Wellbeing for Everyone
We understand that you may be feeling worried or concerned. 
You are not on your own – we are all in this together.
Please find lots of information, support and activities for your mental and physical wellbeing below and read our wellbieng guides here:
Good Mental Health For Everyone
Looking After Mental Wellbeing & Stress
Guide To Wellbeing During COVID-19
Guide To Wellbeing During COVID-19 (longer version)
MindEd Resilience Hub
- A support hub has been launched by Health Education England: http://covid.minded.org.uk
- It is an evidence-based online resource which has been developed specifically for COVID-19
- It continues to be developed but there are some useful resources which can be accessed now
- The support is relevant to all so please pass on to anyone who may find it useful
Activities
Collage Starter Pack
GMMH Recovery Pathways
Creative Writing Starter Pack
GMMH Recovery Pathways
Drawing Starter Pack
GMMH Recovery Pathways
Seed Planting Starter Pack
GMMH Recovery Pathways
Websites and Apps
Boredom Busting Resources - Chatterbox
A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources
BBC Good Food
Taking care of your diet is important, check out these healthy storecupboard recipes for the whole family
BBC Wildlife Magazine
Full of articles, quizzes and activities
Birdwatching - Discover Wildlife
How it can improve your mental health and boost your wellbeing
Fender - free guitar lessons
For 3 months
Hopwood Hall College
Free online courses ranging from practical computer skills to self-development
Memrise and Duolingo
Free apps to learn a language
Self Isolating Guide for Outdoor and Adventure Lovers
Activity ideas including exercise, blogging and beach cleans
The Blurt Foundation
Coronavirus: Keeping Busy and Connected - things to do
The Royal Shakespeare Company via Marquee TV
Offering a 30 day free trial to watch performances online
Articles and Social Media
Discover the benefits of mindful baking and some quirky baking recipes from Great British Bake Off finalist Kim-Joy Hewlett.
If you’d like to learn how to cook, join @ruthslittlekitchen every Monday and Thursday at 10am for a free class.
Get crafty with 30 easy arts and crafts to do at home from website Gathered.
Other Resources
The Mental Health Foundation and WWF have joined forces to bring you Thriving With Nature; a free guidebook which explores the relationship between nature, wellbeing and mental health. Find out more here:https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/thriving-with-nature/guide
Exercise
buzz PARS (Physical Activity Referral Service)
During these uncertain time buzz’s physical activity referral service has set up a Facebook page to keep in contact with our service users at home.
PARS will be sharing short exercise videos & info to follow and keep active!
PE with Joe
Daily exercise videos with Bodycoach Joe Wicks.
5 Uplifting Body-Confidence Home Workouts
Five fitness instructors who put body-confidence and feeling good first
Family
-
buzz Health and Wellbeing Service - Start Well Develop Well - South Manchester
Covid-19 Support and Information
Download here: Covid19 Support and Information - buzz South Manchester.docx - Below is some guidance from The World Health Organisation followed by some documents with suggested activities to keep children busy.
Help children find positive ways to express disturbing feelings such as fear and sadness. Every child has his/her own way to express emotions. Sometimes engaging in a creative activity, such as playing, and drawing can facilitate this process. Children feel relieved if they can express and communicate their disturbing feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
Keep children close to their parents and family, if considered safe for the child, and avoid separating children and their caregivers as much as possible. If a child needs to be separated from his/her primary caregiver, ensure that appropriate alternative care is and that a social worker, or equivalent, will regularly follow up on the child. Further, ensure that during periods of separation, regular contact with parents and caregivers is maintained, such as twice-daily scheduled phone or video calls or other age-appropriate communication (e.g., social media depending on the age of the child).
