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Healthy Minds & Coronavirus

April 2022: How we're managing Covid

Although things have moved on a lot and we are able to do more than we could in the course of the pandemic, Covid is still present and remains a cause for concern for many people. Covid infection rates are at their highest ever right now although fewer people are getting seriously ill. We still need to be mindful and take sensible precautions. 

At Healthy Minds, we are pleased to have been able to get back to meeting in person and reopen premises to visitors. We will do all we can to make sure that activities are safe for everyone to attend, and we need your help with this.
 
If you are coming to meetings or group activities, please be responsible for yourself and respectful of others. 
Please do not attend if you have symptoms of Covid.
Broadly speaking, the symptoms are like cold or flu:
 

  • continuous cough 
  • ​high temperature, fever or chills 
  • loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell 
  • shortness of breath 
  • unexplained tiredness, lack of energy 
  • muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise 
  • not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry 
  • headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual 
  • sore throat, stuffy or runny nose 
  • diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick  
Self-isolation is not a legal requirement but the advice is to avoid contact with others for at least 5 days. 

We will ask everyone who is attending activities to take sensible precautions like sanitising hands and keeping a suitable distance. You are very welcome to wear a face covering if you wish. 
Please also respect and follow any safety instructions from group facilitators. Speak to your group facilitator if you have any questions or concerns. 
Vaccination has given us more protection and freedom to get back to something like normal. Healthy Minds promotes vaccination – if you need to get up to date with yours, the information is here. 
​

We want to be able to continue to offer as much as we can. By all doing our bit, we make sure that we can safely welcome everyone. Thank you for helping us. 


Read our latest update (19 July 2021) about the easing of lockdown here. 

Healthy Minds encourages everyone to take up Covid vaccinations when they come available.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has been, and still is, very demanding and worrying.  National and global research shows that people’s mental health has been affected with continuing uncertainty leading to anxiety and isolation.  At Healthy Minds we have witnessed this for ourselves, with more people seeking more intensive support to manage their mental health.  

We have also seen people find endurance they didn’t know they had.  We have all had to adapt to restrictions that were strange but have become our normality. A year ago, most of us were unaccustomed to face masks, social distancing and Zoom; now these are part of our everyday lives. We become more used to what was unfamiliar, and we find new ways to keep going when usual ways aren’t possible.    

 Adjusting to a new reality doesn’t mean we want to abandon the old one.  We might have a new appreciation for things we took for granted, now that we know what we miss.  Following the guidance to reduce the spread of infection is making a difference.  Vaccination now offers the greatest hope of getting back what we’ve missed and coming together again to help each other come to terms with an unsettling, shared experience.  

Because we feel this is important, we’re making our position clear:
​  
  • Healthy Minds encourages you to have the vaccine when it’s your turn.   
  • Vaccination is safe and its purpose is  to protect people from a highly infectious and potentially life-threatening virus.  
  • Covid-19 is not a hoax. Vaccinations do not contain substances extracted from animals or foetuses. They do not contain microchips to track or control us and they do not alter our DNA. 
  • Healthy Minds respects individual choices and beliefs. We strongly encourage you to obtain information from reliable sources.  Calderdale CCG (NHS) has  detailed, expert  information about all aspects of Covid vaccination on their website: https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/
  
Healthy Minds staff and volunteers, along with other organisations that provide essential services, are being offered the vaccine by Calderdale’s health services so that we can prepare for a return to face to face working as and when this becomes safely possible.   We  are encouraging  everyone to take up this offer as it comes available.
​

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Healthy Minds in person.  In the meantime, most of our services are still running on the telephone, by text and online.  All the details you need are on our website at www.healthymindscalderdale.co.uk or give us a call on 01422 345154. 
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24th December 2020
We're coming to the end of a tough year and many will have been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with loved ones and a sigh of relief, only for the uncertainty that has characterised this year to rear up again and change plans.  It’s a bit like being seasick and longing for the boat to reach land, only for it to turn around and head back into choppy waters.

