2020- Expand 2020 2020 was a year like no other and presented us with a unique set of challenges. The year started off at pace with the launch of new crisis Havens services to provide support across Kent from four locations: Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury and Thanet. In March, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated national lockdown significantly changed the way in which we delivered support. The commitment of our staff to support those who continued to need our help was critical in enabling us to deliver services and many of our services moved to virtual delivery almost overnight. Our fantastic Learning & Development team re-designed our training programme to ensure mental health education remained a priority. In addition, they developed and launched a webinar series. The series offered short sessions that addressed topical wellbeing challenges being faced by employers and employees alike, including working remotely and dealing with uncertainty.
LGBTQ+ mental health Expand Mental health problems can affect any of us, but they are more common among people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT). This may be linked to LGBT people's experience of discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, bullying, social isolation, or rejection because of their sexuality (NHS, 2021). Switchboard LGBT + Helpline is a place for calm words when you need them most.They are there to help you with whatever you want to talk about. Nothing is off limits, and they understand how anxious you might feel before you pick up the phone.Call - 0300 330 0630 (10 am till 10 pm every day). MindOut is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Mental Health Service. They work to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern.
Perinatal mental health Expand Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first two years following the birth of a child. Perinatal mental illness affects up to 20% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions (NHS, 2021). The most common mental health conditions experienced are depression and anxiety disorders. Symptoms: Pregnant women or new parents can experience: Depression - Persistent sad, feeling down or ‘empty’ mood, feeling hopeless PTSD GAD – excessive and uncontrollable worries potentially around the safety or health of their children OCD - including fear of harm to their unborn/children Health anxiety - a fear that they are ill or may become ill Support available This leaflet provides you with some basic information about taking care of your mental health during pregnancy and post-delivery. Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust have produced a range of self-help guides, including one on post-natal depression that is available to download here. Anxiety and depression in pregnancy, post-birth or if you have a child under 2 can be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. If you are pregnant or have a child under 2 years old you will be prioritised at your local MHM therapy service. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service. Most local areas also have specialist Peri-natal Mental Health Services if you are pregnant or have a child under 1 years old and you are suffering with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. You can be referred to your local team by a healthcare professional such as your midwife, health visitor, GP or a mental health professional.
Eating disorders Expand Eating disorders include bulimia, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) and anorexia. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the disorder being experienced and the signs of an eating disorder are not always obvious to friends and loved ones. Eating disorders can have serious effects on an individual’s physical health, therefore it is important to seek support via your GP as soon as possible. Support available MHM does not provide support specifically for eating disorders. If you are struggling with an eating disorder seek support from your GP as soon as you can, they can review your overall health and they may refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists. The eating disorder team may identify that your eating difficulties are related to another mental health conditions for example depression or PTSD and they may refer you to your local psychological service once your physical health is stable. Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity and provides a wide range of information resources and a national support helpline. The website also provides information about how to support someone who has an eating disorder.
