Information on Mental Health
Welcome to the Mental Health section of the Leeds Let's Change website.
It is important to look after your emotional health and not take it for granted. Our wellbeing can be affected by a range of life events, and we can all go through periods when we feel unable to cope. 1 in 4 of us will experience some form of mental health problem, particularly anxiety or depression at some point in any one year.
Mental health is not a fixed state and at certain times in our lives events may make it more difficult for us to cope so we may need extra support, for example, after bereavement, divorce, redundancy or having a child.
This section of our website tells you more about mental health and emotional wellbeing and offers tips and contact details further help and support.
What are the five ways to wellbeing?
With family and friends and people around you, build your connections and interact with your local community
Exercise makes you feel good, do something you enjoy
Be aware of the world around you, and what you are feeling
Try something new, learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Do something nice for a stranger. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
What can I do to help myself?
Common mental health problems, such as stress, depression and anxiety, can affect any one of us. There are many things that you can do to help yourself feel better. The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust have produced a number of excellent self help booklets covering topics such as depression, panic, sleep, anxiety and much more. These can be found at: http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp
You can also use an online programme ‘Living Life to The Full’ that provides short self-help videos which can help you work through problems at your own pace - just follow the link www.llttf.com.
What other services are there?
Talking Therapy
Help and support at difficult times can allow you to feel that you are not on your own and that things can get better. Speak to your GP or you can refer yourself to the NHS Talking Therapy service, just follow theTalking Therapy Website. The Primary Care mental Health and IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service in Leeds is making talking therapies more widely available to anyone who needs them.
These therapies include guided self help, stress and mood management, and one to one Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), see the 'IAPT Mental Health Leaflet' in our downloads on the right of this screen for more information.
If you are 17 and over (including 65+) the IAPT can work with you to:
• Develop new ways of coping
• Be more in control of your feelings
• Find ways to reduce panic or anxiety
To find out more or to make a referral, just call 0113 843 4388 (Lines open 8:30am – 4pm Monday to Friday)
Crisis support
If you feel that you are in a crisis and need immediate help – go to your GP. Your GP can then assess your needs, and if appropriate refer you to the NHS Crisis and Home Treatment Team. If you need support outside of surgery hours you can access Local Care Direct by contacting your GP by telephone. Alternatively you can access NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
To find out more about other services available check out our Mental Health Online Page
Volountary Sector
There are also a range of independent agencies that provide counselling in the city, some of which will charge for their services. Details about the different volountary sector conselling services in Leeds can be found by clicking here.
Independent Living
You can find information about over 1500 businesses and organisations that can support you to live independently on the Leeds Directory
Or check out Leeds Mind, a handy website that aims to provide a housing support service for people with mental health problems who live in Leeds. The 1:1 support covers a range of areas aimed at supporting people to live independently. This is delivered within there shared housing or to people in their own homes.
Leeds Mind also supports people with mental health experiences to enter and sustain employment, work placements, voluntary work, higher education and training. They also help people with a mental health problem who are in work to keep their jobs by providing training, group work, and 1:1 support.
