On this page you'll find resources for supporting your mental health and improving your wellbeing.
5 Ways to Wellbeing
Evidence suggests that these 5 things help to improve our wellbeing:
- Connecting with people
- Being physically active
- Learning new things
- Giving to others
- Paying attention to the present moment
We've been putting together a few links for each of the 5 Ways. You can scroll down to see every section below, or click on one of the 5 ways in the list above to be taken to that section.
You can also find some handy written guides to the 5 ways here:
Connect
Call Companion's for Older People
Reengage are offering call companion's to older people who are living alone and feeling isolated. Find out more about this free service here.
Womankind Befriending Service
Their befriending service supports women to get back on their feet. A volunteer befriender can provide you with company, a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Befrienders can help you to get out and about, develop new interests, improve your routine, build new friendships and support networks, increase your confidence and self-esteem.
This service is for isolated women living in South Gloucestershire and Bristol to improve their mental health and wellbeing. They also provide this service for women in Bristol who have experienced sexual violence.
- If you would like to have a befriender, please ask your support worker, sexual violence worker or a health care professional to make a referral.
- If you would like more information, please contact their helpline on 0117 916 6461 or 0345 458 2914. Or see their website here.
Kooth
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community providing free, safe and anonymous support for children and young people aged between 11 – 24 years. Find out more here
Talk Club UK
The Marmalade Trust
The Marmalade Trust have written an article called "7 Ways to Combat Loneliness Whilst WFH" (Working from home). Read their article here
Looking for more ideas on getting or staying connected with others? Have a look at these suggestions from The Mental Health Foundation
Active
Seated Exercises
These gentle sitting exercises will help improve your mobility and prevent falls, and can even be done at home. Find them here
Sport England - Join the Movement
Tips for getting active both indoors and outdoors. Find the website here
NHS Fitness Studio
Take your pick from 24 instructor-led videos across aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and pilates and yoga categories. Find the website here
OurParks
OurParks provide a variety of different fitness programmes. Have a look at their programmes here.
Apps to help you get active:
NHS Active 10 Walking Tracker - app
This walk tracker is a free and easy to use walking app that tracks your walking and shows you how you can increase your intensity to benefit your health. The app is designed to support you every step of the way to increase your daily level of physical activity, with simple and achievable milestones and rewards along the way.
NHS Couch to 5K - app
One You Couch to 5K is an easy to follow programme known the world over, and perfect for those new to running and need some extra support and motivation along the way.
Learn
South Gloucestershire & Stroud College
The British Museum's exhibition 'Vikings: life and legend'
Take a tour of The British Museum's BP exhibition 'Vikings: life and legend'. Presenters Michael Wood and Bettany Hughes are joined by guests including exhibition curator Gareth Williams, Neil MacGregor and experts on Viking ships and swords, burial and beliefs, as well as their language and legacy. You can view it here.
BBC Podcasts
Listen to all sorts of educational podcasts here. They also have a lot of comedy, literature and radio plays, among other things.
Libraries West - Audiobooks
LibrariesWest provides a single shared e-audiobook service, provided by BorrowBox. This service is free to use. And you can check out up to 5 e-audiobooks at a time. Find out more here.
Open University
You can choose an OpenLearn course from a wide range of subjects. Some are based on Open University course materials. Others are written specifically for OpenLearn. Find their free courses here.
TED Talks
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short talks (18 minutes or less). It covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Find them here.
Find out about the living landmarks in Bradley Stoke
There are currently ten Living Landmarks plaques installed in Bradley Stoke, each with some information about the history of the area. Find the article here.
Give
Volunteer for local charities
South Gloucestershire Council has lots of information about how you can become a volunteer for local charities, or even set up an activity or group yourself. Find out more here.
Looking for more ideas?
A useful page from Mind, with ideas about 'offline' giving, and why it is important for our wellbeing. Have a look at the suggestions on Mind's website
Take Notice
NHS England Wellbeing Audio Guides
Listen to this series of mental wellbeing audio guides to help you boost your mood. Find them here.
NHS Cumbria Relaxation Techniques
Audio files of relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress and gain a sense of well-being. Available in both male and female voices. Listen to them here.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The RSPB bird identifier lists 406 species of birds found in the UK, including some rare overseas visitors. Visit their website to use their guide. Visit their website here.
InsightTimer - app
A guided meditation app.
MyLife - app
Slay your stress, get more sleep or find your calm with short mindfulness activities tuned to your emotions.
Mental Health Resources
Samaritans
The Samaritans offer lots of different ways to talk to them - either by phoning, online chat, emailing, or writing them a letter. Click the link to the left to see all of their contact details. Visit their website.
Vita Health Group 24/7 helpline
This is a 24/7 confidential helpline, providing immediate emotional and practical support. It is staffed by experienced counsellors who will offer emotional support and who can connect you to organisations available in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. Tel: 0800 0126549
Independent Mental Health Network
A list of mental health and wellbeing services in South Gloucestershire. Visit the signposting section of their website.
Bristol Mind
Bristol Mind aims to promote a positive view of mental health and provide services that are accessible, relevant and empowering to the people using them. They also have a helpful list of other services and organisations on their website.
VitaMinds
VitaMinds run the NHS talking therapies service. It’s a free service, offering a range of short-term psychological therapies to adults 16-years and over, who are registered with a GP in and live in Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire. Self refer here.
Talk to the Rainbow
Talk to the Rainbow are a team of LGBTQ+ and allied counsellors and therapists. Based in Bristol and the South West, they provide therapeutic services covering everything related to sexual orientation, gender and sex. You can contact them here.
Mental Health Mates
Mental Health Mates is a network of peer support groups IRL and online, run by people who experience their own mental health issues, meeting regularly to walk, connect and share without fear or judgement. Visit their website.
Papyrus HopeLine
They can support children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide; or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Their opening hours are 9am - midnight every day.
- Call them on: 0800 068 4141
- Text them on: 07860 039 967
- Email them on: pat@papyrus-uk.org
- Webchat: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/hopelineuk-webchat/
Over 50's Alcohol Helpline
This is an over-50's Alcohol Helpline providing support and advice to individuals aged over 50 worried about their drinking, and their concerned others. The line is available 7 days a week; Monday to Friday (12pm - 8pm) and weekends (10am to 4pm).
- Call them on: 0808 801 0750
- Or visit their website here
Apps to Help With Mental Health
Calm Harm - app
An app designed to help people resist or manage the urge to self-harm. It's private and password-protected.
Catch It - app
Learn to look at problems differently, turn negative thoughts into positive ones and improve your mental wellbeing.
Cove - app
Create music to help express complex feelings. Cove is a personal musical journal to help you with your mental health. Download it from the app store here.
distrACT - app
Get quick, easy and discreet access to information and advice about self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
eQuoo: Emotional Fitness Game - app
Use adventure games designed by psychologists to increase your emotional fitness and learn new psychological skills.
Feeling Good - app
Improve your thoughts, feelings, self-esteem and self-confidence using the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.
My Possible Self - app
Pick from 10 modules to learn how to manage fear, anxiety and stress, and take control of your thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
Stress & Anxiety Companion - app
Guided breathing exercises, relaxing music and games made to help calm the mind, and handle stress and anxiety on the go.