Mental well-being

Depression and anxiety affects up to 1 in 4 people throughout their lives, affecting people of all ages, stages and ethnicities. People fleeing their home are at greater risk of poor mental health due to higher exposure to adverse incidents. People supporting others and providing a caring role can also be vulnerable. Fortunately we now know that it is OK to ask for help. This page gives you the ‘how to access support’

Via your GP

A visit to your GP will be a great help.

If you are not ready for that and if you are registered with a GP you can access www.italk.org.uk for help with mental health issues. Here you will find classes or webinars on e.g. relaxation skills or managing moods, as well as how to access one-to-one specialist support. The link below will take you to specific advice for those fleeing conflict.

NHS Mental Health Support

Steps2Wellbeing

Access to some psychological services does not need a GP referral, anyone in Dorset can self refer. Steps2Wellbeing is the County wide service for mental health. The service wants to empower people to seek help. Their secure online referral forms can be used to directly refer to their services, without the need to see your GP or another healthcare provider.

Steps2Wellbeing offer a free, non-judgemental service with an easy online self-referral process. Their offer of culturally sensitive talking therapies service helps people better understand and manage their problems. They work closely with other agencies to ensure awareness and accessibility of our service.

They also have access to interpreters, which means they can provide support to individuals where English is not their first language. Translated self-help materials are also available to aid an individual's journey to recovery.

Higher tier mental health services in Dorset are accessed via a GP.

NHS Connection

NHS Connection is Dorset's round-the-clock 24/7 helpline for people of all ages, anywhere in Dorset, who need to talk to someone about their mental health. You can also phone NHS Connection for support and advice about a friend or family member experiencing poor mental health. The friendly professionals at the helpline are on hand to listen, without judgement. Call NHS Connection any time on 0800 652 0190.

Social Prescribing Link Workers

These are non-clinical staff who work within GP surgeries. They can help patients to find a wide variety of support for mental health and wellbeing within the wider community. They can be accessed through the local GP surgery, or through the county-wide Dorset Self-Management Service https://www.helpandcare.org.uk/services/self-management/

Additional services

If you are struggling and do not wish to talk to a GP there are also support organisations with helplines to telephone or websites where you can talk in confidence to a trained advisor.

You can connect with the mental health support services offered through Barnados:https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/helping-families/ukrainian-helpline or call them on 0800 148 8586

Sane Ukraine Sane support online are offering daily Zoom trauma and resilience classes every day at 19.30 Ukraine time. Dedicated to all Ukrainians – ex-pats, refugees, and those staying in the country – that need practical psychological and emotional support in the current situation. This will be led by experts and translated into Ukrainian. Learn about the odd but normal things you are experiencing, what you can do to stay sane in this extremely challenging circumstances and connect in small groups where you can speak with your people in your language. You can find out more and join the session here. 

The Red Cross have also published a set of useful contacts and guides for Refugees and those supporting them.

Download their wellbeing resources here

• Dealing with trauma as an adult

• Dealing with trauma as a child

• Coping with a personal crisis

• A wellbeing guide

• Psychosocial support for people separated from family members (Russian)

• Psychosocial support for people separated from family members (English)

Vita Network have a very practical approach to support which is explained in a useful seminar which we can recommend.

The VITA Network webinar 'Psychological First Aid - Supporting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster' with Dr Laura Wood and Anya Charnaud.

You can access the recording here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JelUNVpoCFc

Other Mental Health Resources

Help and Kindness have been compiling other links to national resources they've found that can offer support for Hosts and Refugees around mental health.

• Samaritans have trained advisers: use their website or call them on 0845 7909 090

• Save The Children have issued advice on talking to children about conflict see: www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/five-ways-to-talk-to-children-about-conflict

• Understanding Refugee and Asylum Seeker Mental Health from Solace
  https://www.solace-uk.org.uk/new-free-e-learning

• Resources for Youth Workers from the National Youth Agency:
  How to support refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people who have experienced trauma

• Traumatic Bereavement in Young People from UK Trauma Council
  https://uktraumacouncil.org/resources/traumatic-bereavement

• Dorset Open Door is a partnership of local and national bereavement charities and health and care organisations working together to make sure you get the support you need. https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/our-services-hospitals/mental-health/dorset-open-door

  Its purpose is to bring together the expertise of individuals, communities and services which support people in Dorset who are bereaved.

  This video introduces some of the organisations working with Dorset Open Door and describes how you might access the service.

• Professional Resources for Supporting Refugee and Asylum Seeking children from Young Minds
  https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/supporting-refugee-and-asylum-seeking-children/