Here are some useful resources to help you protect your wellbeing and improve your mental health…
Jelly at Broad Street Mall
Art can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing through creative expression, mindfulness, sense of accomplishment and social connection. Providing a positive outlet for emotions, boosting self-esteem, as well as the social aspect of group sessions all help to improve mental wellbeing.
At Broad Street Mall we are lucky to have Jelly, an energetic charity championing the creative arts. They run different art sessions, workshop and groups every month, to find out more about what they do and to get involved visit: https://www.jelly.org.uk/ or find them on Instagram at @thejellyreading for all their latest updates.
Positively Jessica Ward – blog
Jess is an award-winning Mental Health Awareness Writer. She has shared her experiences throughout her life on her blog for the past 13 years. Jess has created a community and hub for life advice and mental health awareness, by sharing her own experiences and how she overcome various obstacles throughout her life. Truly an inspiration, visit her blog to find out more here: https://positivelyjessicaward.com/about/
Talking Therapies
NHS Talking Therapies Berkshire is a friendly service for people aged over 17 with common mental health problems such as low mood, anxiety and stress. Visit https://talkingtherapies.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ to find out more and get a referral today.
Reading Community Outreach Service
The Reading Community Outreach Service focuses on providing mental health support in the community within Reading to improve the wellbeing of people and help build resilience and independence to help combat issues with poverty and inequality. To find out more visit here
Compass Recovery College
Compass Recovery College continues to run free mental health and wellbeing workshops, both online and in person. Whether you are a returning participant or new to Compass Recovery College, there’s something for everyone. The wide range of workshops we offer are an educational route to recovery from mental health challenges and increasing positive wellbeing. Find out more here
Samaritans
The Samaritans provide a 24 hour a day confidential service offering emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair. For urgent help call them on: 0330 094 5717
Or to find out more information visit: https://www.samaritans.org/
Mind
Mind offers advice, support and information to people experiencing a mental health difficulty and their family and friends. Mind also has a network of local associations in England and Wales to which people can turn for help and assistance.
Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm (except bank holidays).
Visit: https://www.mind.org.uk/
InfoLine: 0300 123 3393 to call, or text 86463
YOUNGMINDS
Offering help and support to parents and young people experiencing mental health issues, visit: www.youngminds.org.uk
Parents helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri from 9.30am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays)
SANEline
If you are experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK.
Offering a supporting listeing service to anyone with thoughts of suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm–3:30am every day).
CALM
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service here: https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
SHOUT
If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
Berkshire West Your Way
Berkshire West Your Way is a mental health charity that provides a range of services for adults who have a diagnosed mental health need living in Reading, West Berkshire, or Wokingham and are ready to move forward in their recovery. We support people on their journey towards mental wellbeing, helping them with aspects of life such as socialising, building confidence and playing an active role in their community as well as connecting to other organisations offering support with forms, housing and employment support. More information can be found here: https://rva.org.uk/organisation/resource/
Depression Xpression
Depression Xpression was set up in 2014 when a number of people living with depression got together to form a support group. They recognised a need for a group that anyone in the community with mental health issues could attend without the need for referral or booking. Many of our volunteers are people who joined the group and now feel ready to give something back.
Find out more here: https://depressionxpression.org.uk/about/
East West Organisation
East-West Organization offers a very successful and cost-effective choice of holistic interventions for the prevention, treatment and recovery from addictions and attachments.
Find out more here: https://rva.org.uk/organisation/eastwestdetox/
Home Start Reading
Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.
Find out more here: https://www.home-start-reading.org.uk/
Ridgeline Trust
Since 2003 they have helped people access the benefits of horticultural therapy at our accessible garden, to enable them to recover and develop their skills, boost their confidence and enjoy time with others.
Find out more here: https://ridgelinetrust.org.uk/
Sport in Mind
Sport in Mind ® is an award winning mental health charity (unaffiliated to Mind and not part of the local Mind network) that was formed in Reading, Berkshire in 2010 with a simple mission: “To improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity”
Find out more here: https://www.sportinmind.org/who-we-are
The Ways & Means Trust
A Charity helping adults with learning or physical disabilities, or poor mental health. We provide social and practical skills for independent living, and training, education and work experience to assist adults working towards open employment.
Find out more here: http://www.waysandmeans.org.uk/
No5
Since 1971, No5 has been offering free, confidential counselling and mental health support for young people aged 11-25 who live, work or study in the RG postcode area.
Our vision is for a world that does not stigmatise children and young people’s mental health and accepts it as a normal part of human development.
Find out more here: https://no5.org.uk/about/
Breathing Space
Berkshire West Breathing Space is hosted at Ajilon House in Reading town centre and can be accessed by those who are living in Wokingham Borough, Reading and West Berkshire.
Find out more here: https://www.together-uk.org/projects/berkshire-west-breathing-space/
Green Health Thames Valley
Green Health Thames Valley provides support for clients with mental health difficulties through a tailored programme of horticulture-based programmes and activities – broadly described as horticultural therapy.
Find out more here: https://greenhealththamesvalley.org.uk/