There will be consequences for the decisions we all make over Christmas and we urge everyone to remain mindful of the advice. Covid infections will rise as people relax the rules, and news of a new, more infectious strain brings with it yet more confusion and worry.  A return to “normal” may not be as soon as we hoped in 2021.  Oh, and there’s this Brexit thing too, with as yet unknown consequences.

It may seem that hope is in short supply right now but, at Healthy Minds, we have seen people find courage and endurance that they didn’t think they had.  I have been looking through some of the feedback we’ve had recently and it is clear that many people have found the pandemic incredibly difficult but have really valued support from Healthy Minds.  The pandemic is a World-wide shared experience that affects us all, and the Healthy Minds team of staff and volunteers has kept going through extremely tough times to make sure that support has been available to everyone who needs it.  As Chief Officer, I remain hugely proud of what Healthy Minds has been able to achieve despite everything and thank the whole team and those who have supported us during the year.

We are entering 2021 rather bruised and weary but it will ask even more of us all for a while longer.  Charities have been busier than ever in the face of more need and ever-tighter resources.  The true impact of this will be felt in the coming year and we may have to make some tough decisions about some services. Support from Calderdale’s communities will be all the more important for us and other charities in 2021.

However, there are grounds for hope and optimism: over the coming months we can start safely to emerge from restrictions as more people are vaccinated, and we will do so with a renewed sense of the things we truly value; the things we have missed the most; the things we may have taken for granted.  In Healthy Minds, we look forward to a number of new initiatives and being part of changes in mental health services that should make a difference.  Most of all, we look forward to being able to bring people together again with confidence.

We will be taking a break from most of our regular activities over Christmas but Safespace is still available every evening (apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve) from 6.30pm.

We wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year. 

Jonny Richardson Glenn, Healthy Minds Chief Officer

27th November 2020
​Whilst the national lockdown is coming to an end on December 2nd, in Calderdale it won’t feel very different: we will be in Tier 3, Very High alert.

From 2nd December some restrictions will apply in all tiers. Everyone in England must:
  • Attend school or college as normal, unless you are isolating.
  • Work from home if you can. If you cannot, you can travel to your workplace.
  • Walk or cycle where possible. Avoid busy times when travelling.
  • Only open businesses and venues that are allowed to open in your tier.


The restrictions that will apply in Calderdale include:
  • You must not meet with people you do not live with, or who are not in your support bubble, in:
    • Any indoor setting. (This includes private houses and indoor public settings, such as shops, gyms and libraries.)
    • A private garden.
  • You can meet in groups of up to six people from different households in public outdoor spaces. (Such as parks, the countryside and beaches.)

The three big things we can all do now and after 2nd December to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
  • Limit contact with people that you do not live with (or who are not in your support bubble).
  • Wear a face covering in all indoor settings where you might come into contact with people you don’t live with.
  • Isolate at home, if:
    • you or someone you live with has symptoms;
    • or you are advised to by NHS Test and Trace.






In relation to Healthy Minds’ services, this means:
Our premises remain closed to visitors.  Drop-ins, groups and workshops are still available online and by telephone.  See What’s On for full details.  Safespace is available every evening, and our listening line is available for children and young people every Wednesday afternoon.

Outdoor activities
We are re-starting walking groups with a maximum of six people in a group.  You will need to book a place.  Details of walks, including how to book, will be circulated. 

We know and understand that people miss being able to come together in the regular support groups – we miss them too.  We are doing all we can to make sure that support is available in different ways until we can bring groups back together in person.

For now, we feel that we must remain cautious, with everyone’s safety our top priority.
With rapid testing and vaccination becoming available soon, we can start to look forward to resuming something like more normal lives in 2021.  In the meantime, Healthy Minds is still here if you need us.

