Mental health and wellbeing resources
Conversation starters
Anyone can struggle with mental health, no matter their age, gender, job etc. and the signs that someone is struggling may not always be obvious. It can sometimes feel scary to start a conversation about mental wellbeing, especially if you think you do not have the skills. However, it is important to start conversations with the people around you about mental health and wellbeing to check in and destigmatise mental health conditions and problems. Promoting a positive, open atmosphere can greatly benefit the people around you – whether that be at work, school, home or elsewhere.
Remember, there is no perfect way to start a conversation about someone’s wellbeing. Being non-judgemental, kind and empathetic is key and no one expects you to be an expert, nor do you need to be one to help someone who is experiencing negative mental health.
Ask open questions like:
“How are you today?”
“I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed yourself lately, how are you feeling?”
Remember to ask twice if necessary
'Ask twice' was a message by the ‘Time to Change’ campaign. Remember to always ask twice( illustrated in these short clips below).
Quick access starter kits
These kits give you ideas and prompts to start conversations about mental health with the people around you. They are particularly useful if you feel someone is struggling right now.
Mind
Mind has a variety of articles and resources to help build your confidence in starting mental health conversations with people around you. With useful ideas and prompts to help start conversations, the resources include ‘how you can be supportive to others’, ‘helping someone to seek help’, and a range of information to help people with a more specific mental health condition or issue.
Samaritans
The Samaritans have a page on how to support someone you're worried about. Although mainly a suicide prevention charity, the site provides clear, practical guidance on how to approach a conversation with someone you’re concerned about. It also covers helping someone get support, how to be a better listener and looking after yourself.
Movember Conversations
The Movember website provides a useful system to help you start conversation with men about their mental health. It gives you options to pick from to help you know where to begin. These are ‘I need to practice having the conversation with him’, ‘I need help asking him what's going on’ and ‘I need help getting him to open up.’
Mental Health UK
This site unites four UK mental health charities and provides a huge range of resources. Visit the site below to access and download useful quick conversation starter kits including 'The Stress Bucket' and 'Conversation Guide: Talking to Someone about Mental Health'.
Talking about mental health at work
Training
Warrington Borough Council – MECC for Mental Health
Warrington Borough Council provide MECC ‘Make Every Conversation Count’ training to help improve effective conversations around mental health. This training can be booked via the Warrington Training Hub and is free for frontline workers and volunteers from not-for-profit organisations. If you do not qualify under this criteria then charges do apply, more information can be found on the Hub.
Information about other free online, public health training sessions can be found on Warrington Training Hub.
Warrington CAMHS
Warrington Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) run a number of online training sessions. For example, ‘Understanding Anxiety in Children & Young People’. The training is for staff who work directly with children and young people, within Warrington. (E.g. teachers, SENCOs, teaching assistants, family support workers, youth workers, voluntary sector workers, school nurses and health visitors.
Places need to be booked via the online booking system - Warrington Training Hub. If you’re not yet registered on Warrington Training Hub, then you’ll need to register before you can book a training place. If you're a teacher or work in a school, please ask your school office staff to book you a place. All school admin/business managers are registered to book staff on to training via Warrington Training Hub.
If you have any queries please email [email protected].
Next Step Cards training offer – for anyone who cares for children and young people
Next Step is designed to support anyone who cares for children and young people. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, mental health professional or commissioner of health and social care services, Next Step is a tool that helps young people to communicate on their own terms, in their own environment.
Created by both young people and mental health experts, the colourful toolkit provides the perfect platform to enable safe and structured conversations with young people who may be struggling with their emotional health and wellbeing.
There are fully funded places for Next Step Cards training across the borough of Warrington. This is a wonderful goal based outcome rescoure used to engaged and empower children and young people.
If you have an queries please email [email protected]
FutureLearn
This website brings together a wide range of free, online mental health and wellbeing courses. The courses, which have been developed by universities across the world, generally run for several sessions, over a number of weeks. They are aimed at a broad range of people including the general public, health and social care workers, teachers and academics.