The Government has compiled some useful advice and guidance - please click here
COVID19 how to support your children.pdf
Coronavirus-home-challenge for kids ELSA.pdf
keeping busy activities for kids self isolation.docx
- Perinatal Mental Health and COVID-19
Different resources and information related to pregnancy/mental health and COVID-19 pulled together by GMMH's Perinatal Champions Team:
Perinatal mental health and covid19.pdf
Cow and Gate Baby Club has produced some guidance to help ease parents' concerns around COVID-19 and also provide product availability information and answers to frequently asked questions around protecting your baby from getting coronavirus, pregnancy and breatfeeding.
www.cgbabyclub.co.uk/covid-19.html
Blog: Support when mums need it most - Perinatal mental health support during COVID-19 and beyond -
Helping Kids Cope With Covid-19 – Meet The Anti-Baddies!
Stockport-based business psychologist Matt Smeed has come up with super way to help children understand and combat Covid-19 by inventing a team of online heroes called the Anti-Baddies
After developing the toolkit for his own children, Matt went on to produce a unique and visually stunning online magazine. The colourful Anti-Baddies team includes: Limber Leopard, Brainy Bunny and Mindful Moggie. Each of the superheroes having a unique set of skills to help children build the mental and physical fitness they’ll need to cope with the challenges that all families are facing right now.
Since the launch of Anti-Baddies, people have also commented on how relevant the tips can be for adults as well. The toolkit includes a set of practical exercises that anyone can do to help build resilience and wellbeing in difficult times.
The Anti-Baddies toolkit is completely free and can be accessed here: https://www.sisupsychology.co.uk/introducing-the-anti-baddies/
Finance
Citizens Advice are available via the national phone service to offer you support and advice on a variety of topics including:-
- Paying your bills
- Going to work or what happens if you've been told to stay at home
- Can't pay your rent or mortgage
Call the national phone line on Adviceline: 03444 111 444
Adviceline's available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. For your local number visit:- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/if-youre-struggling-with-living-costs/
Government Business Support Helpline: 0300 456 3565
HMRC Coronavirus Tax Helpline: 0800 015 9559
School Closures Coronavirus Helpline: 0800 046 8687
Self Employment & Universal Credit
www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit
Universal Credit: 0800 328 5644
Employment & Support Allowance
www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance
Emergency Funding
www.stepchange.org/debt-info/emergency-funding.aspx
Wellbeing Wednesday Webinar Series focussing on Financial Health
The ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ webinar series will be at 12pm each week, covering the following topics:
- Wednesday 13 May – Everything those aged 30+ need to know about pensions
- Wednesday 20 May – Planning for ill health and death: Bereavement payments, estates, legacies, wills and power of attorney
- Wednesday 27 May – Financial awareness for high earners (£100k+)
- Wednesday 3 June – Making the most of salary sacrifice and staff benefits
- Wednesday 10 June – How coaching techniques can help you with your finances
Foodbanks
For a list of foodbanks by area, please visit our Support by Location pages:
Foodbanks in Bolton
Foodbanks in Manchester
Foodbanks in Salford
Foodbanks in Trafford
Mental Health Helplines
Whether you're concerned about yourself or a loved one, these helplines and support groups can offer expert advice.
LGBT Community Helplines and Resources.pdf
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation has temporarily shifted to a remote service.
Phone: 0345 3 30 30 30, Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm
Website: http://lgbt.foundation/coronavirus/remote-services
Men's Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org
PAPYRUS - HOPELINEUK
Young suicide prevention society. The helpline is targeted at:
- Children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide
- Anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide
Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (9am – midnight every day of the year - Weekends and Bank Holidays included)
Text: 07860 039 967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling)
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
Website: www.begambleaware.org
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
Website: www.ukna.org
Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.cruse.org.uk
Crime victims
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.victimsupport.org
Eating disorders
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
Learning disabilities
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Parenting
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)
Website: www.familylives.org.uk
Relationships
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
Website: www.relate.org.uk
Mental Health, Mindfulness and Meditation
Packs
Why Not Try Mindfulness Week 1.pdf
GMMH Recovery Pathways Service
The Little Book of Coping.pdf
Mind has put together the Little Book of Coping. This little book is designed to help with all those things and to support you in your role as a leader, colleague or friend
Thriving with Nature
The Mental Health Foundation and WWF have joined forces to bring you Thriving With Nature; a free guidebook which explores the relationship between nature, wellbeing and mental health.