4th September 2020
The latest official advice on coronavirus restrictions is here. At the moment, some areas in Calderdale have additional, local restrictions and we understand this is to be reviewed next week (from 7th September).
This is a fast-changing scenario and we will continue to issue updates as circumstances change.  We have tried to answer the most-asked questions below:
 
How can I get support from Healthy Minds?
All our services are still running by telephone and online.  If you usually attend a support group, workers will keep in touch with you.

Find out what activities are coming up on our website here.

You can contact us through the Halifax office on 01422 345154, email info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk , via Facebook @healthymindscalderdale or our new text service on 07418 311736.  You may have to leave a message and one of the team will call you back.

Safespace is available every evening from 6.30pm on 01422 345154 / text  07388 990227/ email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk.

If you are aged 10 – 19, our Time Out project is running a text / listening line which you can contact on 07418 311736. This is for general support and a listening ear (you can have a text conversation if chatting is not your thing).  Time Out has good connections with other services and can help put you in touch with therapy and counselling services if that is what you need.  You can also email timeout@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Why can I go to a pub or restaurant but not a support group?
We appreciate that some of the official guidance seems contradictory, even confusing, at the moment: depending on where you live in Calderdale, you might be able to be around a bunch of strangers in a pub but you cannot visit family or friends in their homes or gardens.
It may feel that some of the guidance is more about getting people to spend to boost the economy rather than public health.  The economic situation is important but our main concern at Healthy Minds is your safety.

We have reintroduced some activities that can be safely held outdoors.  We cannot yet bring back indoor activities: many venues remain closed and our own premises are not open to visitors.  We miss seeing people in drop-ins and support groups as much as you do and we look forward to being able to do that again – but we have to be confident that it is safe.  As things stand, we are not planning to hold indoor activities for the foreseeable future.
 
What about the allotments?
We have allotments in Todmorden and Pye Nest.  Importantly, allotments are not “public outdoor spaces” as they are on private land – it’s the same as going into someone’s garden.  As some lockdown restrictions have been lifted in Todmorden, we can start to meet again there (maximum six people at a time).

Pye Nest is within the Halifax constituency where additional restrictions apply, so we cannot meet there at present.
 
Time Out workers have run workshops in schools.  When will they be able to visit my school?
Now that schools are back, the Time Out team will be talking with school staff and other services to figure out the best and safest ways to offer workshops and support.  The honest answer right now is that we don’t have all the answers and it might be some time before details are worked out.  We will post updates when we have them, and you can see what Time Out is offering on their website: www.timeoutcalderdale.co.uk . You can contact the team on timeout@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk to start conversations about your school’s needs.
 
Is Healthy Minds going to have to stop any services?
We don’t plan to close any services.  Healthy Minds is funded through lots of different sources, and some of this ends at different times: most services are secure for another year at least, and some longer; some funding is due to end soon and we continue to seek ongoing support for the services affected.

We are confident that we are providing the right services in the right places and we achieve good results.  That means we are in a good position to seek further funding.

The impact of coronavirus on the economy means that there are difficult times ahead, however, and nobody really knows what the future holds.  There is likely to be less money available to keep services going, and some things may have to change – this is a future that all services will have to face, not just Healthy Minds.
​
You can help us by sharing your experiences: if support from Healthy Minds has made a difference, please tell us, as this is useful evidence to illustrate our work (we won’t use details that would identify you).  If you are able to make a donation or fundraise for Healthy Minds, that is also very welcome support.  We hope soon to revive Healthy Minds membership and becoming a member is an easy and powerful way to show your support: if lots of people in Calderdale sign up as members, it shows that Healthy Minds is valued in the community.

 

4th August 2020
Local restrictions are in place for Calderdale, which has raised more questions and concerns.
Official guidance on restrictions can be found here.

We strongly advise that you wear face masks in line with guidance if you can.    For some people this may be a challenge you are able to overcome but we know that some find this difficult and cannot wear masks.   You can find information on masks, including printable exemption cards, here.
​
Whilst plans at Healthy Minds remain much the same as outlined below, we are holding off re-introducing outdoor activities until full risk assessments and confident safety measures are  in place.  Please keep an eye on our posts for updates.

