Celebrating World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day takes place annually on 10 October. The theme for this year, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'mental health is a universal human right'.
On World Mental Health Day we want to raise awareness of mental health and ensure you know where to find the support you need. Further down on this web page are resources you can use to support your mental health in everyday life, on a stressful day or if you are feeling low or anxious.
Events
The following events are taking place around Waltham Forest on World Mental Health Day, Tuesday 10 October:
Libraries World Mental Health Day Arts and Crafts
Get creative at a free Tree of Life craft event at your local library. Suitable for ages 5+.
- Chingford Library, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
- Higham Hill Library, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
- Hale End Library, 4pm to 5pm
- Wood Street Library, 4pm to 5pm
- Lea Bridge Library, 4pm to 5pm
Mental Health Service Fair: Leytonstone Library, 1pm to 5pm
Chat with Waltham Forest's friendly mental health professionals, organised by NHS NELFT (north-east London's provider of mental and community health services). From Talking Therapies to Wellness teams (and many more), find out more about what's on offer in your local area. For more info, contact: Nicholas.Bertram@nelft.nhs.uk.
Walthamstow Wetlands Guided Walk (organised by the Wildlife Trust): Wetlands, 11am to 3pm
Join the Wildlife Trust for a gentle stroll around the Wetlands. Talk about the importance of nature for mental wellbeing and use mindfulness techniques to ground ourselves in the present and immerse ourselves in nature. More info
Mental Health support available in Waltham Forest
If you are feeling low, stressed or struggling with anxiety, we want to remind you that support is available and that you’re not alone.
Five ways to wellbeing
Evidence suggests there are simple things you can do in your everyday life to boost your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these seemingly small actions could help you feel more positive, especially during difficult times, and able to get the most out of life.
These actions can be summarised as:
- Connect
- Learn
- Be physically active
- Take notice
- Volunteer/give back to the community
Visit the Five Ways to Wellbeing section of our website to learn more about the campaign and how you can take these steps in Waltham Forest.
Therapy or Counselling
If you feel like you could benefit from a therapy service, the first step is to speak to your GP, who will know what’s available locally and can help you decide which treatment is best for you.
Learn more about therapy and counselling in Waltham Forest
You may also be able to self-refer for counselling or therapy by contacting the service directly yourself. Find your local psychological therapies (IAPT) service.
Good Thinking
Good Thinking is a digital service that can help you look after your mental health and wellbeing in a way that works for you. It can help tackle anxiety, stress, low mood sleep problems and other concerns.
Start your journey with Good Thinking.
Cost of living support
We know many of our residents are feeling worried about their finances, which causes them a lot of anxiety.
If you’re struggling to make ends meet at this time and you feel you need extra support to help you during this difficult time, whatever your specific challenges or needs, we’re here to help.
Cost of Living support in Waltham Forest.
Young men and mental health
- 74 percent of deaths by suicide in 2021 were men.
- Men are also less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36 per cent of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men.
- Men are more likely to use alcohol and drugs to cope with their depression rather than talk about it and make up over 75 percent of people with substance misuse disorders.
These issues typically begin in early adulthood and can have a negative effect on education and employment. It is therefore important for young men to access mental health support and resources in early life. This can make a real difference to young people's and adults' health and well-being.
Talking about your problems with someone you trust, one of your mates, a teacher, or maybe one of your School Mental Health Ambassadors, can be the first step towards feeling better. However, we know that sometimes talking to a stranger might feel easier, if this is the case the resources below can help.
Kooth
Kooth provides free online mental health and wellbeing support to young people in Waltham Forest aged 11-25 years old. Young people can register anonymously and access online counselling 365 days a year, digital magazines, wellbeing activities, and connect with other young people. Professional counsellors are also available for one-to-one chat sessions from 12 noon until 10pm on weekdays and 6pm until 10pm on weekends.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
CALM helpline and webchat are open 365 days a year, offering practical suggestions for all of life’s problems - whether that’s anxiety, relationship concerns, health worries, money worries or suicidal thoughts. CALM staff answer a call every 59 seconds - they listen, talk and help people struggling with life to make a plan so they can begin to look to the future.
For urgent Mental Health support
If you need mental health advice or are feeling particularly low, help is available even if services seem busy at the moment.
Find your local NHS mental health support helpline that can provide you with 24-hour advice and support – for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for. If you live in Waltham Forest, our partner at NELFT have set up a new Mental Health Direct number. If you're in a crisis and don't know what to do, dial 0800 995 1000
Other resources
- Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 mental health support at Shout.
- Call 116 123 for Samaritans 24/7 suicide prevention helpline.
- Call the Papyrus’s Hopeline UK 0800 068 4141, 9am-midnight every day of the year for confidential suicide prevention and mental health support for young people.
If your life is at imminent risk, please call the emergency services on 999.
Tools for professionals
Mental Health service Kooth have provided the following free resources and webinars for anyone working with young people:
- Talking to young people about mental health: Five top tips for talking with your young people about mental health.
- Lived experience content to support Black and Black mixed race young people: Take a look at our spotlighted articles of the month about experiencing difficulties around colourism and navigating being mixed heritage.
- How Kooth and Qwell provide mental health support for LGBTQ+ identities
- How Kooth and Qwell support diverse identities
- Kooth and Qwell: suicide prevention and awareness
Kooth Talks webinar aimed at parents and carers: