NHS Lanarkshire has launched a new website offering tips and support to help people cope with mental health.
The new Lanarkshire Mind Matters website aims to help people with anxiety, depression and sleep issues by offering free resources.
Dr Gary Tanner told us that the website provides links to self-help for problems including anxiety, depression and panic, as well as a range of free online therapy courses and information.
NHS Lanarkshire's director of psychological services added: “People can also access ‘Calm Distress’ – a new online therapy course, designed for people aged 16 and over to help with stress, anxiety, emotions, wellbeing.
"The idea is simple: to provide high-quality, evidence-based therapeutic ideas in a way that anyone with an internet connection can access. The course is made up of pre-recorded videos, plus downloadable material.
“Over five friendly sessions, Calm Distress will guide people through ways by which they can open up to day-to-day stress, recognise their warning signs, and learn new ways to cope.
“Each Calm Distress video is about 20 minutes long, giving you lots of useful information in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
“You can watch the videos in any order you like, depending on what you want to focus on – for example difficult thoughts or feelings – and you can keep going back to them any time.”
He continued: “There are also booklets to go alongside the videos, which you can download and dip into if you like. We’ve designed it so you can do what you feel works for you, whenever you want.”
“Calm Distress is another major step forward in our digital development. Covid-19 has highlighted the need to do things differently, and our staff have been working tirelessly to develop new ideas.”
He added: “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to access help and advice that they can put into practice straight away. Calm Distress will be of potential benefit to thousands of people, both now and in future.
“Since it started, hundreds of people from across Lanarkshire have benefited from Calm Distress.
“Psychological Services also continue to offer assessment and treatment to patients using telephone, video, and outpatient clinic consultations.”
There is a range of resources and support offered through the website including ‘calm distress therapy courses’ which helps people learn new ways to cope with their own emotions and improve individual wellbeing.
There is also advice on how to cope with psychological wellbeing during the pandemic, a range of support is available to help people adjust and adapt to pandemic life.
A range of online cognitive behavioural therapy courses are also available to combat a range of issues, those include: SilverCloud, Beating The Blues and Daylight and Sleepio.
The SilverCloud courses aim to help with a range of problems, including physical health difficulties with the concept to teach strategies to manage emotions.
Beating The Blues is an eight-session course that can help with anxiety and depression, to take part in this course, you must be referred by a professional.
The Daylight and Sleepio course offers two online programmes to provide help for anxiety, worry and issues with sleeping.
Individual and group therapy is offered by the Adult Psychological Therapies Team and there is specialist psychological services for older people and people with learning disabilities, referrals these teams are made by professionals.
The new website also offers a range of tips on how people can help themselves and how to improve their mental health.
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