24th July 2020
We hope everyone is doing as well as they can with the ongoing weirdness of living through a global pandemic.  It is clear that there is still some way to go before things start to feel anything like ‘normal’ again and we, like everyone else, are still making sense of how this affects what we do.  Many people feel anxious about changes to lockdown restrictions and continued uncertainty about what the future looks like.  Covid-19 is a life-changing event that affects everyone, and we all have questions to which there aren’t necessarily answers.

The main question we’re being asked is
When will Healthy Minds’ services re-open?

Our services are still running as much as possible, with staff continuing to work from home for the time being.  Whilst there has been some easing of lockdown restrictions in many aspects, the priority for us is to consider what is safe and responsible for people who come to us for support, as well as staff and volunteers.  Our premises remain closed for now but the team has been as busy as ever.

We are looking at some outdoor activities, like our allotments and walking groups, becoming available during August / September, when we are confident that this can be done safely.  There will have to be restrictions on numbers and people will need to book places on these activities.  We’ll announce arrangements once the details are worked out.

We are not yet considering indoor activities, like drop-ins, support groups and visitors to our premises, including Safespace.  These will continue to be available by telephone, text and online for the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, our teams have been developing new workshops that will be delivered online.  Safespace is available every evening and the Time Out team has opened text / telephone support on Wednesday afternoons for children and young people.  Volunteers have been offering telephone befriending, and this is developing into a new peer support service that will be up and running soon. A new text messaging service is about to be launched, giving another way to get in touch – particularly important for people who don’t have internet access.  We are continuing to find new ways to extend support for the people of Calderdale, and welcome ideas and feedback about this.

My thanks go to the Healthy Minds team for keeping going in tough circumstances: staff, volunteers and trustees have been pouring time and energy into doing as much as we can rather than brooding over what we can’t.  This goes for the other local organisations with which we work, including Calderdale Council, Clinical Commissioning Group and VSI Alliance. Thanks too to people and groups who have given their support to Healthy Minds: Hebden WI, staff at Covea Insurance, and individuals have been raising funds in all sorts of ways, for which we are always honoured and grateful.

It’s working together – protecting and supporting each other - that will get us through this and, as I hope the above shows, there is plenty of that about in Calderdale.

Jonny Richardson Glenn, Chief Officer



10th June 2020
We are in week 12 of lockdown: many people will have been shielding until now and everyone else probably imagined that life would have resumed some sort of normality by now.  As things stand, there is still a lot of uncertainty about how and when we can start to bring back more familiar ways of working in Healthy Minds.

We have to take everyone’s safety into account – volunteers, staff and people who come to services.  Whilst there has been some easing of lockdown restrictions, the advice remains to stay at home as much as possible.  The risk of transmission remains and we do not want to expose anyone unnecessarily. With this in mind, we are not yet at the point of re-introducing in person, face-to-face activities.

For the time being, Healthy Minds premises remain closed and staff are working from home.  All our services continue to be available by telephone and online.
  • As well as virtual support groups and drop-ins, workers are keeping in touch with people regularly.  You can still contact Healthy Minds on 01422 345154 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays, or email info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk.
  • Safespace is open every evening 6.30 – 10pm on the same number.
  • Our recently-launched listening line for children and young people is open every Wednesday afternoon 1-4pm.
  • Our support teams have been developing workshops on coping with lockdown, and these will be available in the next few weeks.
Please continue to keep an eye on our facebook and website for updates.

These may feel like difficult times and many of us can’t do the things we’d like to help us feel good and stay well.  Healthy Minds will carry on offering support and activities.  We look forward to welcoming visitors again when we are confident that it is safe for everyone to do so.  In the meantime, we are here if you need us.

Healthy Minds 01422 345154
info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
www.healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

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14th May 2020
Healthy Minds' offices remain closed, with staff working from home, for the time being.
Services are still running and we are continuing to find new ways to ensure that support is available.
As well as extending Safespace opening to every evening, our Time Out team will next week launch a new listening line for children and young people: this will be available on Wednesdays 1-4pm on the usual Healthy Minds number 01422 345154 (calls are diverted to staff on duty).  Full details here.
The psychological impact of lockdown is a big issue.  We are here to support you and you can also get involved in a nationwide study to better understand how Covid-19 is affecting mental health.  Details here.
A Calderdale-wide arts project invites everyone to contribute to create a "heartwarming
insight into the lives of people living in Calderdale and what it means to be here in this place at this time." Finding ways to express ourselves is helpful in all sorts of ways and your work can become part of something that brings people together.  Details here.
Want to know what we have been up to? Take a look at our latest newsletter 

​20th April 2020
​Safespace is now open every evening to ensure that people have access to support, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To enable this quickly, we have had to make some changes to how the service runs.  There are still a few things to get into place, and we encourage you to keep an eye on the website and Facebook for updates.
Safespace is now available every evening from 6.30 – 10.30pm.The last call taken will be at 10pm.
 
​Call 01422 345154 or contact by Facebook (Safespace Calderdale) or email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Calls are being diverted to staff on duty.  They will take some brief details and arrange a call back for you at an agreed time.  Please be aware that the call may come from a withheld number.
If lines are busy, please leave a message and a member of the team will call you back.

Facebook and email contacts will be monitored and responded to during the evening.

We are working on a text messaging service – we will post details here as soon as this is available.

Getting to open Safespace every evening has become possible thanks to support from Calderdale CCG and staff from other Healthy Minds services making themselves available in addition to the current Safespace team.
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Update 9th April 2020
Due to Easter break,  Monday drop-ins will not be running on 13th April.
Safespace will be open for an extra shift from 6pm on Monday 13th April.
Call 01422 345154 / text  07388 990227 / Facebook Safespace Calderdale /
email 
safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk


You can contact Healthy Minds as usual 10am - 4pm from Tuesday 14th April : 01422 345154
Calls are currently being diverted to staff on rota and you may get a call back from an  unfamiliar or withheld number.

Schedule of Healthy Minds activities Tues 14 - Sun 19 April

Tuesday 14th April
  • Todmorden Allotment Group 10-12pm: telephone support with Angela 07845 014928
  • Elland Anxiety & Depression Group 12.30 – 2.30pm: Text & telephone Nicola 07985 750592.
  • Self-management Group 1.30pm – 3.30pm: text and telephone support Louise 07596 290596

Wednesday 15th April
  • Upper Valley video Group 10.30 - 12.30pm: email Lou at lou@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk  to join.
  • Mytholmroyd Support Group 12.30 - 2.30pm: will be conducted by video group.
Telephone Jonny 07845 014930 or email jmorrison@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
  • Safespace  6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 or 07388 990227  / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. 
Calls are currently being diverted to staff on rota and you may get a call back from an  unfamiliar or withheld number.
​
Thursday 16th April
Chronic Pain Group 1.00 – 3.00pm: text & telephone  Kath 07985 754827.
email kath@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Friday 10th April
  • Upper Valley drop-in 1 - 3pm: telephone Christine 07388 990228 or email Christine@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
  • Safespace  6 - 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 or 07388 990227  / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email  safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. 
Calls are currently being diverted to staff on rota and you may get a call back from an  unfamiliar or withheld number.

Saturday 11th April & Sunday 12th April
Safespace  6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 or 07388 990227  / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. 

Calls are currently being diverted to staff on rota and you may get a call back from an  unfamiliar or withheld number.

From Monday 20th April, we will be extending Safespace to  every evening.   Please watch for updates during the week.


Update 6th March 2020
Our Healthy Minds offices remain closed but we are still offering support over the telephone and online.  The best way to keep up with what's happening with Healthy Minds services is on this web page, and  via our Facebook page.


