improve their emotional well-being and confidence so they can enjoy their parenting role and family life”. Rosemary Lilley, Manager, Newbury Family Counselling Service.

We are delighted to receive this funding which will make a huge difference to our ability to support people with sight loss across West Berkshire who are also struggling with their mental health. The grant will enable us to provide 1:1 support from trained volunteers to help re-engage them confidently with some of the simple things they used to love such as visiting a favourite café. Laura Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, Berkshire Vision

Due to the impact of COVID-19 and especially the stress caused by isolation during lockdown, Eight Bells for Mental Health has seen a large increase in people needing support over the past year. This funding will support our work and enable us to carry on meeting the needs of local people whose lives are affected by mental health issues. Kathryn Dundas, Coordinator, Eight Bells for Mental Health.