Websites
42nd Street
Feeling stressed or down? Aged 13-25?
You can now access 42nd Street one-to-one support online.
Calm
The Calm app has made a selection of sleep stories and meditations available on its website for free.
Every Mind Matters - NHS
Create your own mind plan
Headspace
To help support you through this time, Headspace are offering some free meditations you can listen to anytime.
These are part of a larger collection in the Headspace app called Weathering the storm. It includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises.
Mind
Coronavirus and your wellbeing.
This includes information on staying at home or indoors, taking care of your mental health and wellbeing and a checklist for staying at home.
Samaritans
Practical ways to help yourself cope.
Information on what to do if you're feeling low or struggling to cope. Includes relaxation exercises.
The Blurt Foundation
The Coronavirus Helpful Hub includes resources on self care, anxiety and depression support and money advice.
Leaflets
Bipolar UK has produced this leaflet about staying well with bipolar during this difficult time.
Download here: bipolar and coronavirus information leaflet 1 April 2020.pdf
Articles and Social Media
8 Ways to Find Happiness in Uncertain Times
Article on 8 ways to boost your mood
13 wellbeing podcasts to lift your spirits
Listen to a wellbeing podcast
How to talk to young people about coronavirus
Article from Girlguiding
Sunshine Therapies (Instagram)
Offering a free live meditation session every morning at 7am
Videos
GM Moving
Join Eve Holt, Strategic Director of GM Moving, as she interviews people across the Greater Manchester ecosystem who have stories and tips to share on staying active, leading, learning and connecting during the COVID-19 crisis.
5 Ways to Wellbeing
The five ways to well-being is a way to reflect on our current situation and perhaps become aware of what’s helping or hindering our wellbeing. The five stages below will help you to work through this at your own pace, without any pressure.
Worksheet One
This information sheet will give you some ideas for things to do within each of the five ways to well-being:
Worksheet Two
This weekly diary will help you to monitor your activity day by day or reflect back over your previous week in relation to the 5 ways to wellbeing.
Worksheet Three
This weekly planner will help you to set out some activities for the upcoming week that can help you do more of the 5 ways to wellbeing.
Worksheet Four
This simple scaling sheet allows you to reflect on how much activity you are doing in each of the 5 ways to wellbeing.
Worksheet Five
This change planning worksheet will enable you to plan more effectively for any changes to your activity that you have identified.
Orcha - Your Health Finder App
We’ve reviewed thousands of apps, so you can find the best.
Visit: https://gmmh.orcha.co.uk/
Working From Home / Staying At Home
Tips for Working From Home
- It's not always as easy and straight forwards as it sounds, especially if you are a social creature and you now may have children and others around you too.
- Try to create a dedicated space for yourself to work from home.
- Keep structure in your day – get up, washed and dressed as normal and go out for a walk or start your day.
- Make sure you take regular breaks, and away from your working area.
- Try some 'desk yoga' to ensure you are moving and stretching a little.
Websites
Mental Health Foundation
Looking after your mental health while working during the coronavirus outbreak.
Every Mind Matters - NHS
Tips for staying at home
Articles
17 ways to practise self care when working from home
Article on adjusting to working from home
Video apps to stay connected
Stay connected during social distancing with video apps. We have compiled a list below of free to use apps that are available on IOS, Android, Windows and Mac systems.
For Big Groups
Meet - https://meet.jit.si/
Skype - www.skype.com/en/get-skype/
Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/
For Friends and Family
Facebook Messenger - www.messenger.com/
Google Hangouts - https://duo.google.com/about/
Houseparty - https://houseparty.com/
WhatsApp Messenger - www.whatsapp.com/download/
Also, you can video chat within Instagram in your direct messages.