Monday 6th    April
Halifax drop-in  10am – 1pm: telephone contact Nicola 07985 750592 or Dianne 07507 393712
email Nicola@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk / Dianne@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Hebden Bridge drop-in    10.30am – 12.30 pm: telephone Jonny 07845 014930
email jmorrison@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Todmorden drop-in   10.30am – 12.00pm: telephone Deborah 07388 990232
email deborah@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Tuesday  7th April
Allotment Group 10-12pm: telephone support with Angela 07845 014928

Wednesday 8th April 
Todmorden Parents Group   9.30-11.30am: text or telephone Deborah 07388 990232

Hebden Wellbeing Group  10.30am – 12.30pm: will be conducted by video group. 
​Email   lou@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk  for details.

 Mytholmroyd Support Group 12.30 - 2.30pm: will be conducted by video group. Telephone Jonny 07845 014930 or email jmorrison@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
​

Todmorden drop-in  1-3pm: telephone Deborah 07388 990232 or
email deborah@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Sowerby Bridge Wellbeing Group   2-4pm: text or telephone Louise 07596 290946
 
Safespace  6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 or 07388 990227 / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. Your call may not be answered immediately but you will get a call back. 

Thursday 9th April

Upper Valley Drop-in 6-8pm: text or telephone support Christine 07388 990228

Friday 10th April
Hebden Bridge drop-in  1-3pm: telephone Christine 07388 990228
 
 Safespace   will be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings 6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 or 07388 990227 /Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. Your call may not be answered immediately but you will get a call back.

 
Self-isolation
MIND has produced advice on managing your mental health while self-isolating: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/ 
 Our Recovery & Support Team has also produced some information. Click here to view.
 
As before, we recommend you obtain information from official sources about how to protect yourself and others.  Unreliable sources can have ill-informed and even dangerous advice that can cause more worry and harm. 
The best available advice currently is here:
·         NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
·         Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak 
 

​
Update 30th March 2020
Changes to services 

The Healthy Minds staff team remain contactable 
 and have been busy developing alternative plans with support groups and drop-ins.  Generally, if you regularly attend a group, workers will be making contact during usual group times, initially by text message.  During drop-in times, you can text or call: you might not get an immediate answer but you will get a call back.
 
 Monday 30th   March 
Halifax drop-in 10am – 1pm: telephone contact Nicola 07985 750592 or Dianne 07507 393712
email Nicola@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk / Dianne@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Hebden Bridge drop-in 10.30am – 12.30 pm: telephone Jonny 07845 014930
email jmorrison@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Todmorden drop-in 10.30am – 12.00pm: telephone Deborah 07388 990232
email deborah@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Wednesday 1st April 
Hebden Wellbeing Group 10.30am – 12.30pm: will be conducted by video group. 
​Email lou@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk for details.
 
Todmorden drop-in 1-3pm: telephone 07388 990232
email deborah@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Safespace 6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. Your call may not be answered immediately but you will get a call back. 

Thursday 2nd April
Chronic Pain Support Group 1-3pm: telephone Kath 07985 754827 or email kath@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Friday 3rd April
Hebden Bridge drop-in 1-3pm: telephone Christine 07388 990228
 
 Safespace will be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings 6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 /Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. Your call may not be answered immediately but you will get a call back. 
 
Self-isolation
MIND has produced advice on managing your mental health while self-isolating: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/ 
 Our Recovery & Support Team has also produced some information. Click here to view.
 
As before, we recommend you obtain information from official sources about how to protect yourself and others.  Unreliable sources can have ill-informed and even dangerous advice that can cause more worry and harm. 
The best available advice currently is here:
·         NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
·         Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak 
 
​We are doing all we can to continue to offer support in different ways during this time.  Please look after yourself and others!
 
