Wellbeing and Support

During social distancing and self-isolation, it is really important to take care of your own wellbeing, as well as the people in your home. We have put together some resources you may want to use to talk to someone if you are struggling and to keep busy.

Wellbeing Tips

Self-care is just as important as caring for someone else. Every Mind Matters have created a quick five question quiz to get top tips and advice for you to look after your mental health and wellbeing based on your lifestyle. Take the quiz to get a personalised plan on caring for your mental health and wellbeing!

Apps to keep calm

There are lots of free apps you can download on your mobile or tablet to increase your wellbeing. Here’s a list of our favourites:

Yoga Studio: Mind & Body Practise relax & workout daily	iPhone	Android
Headspace: Meditation & Sleep Stress relief: breathe, focus	iPhone	Android
The Mindfulness App Meditation for everyone	iPhone	Android
Calm – Meditation and Sleep Meditation and Sleep Stories	iPhone	Android
Omvana – Meditation for All Meditate, Sleep and Relax	iPhone	Android
Pause: daily mindfulness Focus, Energy & Clarity	iPhone	Android
Noisli Health & Fitness	iPhone	Android
Resilio: Breathe Relax Sleep Technology Enhanced Breathing	iPhone	Android

Support Helplines

If you or someone you know is in need of urgent support please use these helplines via phone, email and text:

Mind: Call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Samaritans: Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Surrey County Council Helpline: Call 0300 200 1008 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm)

Click here to see public guidance from GOV.UK on taking care of your mental health and wellbeing.

Keeping Busy

Finding things you enjoy doing helps pass the time when you are indoors. Why not spring clean your home or wardrobe, ready to give your unwanted goods to Mind Woking charity shop.

You could take a look at Marie Kondo on YouTube. Marie is a tidying expert, bestselling author, star of Netflix’s hit show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”. Discover the life-changing magic of tidying up!

With lots of spare time at home, now could be the perfect time to learn a new skill! Why not try learning British Sign Language online at your own pace with these free classes, or Makaton with hundreds of videos on YouTube to learn from.

You could also learn a new language with the Duolingo app available on Apple and Android.

Have a passion for singing? Join the online group the Sofa Singers! A free & weekly online singing event that aims to bring people together from around the world to spark joy and human connection.

It is really important to keep in contact with your friends and families, video calling is a great way to feel like you are with someone. You can use lots of video calling tools such as Skype, WhatsApp and on Facebook Messenger, as well as a great app called Houseparty, available on Apple and Android for group calls and to play games with each other.

Healthy Living

Exercise gives you energy, it lifts your mood and mental health making you feel great! You can find lots of free and accessible classes on YouTube no matter your fitness level.

Join The Body Coach, Joe Wicks on YouTube for his famous daily PE classes. Subscribe to his channel to take part! Keep an eye out on Facebook and Instagram for live workouts taking place too.

Take a look at Get Active Your Way by the NHSfor ideas on exercise for adults, disabled people, elderly people, young children, families and more!

Surrey Choices staff can access discounts through Perkbox on a range of fitness classes. Click here to see what is currently on offer. Take a look at more tips from Healthy Surrey here.

Healthy Eating

It can be difficult to eat well during times of anxiety or stress, try to keep to a healthy eating and fitness routine to keep lifting your wellbeing and make your body feel good.

A healthy diet can help keep your immune system working well – so it’s a great time to enjoy eating a range of healthy foods and enjoying making delicious food for yourself. If you need any inspiration, search for tasty recipes on the British Heart Foundation’s reci pe finder.

Here are some other websites to look for delicious and healthy meals:

Carer Support

During this time, it’s important to know what support is available to you as a carer and those you look after. The Carers UK website provides information and support for carers.

The Carers Trust website provides information on looking after yourself and the person you care for during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation if you are a young carer or young adult carer.

Suicide Prevention

The Business in the Community Suicide Prevention toolkit to help senior leads, line managers, HR and occupational health professionals identify staff members who may have suicidal feelings and gives practical advice on how to deal with a crisis situation.

The Business in the Community also have a Crisis Management in the event of a suicide: A postvention toolkit for employers. This is designed to support employers in their response to a suicide of an employee, at work or outside the workplace.

Bereavement Support

During a pandemic, the way of honouring people who have died will be different to normal due to gathering restrictions. This may make it harder than it normally would be when losing someone. Sudden support people after sudden deaths and have provided specific support for this time.

Dying Matters have produced a range of specific resources to help people have conversations about dying, death and bereavement. They are downloadable documents which can help you if you need it.

Read this document about Cruse Bereavement and supporting bereaved people.