The site includes the courses COVID-19: Psychological First Aid and Psychological First Aid: Supporting Children and Young People. These courses were developed by Public Health England and are aimed at frontline workers.
Living Life to the Full
The LLTTF’s website offers free, online, life-skills courses. The courses, which are based on cognitive behavioural therapy, aim to help people manage issues such as stress, worry or low mood. Free booklets and a range of worksheets can also be downloaded from the site – these are useful for those who are concerned about someone else as well as the person themselves.
MindEd
The MindEd website provides free e-learning resources on mental health and wellbeing. The e-learning is aimed at the general public, volunteers, professionals and students.
Families
The resources for families focus on children, young people and older people. The site aims to help people understand what problems can occur, what self-help approaches might work and what support is available.
Volunteers, professionals and students
MindEd's e-learning is relevant across health, social care, education, criminal justice and community settings. It's aimed at anyone from beginner, to specialist. The modules cover the health of infants, children, teenagers and adults.
Public mental health
In May 2020 a public mental health e-learning session was launched. The session is aimed at people working in public health, primary care, secondary mental health, social care and commissioning. The module outlines the impact of mental health problems, mental wellbeing, and public health interventions.
The Open University
The Open University offers a number of free, online courses relating to mental health and wellbeing. These range from introductory to advanced and take between two and eighteen hours to complete. Some of the courses have a particular target audience, others would be relevant to a wide range of people.
Samaritans
'Wellbeing in the Workplace' is a free, online learning programme, which teaches employees the skills to look after their own emotional health. It also covers looking out for others and helping people find support, well before they reach crisis point.
You'll need to create an account and sign in, to access the training. Then you'll be able to complete it at your own pace.
Campaigns & resources
World Mental Health Day
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10th October every year.
World Mental Health day is a chance for everybody to talk about mental health and emphasise how important it is to reach out if you’re struggling. Each year, World Mental Health Day has a different theme.
For more information on how to get involved, visit:
- World Mental Health Day - Mind
- World Mental Health Day 2023 (who.int)
- World Mental Health Day 2023 | Mental Health Foundation
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW)
The Mental Health Foundation is the home of MHAW which takes place in May every year with a different theme each year. In 2024, the week runs 13-19 May, theme to be confirmed.
Children’s Mental Health Week
Children’s Mental Health Week takes place in February every year with a different theme each year. The aim of the week is to help make a difference to the lives of children and young people across the UK.
Anti-Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day
Anti-Bullying Week 2023 will take place from Monday 13th - Friday 17th November. The theme is Make A Noise About Bullying.
Odd Socks Day provides an opportunity in your school to have fun, be yourself, and spread awareness of the core values Anti-Bullying Week promotes.
School resources from Anti-Bullying Alliance: Everything you need to make Anti-Bullying Week happen in your schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. All provided free of charge. Resources include both primary and secondary school packs.
Resources
REACH, crisis text support
Cheshire and Merseyside Health Care Partnership currently commission the SHOUT Text service. Shout provides free, 24/7, text support to anyone who’s feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope, children, young people and adults. Read more about the support available from the text service.
Each provider Trust across Cheshire and Merseyside is using a different keyword which people in crisis can text to Shout. This will put them in contact with a trained volunteer, who will offer crisis support. People in Warrington, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton can access the service by texting “REACH” to 85258.
Social media tiles
You can download social media tiles to promote the crisis text service, from the links below.
Download social media tiles, to promote the crisis text service on Facebook:
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Download social media tiles, to promote the crisis text service on Instagram:
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Download social media tiles, to promote the crisis text service on Twitter:
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Visit the I need help right now page for details of the range of support available to someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
Better Health
Healthy changes start with little changes. The Better Health campaign provides lots of free tools and support to help you to become physically healthy by:
- Losing weight
- Getting active
- Quitting smoking
- Drinking less alcohol.
Taking care of your physical health can improve your mood and mental wellbeing. You can download free digital resources, to promote the Every Mind Matters campaign, from the Department of Health & Social Care Campaign Resource Centre. The materials include digital resources for print and resources for sharing on social media.
Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters, is a national mental health campaign. You can download free digital resources, to promote the Every Mind Matters campaign, from the Department of Health & Social Care Campaign Resource Centre. The materials include digital resources for print and resources for sharing on social media.
We are Undefeatable
This campaign aims to encourage people with long term health conditions to be more physically active. You can order free campaign resources (hard copies and downloadable electronic resources) from the Department of Health & Social Care Campaign Resource Centre. A number of the resources focus on the benefits of physical activity for someone experiencing depression and anxiety. The campaign was developed by Sport England along with 15 health and social care charities.
Support for front line workers
Visit our support directory (and filter 'frontline workers') for the details of local and national support services for front line workers. You can also search the support directory and use the filters to find the right support (for either yourself or someone you are working with).
Physical health resources for health professionals
Rethink Mental Illness
A range of free resources to help health professionals address the physical health needs of people with mental health problems.
Mental health resources
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England – My Whole Self
Join the campaign for workplace culture change. In this day and age, we shouldn't have to leave parts of our identity behind - be that our cultural or ethnic background, gender identity, sexuality, disability or health - when we work. Wherever you are working from, feeling supported to bring your whole self to work is better for wellbeing and better for business. Find out more about how you or your organisation can get involved with My Whole Self.
Mental health information in translation
The following sites have information about a range of mental health problems or treatments, in a number of different languages:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
This link lists a number of languages and the range of mental health information which is available in each. - The NHS website
This website has links to health information in a range of languages. Some of the resources listed, relate to mental health and wellbeing.
Signposting or referring C&YP into services
Take a look at our support directory for children and young people.
In addition to the services listed within the service directory, you might also want to look at Special educational needs and disability (SEND) for further information and support.
Chathealth Warrington local service resources
ChatHealth is a secure text messaging service for young people (up to the age of 19), parents and carers. The service can provide information, advice and support on a wide range of health and wellbeing issues. You can find resources (including posters and social media posts), to promote ChatHealth.
Resources for C&YP and the adults who support them
This is a list of sites which offer free resources relating to children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. Some are aimed directly at young people, others are designed for schools, parents and carers, or staff supporting young people. The links are to resources, rather than support services. For a list of support services for children and young people, visit the support directory.
Resources, fact sheets and leaflets
Free resources, fact sheets and leaflets relating to young people's mental health, can be downloaded from the following sites. These resources are aimed at young people, parents, carers and staff working with young people, and some are specifically designed for schools.
- Better Health, Every Mind Matters – National campaign resources
- Every Mind Matters – Resources for schools
- Living Life to the Full – CBT based worksheets
- PAPYRUS Help & advice Resources page
- Royal College of Psychiatrists – Non-medical information for parents, carers and young people on a wide range of issues
- Anna Freud -
- Schools in Mind – Leaflets and booklets to download for free for children and young people, parents, carers and teachers
- Mentally Healthy Schools - A free website for all primary, secondary and FE settings across the UK. It offers school staff and parents & carers, information, advice and practical resources to better understand and promote pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.
- Young Minds - Resources section on the site has a page with booklets and leaflets relating to children and young people's mental health which can be downloaded for free.
- PHE School Zone - lesson plans
- Children’s Mental Health Week
- Mental Health First Aid - Free mental health resources for parents, carers and staff who work with young people aged 8-24
- Mental Health Foundation – ‘Make it Count’ campaign guides for pupils, parents and teachers:
- PAPYRUS Suicide Prevention – Prevention specially for schools
- #SavetheClass campaign: This aims to raise awareness of the issue of suicide in schoolchildren; and to highlight what can be done to help prevent young suicide.
- Building Suicide-Safer Schools and Colleges, a guide for teachers and staff (PDF): The purpose of the guide is to help equip teachers with skills and knowledge to support young people who may be having suicidal thoughts.
- Samaritans’ Step by Step
- Samaritans’ DEAL (Developing Emotional Awareness and Listening).
Talks in schools
Samaritans' volunteers from local branches are sometimes available to visit schools to talk to pupils. The talks can be about Samaritans, or about emotional health. Your local contact is Warrington, Halton & St Helen’s Samaritans Tel. 01925 235000
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