​

Update 26th March 2020
The past week has seen huge changes in how Healthy Minds is now offering support – but the main message is that we are still offering support:
  • Support groups and drop-ins are still available by text, telephone and, for some groups, by video link.
  • Regular group members will receive a text and/or call during the time when the group would usually meet.
  • You can contact workers during drop-in times by text or telephone.
  • You can also contact us via Facebook: your message will be passed on to an available worker who will respond.
  • Safespace is also available by telephone, text and Facebook.
  • Our children and young people’s service, Time Out, is building a library or activities and resources to occupy families during lockdown.
  • If you have been receiving support from Billy (Welfare Rights) or Tamsin (Employment Support), they will maintain contact with you as necessary.
Please note that all our offices are closed and staff are now working from home.
The best way to stay updated on what’s happening with Healthy Minds services is to keep an eye on this webpage, and our Facebook page.
​
Staying at home is the most important action you can take right now to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Social distancing makes a massive difference: it can reduce infection rates by 95%.
Very useful guidance on what social distancing means, and why it is so important, is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729

This is a very challenging time for everyone and we are all adjusting to changes and restrictions that we didn’t imagine we would face even two weeks ago.  This will be tough for everyone, and we all deal with tough times in different ways.  As long as we are able, Healthy Minds will continue to offer support.  If you need us, we are here.

Call us on 01422 345154 (calls are being diverted to staff on a rota.  We will pass messages on to relevant workers to contact you.)
Email info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk or the worker you usually contact

Additional resources
If you are affected by any aspect of Domestic Abuse Calderdale’s Staying Safe team can help: https://calderdalelowervalley.com/2020/03/25/staying-safe-domestic-abuse-support-coronavirus-covid-19-update-from-18-03-20/

Free school meals
Beware scam email – delete immediately and do not open the email.  Advice here: https://twitter.com/educationgovuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Schools have been given guidance on managing free school meal provision:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools
You are advised to contact your child’s school if you have not heard from them.


Self-isolating? Need some support and help for basic shopping and medication pick up?
 Please contact  (email below) if you or someone that you know needs some help whilst self-isolating.  They will let you know about local support in your area, including home delivery shopping services.
 
Lots of services are being offered on the phone including the staying well service which will help with anyone who is feeling lonely during this difficult time.  If you or someone you know is unable to get shopping or other basic needs through someone they know locally please email  and they will try and find someone local to them who can help them with these things.
 
Please email  volunteeringcovid19@calderdale.gov.uk   who can put you in touch with volunteer or local groups.



Update 19th March 2020 
 Changes to services at Healthy Minds 
This is a challenging time for everyone but we are putting alternative plans into action to ensure that people have access to support.  Things will be different for a while.  Please be aware that plans may change at short notice – check this page and Facebook (Healthy Minds Calderdale) for the latest arrangements.
 
 ​From Friday 20th March, we will not be seeing anyone in person across all services.  This is to protect visitors and staff, following advice to minimise physical contact.  Our offices will be closed to visitors and staff will mostly be home-based from next week.
 
 The Healthy Minds staff team remain contactable and have been busy developing alternative plans with support groups and drop-ins.  Generally, if you regularly attend a group, workers will be making contact during usual group times, initially by text message.  During drop-in times, you can text or call: you might not get an immediate answer but you will get a call back.
 
 Monday 23rd March 
Halifax drop-in 10am – 1pm: telephone contact Nicola 07985 750592 or Dianne 07507 393712
email Nicola@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk / Dianne@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Hebden Bridge drop-in 10.30am – 12.30 pm: telephone Jonny 07845 014930
email jmorrison@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Todmorden drop-in 10.30am – 12.00pm: telephone Deborah 07388 990232
email deborah@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Halifax Anxiety & Depression Group 1-3pm: Nicky will contact group by text in first instance to arrange time-slots for telephone calls. Nicky 07845 014927.
email nicky@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk 
 
Tuesday 24th March 
Elland Anxiety & Depression Group 12.30 – 2.30pm: Text & telephone Nicola 07985 750592.
email nicola@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Halifax self management group 1.30-3.30pm: Text & telephone  Kath 07985 754827.
email kath@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk 
  
Wednesday 25th March 
Hebden Wellbeing Group 10.30am – 12.30pm: will be conducted by video group. 
​Email lou@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk for details.
 
Todmorden drop-in 1-3pm: telephone 07388 990232
email deborah@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Safespace 6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 / call or text 07388 990227 / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. Your call may not be answered immediately but you will get a call back. 

Thursday 26th March
Hoarding Group drop-in 6-8pm: Telephone Christine 07388 990228 or email christine@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
 
Friday 27th March 
Hebden Bridge drop-in 1-3pm: telephone Christine 07388 990228
 
 Safespace will be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings 6 – 10.30pm: telephone / online only.  Call 01422 345154 / call or text 07388 990227 / Facebook Safespace Calderdale / email safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk. Your call may not be answered immediately but you will get a call back. 
 
Self-isolation
MIND has produced advice on managing your mental health while self-isolating: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/ 
 Our Recovery & Support Team has also produced some information. Click here to view.
 
As before, we recommend you obtain information from official sources about how to protect yourself and others.  Unreliable sources can have ill-informed and even dangerous advice that can cause more worry and harm. 
The best available advice currently is here:
·         NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
·         Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak 
 
​We are doing all we can to continue to offer support in different ways during this time.  Please look after yourself and others!
 

Updated 16th March 2020
Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current Coronavirus (Covid 19), can be scary and can affect our emotional wellbeing. The scenario with coronavirus is rapidly changing so we have set up this page to keep everyone updated on Healthy Minds' response.  Please keep an eye on this page and our Facebook page for latest developments.  If in any doubt, give our offices a call to check on whether activities / groups are running,  and to discuss alternative arrangements.
 
The main message at this stage is that we are looking at ways to continue to provide support, although we will have to do this differently in the coming weeks.

It looks very likely that older people and people who have some health conditions are likely to be told to self-isolate very soon, and more people will find that they have to self-isolate in due course. We know that isolation is a major factor in emotional wellbeing, so we are considering alternative ways to provide support .  If you are self-isolating, MIND has produced good advice on ways to cope:  https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

Support Groups, Courses & Workshops
Project Workers who facilitate groups will be making contact with regular group members to discuss alternatives.  Among the options are:
  • telephone contact during usual group meeting times
  • conference calls (where you can ring into a joint telephone conversation as a group)
  • video conferencing
  • text / online contact
We are trying to have a range of options for people.  You can have a discussion with workers about the best ways to keep in touch.

We will NOT be running drop-ins from next week (23rd March 2020) -  we will look to opening telephone support during drop-in times.  Please watch for updates or get in touch.

Courses due to start this or next week will be postponed.   If you are booked to attend a course or workshop you will be hearing from the team shortly but please feel free to get in touch with the relevant worker.

Safespace remains open on Wednesday and  Friday - Sunday evenings.  We may have to restrict visitors if staff are unable to make it into work but we expect to switch to telephone / Facebook contact if we can't open.

We are asking all visitors to our premises to wash hands on arrival, and not to enter premises if they have a fever or persistent cough so  as to protect themselves and others.
 
There is a lot of understandable anxiety about this and we encourage you to obtain information from official sources:
·         NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
·         Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak
 
You can contact us on:
Halifax 01422 345154
Todmorden 01706 810311
Hebden & Hilltops 01422 417357
Safespace (from 6pm Weds, Fri - Sun): 01422 345154 / 07388 990227
email: info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
Facebook: Healthy Minds Calderdale




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​01422 345154
info@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Facebook: @HealthyMindsCalderdale
Twitter: @HealthyMindsCW
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Healthy Minds is the operating name for Calderdale Wellbeing, a limited company registered in England & Wales. Registered Office: 1 King Street, Halifax HX1 1SR.
Company No: 6828871, Charity Reg: 1132316
All original content on this website © Calderdale Wellbeing 2018