Hoarding disorder Expand A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter. The items can be of little or no monetary value (NHS, 2021). Many people struggling with hoarding do not seek help. This may be due to humiliation and shame or because they simply do not recognise the hoarding as an issue. Hoarding can significantly impact a person’s quality of life by making it hard for them to function in their home including move around and maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. Hoarding can be a condition in itself, or a symptom of a mental illness including severe depression, OCD or schizophrenia. Symptoms: Keeping/collecting items that have little or no monetary value, such as junk mail and carrier bags, or items they intend to reuse or repair Having difficulty in making decisions Struggling to manage everyday tasks, such as washing, cooking, cleaning and paying bills Becoming extremely attached to items, refusing to let anyone touch or borrow them Having poor relationships with family or friends Support available: It can be difficult to get someone with a hoarding disorder to seek help. Mind have information on their website about Hoarding Disorder. People struggling with hoarding may benefit from psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This will often be combined with practical activities and tasks focused on tackling the problem.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Expand Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder where a person experiences frequent intrusive and unwelcome obsessional thoughts, commonly referred to as obsessions (OCD UK, 2021). These obsessions are distressing for the individual, and they feel a need to act out compulsions to reduce the distress. These compulsions can bring short-term relief from the anxiety. However, this is temporary, and the compulsions become repetitive every time the fear is triggered. There are a lot of unhelpful misconceptions about OCD. OCD is debilitating for many people and significantly impacts a sufferer’s quality of life. These misconceptions are damaging and can prevent people from seeking support. Symptoms: Examples of common obsessions include: Worries about contamination Worrying about harm coming to yourself or other people Relationships – constantly thinking about your relationship or your sexuality Worries that imagining bad events will increase the possibility they will happen Violent thoughts – thoughts of being violent to a loved one or other people Sexually disturbing images or thoughts Thoughts that go against religious beliefs Compulsions: can take many forms and can include constant reassurance-seeking, checking things repeatedly, avoiding people or places, skin picking, or mental compulsions including counting. Support available OCDUK has a wide range of information about the disorder and the treatment options available, as well as advice for those struggling with the condition and their family members. ReThink has a downloadable factsheet about obsessive compulsive disorder. Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust have produced a range of self-help guides, available to download here. OCD can be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) Expand Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a disorder in which an individual has a disabling preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in appearance. It can affect all genders and makes sufferers excessively self-conscious (BDD Foundation, 2021) Symptoms Excessive worry about a part of the body, particularly the face Spend a lot of time comparing features with others Excessively looking in mirrors or completely avoiding mirrors at all Trying to alter their appearance e.g. through make-up, surgeries or picking at skin Avoiding contact with people Feelings of shame and guilt Support available It is important to remember that BDD is a treatable condition. Many sufferers do not seek help because they feel ashamed or are worried that they will be considered vain. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation has information about BDD, helpful resources and information about the support options available. Mind has information and resources about BDD for sufferers and their families and friends. BDD can be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Expand PTSD is an anxiety disorder that may develop in the wake of an event that is either experienced or witnessed and involves an actual or perceived threat to life or physical integrity. This can be to themselves or others. Furthermore, the person’s emotional reaction to the event is either horror, terror or helplessness. Symptoms of PTSD are common after trauma, for most people the intensity and frequency of symptoms decrease over time. But for some PTSD symptoms persist become chronic and impact daily functioning. Signs and symptoms of PTSD 3 clusters of symptoms characterise PTSD Re-experiencing – the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in one of more of the following ways: Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event – images, thoughts, perceptions Recurrent distressing dreams – nightmares Acting or feeling as if the trauma is happening again – illusions, hallucinations, dissociative flashbacks – completely taken back to that event. Intense psychological distress and physical sensations at exposure to internal or external cues that are reminders Avoidance Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the trauma Avoid activities, places or people that arouse recollections of the trauma Inability to recall important aspects Not interested in participating in significant activities Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others Unable to have loving feelings Sense of foreshortened future – does not expect to have a future, career, normal life span – despite being safe Hyperarousal Difficulty falling or staying asleep Irritability or outbursts of anger Difficulty concentrating Hypervigilance – on edge constantly Exaggerated startle response – activation of flight or flight when safe Support available: PTSD symptoms are normal straight after an event and for most these symptoms reduce over time. However, when symptoms don’t subside 1-3 months after a traumatic event, it’s likely that these symptoms won’t go away without treatment. PTSD can be successfully treated, even when it develops many years after a traumatic event. PTSD be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service. PTSD UK is a UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder. Their website contains information about the disorder and the treatment options available. There are also support groups that support individuals who struggle with specific traumas. Examples include: Birth Trauma Association (for people affected by birth trauma) Combat Stress (for serving personnel and veterans) Disaster Action (for people impacted by major disasters) Freedom from Torture Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse (HAVOCA) LifeCentre (for victims of sexual abuse) RoadPeace (for those bereaved or seriously injured by a road traffic incident) Victim Support (for victims of crime or traumatic events)
Social anxiety Expand Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is an overwhelming fear of social situations, being watched or judged on their social performance. It is a common problem that usually starts during the teenage years. It can be very distressing and have a big impact on your life (NHS, 2021) For some people, it gets better as they get older. But for many people, it does not go away on its own without treatment. The signs and symptoms of social anxiety include: Fear of speaking in a group Fear about starting a conversation Public speaking Speaking on the phone Meeting new people Speaking with certain figures e.g. a doctor or teacher Eating/drinking in front of others Going to a social event Fear of using public toilets Support available: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust have produced a range of self-help guides, available to download here. No More Panic provides valuable information for sufferers and carers of people with panic, anxiety, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Its purpose is to provide members with support, advice and a chance to meet like-minded people and make friends along the way. Social anxiety can be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service.
Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) Expand Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where an individual regularly has sudden attacks of panic or fear (NHS, 2021). This can lead the sufferer to avoid situations and places out of fear of another panic attack (fear of fear) which can lead to further heightened anxiety. Panic attacks are very intense experiences, and they can be incredibly distressing, although they are not dangerous. Symptoms of a panic attack can include: Rapid heart rate Feeling faint/dizziness Excessive sweating Chest pain Shaking Feeling of dread Feeling as if you can’t breathe Numbness and tingling Agoraphobia Agoraphobia is a complex phobia in which individuals have a fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult (NHS, 2021). Individuals with agoraphobia may struggle to leave the home, travel on public transport or visit certain spaces. Having agoraphobia can have a serious impact on the way you live your life. Many people with agoraphobia find it hard to leave the place they live. If an individual with agoraphobia finds themselves in a situation that they feel they can’t escape from, they usually experience a panic attack. Support available: No More Panic provides valuable information for sufferers and carers of people with panic. Its purpose is to provide members with support, advice and a chance to meet like-minded people and make friends along the way. Panic disorder and agoraphobia can be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service.
Health anxiety Expand Health anxiety is an anxiety condition where an individual has an obsessional pre-occupation that they are ill, or about to get ill, that it starts to take over their life. Those who are affected by health anxiety often misinterpret minor physical symptoms as indicators of serious disease or severe medical condition. Individuals may also become obsessive about researching their symptoms and serious medical conditions such as cancer and HIV. Other signs and symptoms can include: Reassurance-seeking from others Checking their symptoms online Checking their body repeatedly for signs of illness Acting as if they are ill. The anxiety itself can also cause physical symptoms like headaches, body aches and a racing heartbeat, and they may mistake these for signs of a physical illness. Support available: The NHS website has some useful self-help guidance, including keeping a diary. Anxiety UK has information about health anxiety and advice on how to access support. Health anxiety can also be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service. You can self-refer for support, you don’t need a referral from a GP.
Phobias Expand A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder where an individual has an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. Most of us have fears about certain situations. However, phobias are more intense than fears. They develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object (NHS, 2021). If a phobia becomes severe, it may impact a person’s ability to live a normal life, as they may organise their life around avoiding the trigger that causes them anxiety (NHS, 2021). Phobias can be grouped into two categories, specific phobias and complex phobias (such as social anxiety and agoraphobia). If you are looking for information about a complex phobia, we have other sections which address these difficulties. Common specific phobias include: Blood-injury Vomiting Needles Heights Deep water Flying Animals e.g. spiders, rodents, birds Situation phobias e.g. visiting the dentist Signs & Symptoms: Sweating Dizziness Heart palpitations Nausea Shaking Numbness or tingling These signs and symptoms can lead to people avoiding situations in which they might be exposed to any situations in which they might be exposed to their phobia. This makes their fear worse over time and people may feel anxious even at the thought of exposure to their phobia. Support available: Mind have a page of self-help resources specifically for people struggling with phobias. No More Panic provides valuable information for sufferers and carers of people with panic, anxiety, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Its purpose is to provide members with support, advice and a chance to meet like-minded people and make friends along the way. If a phobia is significantly impacting your quality of life, you can speak to your GP who can explore what treatment options might be available to you. Psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help people to address their phobia. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service.
GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) Expand We have all experienced feeling worried at one point in our lives, for example when sitting an exam, what if I fail or having a job interview, what if I can't answer their questions. However, for some people, they feel that their worries are constant, excessive, uncontrollable and are impacting their daily life. General anxiety disorder (GAD) is a disorder in which someone experiences recurrent and uncontrollable worries, which can be about a range of issues in their lives e.g. safety of loved ones, being late, being dismissed from work. Experiencing excessive worries causes people to experience symptoms of anxiety and exhaustion. Common symptoms include: Feeling restless or on edge Trouble concentrating Trouble with relaxing and sleeping Irritability Muscle tension A range of physical symptoms including heart palpitations, shaking, excess sweating Support available: These Self Help Guides produced by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust cover a range of mental health issues. Living Life to the Full provides lots of different online self-help courses that are highly recommended by mental health professionals, covering lots of different specific topics and groups, including helping you to tackle anxiety. Moodgym is another online self-help program designed to help you prevent and manage symptoms of depression/anxiety. Their interactive, online self-help book teaches skills based on cognitive behavioural therapy. No More Panic provides valuable information for sufferers and carers of people with panic, anxiety, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Its purpose is to provide members with support, advice and a chance to meet like-minded people and make friends along the way. GAD can also be treated via psychological therapies. Visit our service lookup here to see if we deliver a talking therapy service in your local area. Alternatively, you can visit the NHS website here and enter your postcode to find your local service. You can self-refer for support, you don't need a referral from a GP.
George Jenkins Expand George is a qualified accountant with over 25 years of experience in the commercial sector in finance and operational leadership roles. George is currently the Chief Finance Officer at Nescot College, Surrey. "I have a strong interest in mental health and whilst it has always been important the events of the last year have increased its prominence and the need for additional focus. I am delighted to join Mental Health Matters at this time and to support the invaluable work they do which helps so many." Outside of work George enjoys spending time with his wife and family, is interested in most sports, playing tennis, watching football and going on regular dog walks.
Martyn Booth Expand Martyn is an experienced professional covering diverse topics including information security, risk, privacy, governance and digital transformation. Martyn sits on the senior management team at a FTSE 250 company and is an experienced Trustee with another UK charity. Currently completing his MBA at Durham, he wanted to leverage the skillset he has built up over 15 years in consulting and industry to support charities. "I am committed to helping those that need it in any way that I'm most useful". Martyn's hobbies include cycling, tennis, photography, spending time with his family, travelling, cooking and food (in general!)
Peter Rolland Expand Peter is a Registered Nurse (RN) with a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and a qualified Managing Successful Programmes practitioner (MSP), Peter has a comprehensive portfolio delivering system-level change within health and higher education services on a regional and national basis. Peter currently works as a Mental Health Programme Lead for Health Education England. As well as this, he is an honorary lecturer at City University of London, a member of the Health Foundation quality improvement & 'Q Network'and a consultant in emotional intelligence in the workplace with Re-Think Performance, working with organisations to create sustainable culture change to improve performance. He has a passion for improving healthcare services through creating positive and innovative solutions to address the challenges of today's dynamic working environment.
Jill Lanham Expand Jill joined MHM as a trustee in May 2021. She has extensive experience as a Digital leader at senior and board level across a range of sectors including health, housing, local government and the third sector. Jill is passionate about utilising technology to provide innovative, accessible services for people. She is currently the Director of Digital for an NHS Ambulance Service and led the organisation to be recognised as a Global Digital Exemplar. During her career, Jill has led the delivery of a range of IT and digital transformation services both strategically and operationally. "I am passionate about improving mental health services and removing the stigma which is unfortunately still prevalent. I am delighted to be joining an organisation like MHM and to help to support and build on the great work they do." Outside work she enjoys travel, walking, yoga and food.
Kate Evans Expand Kate works in data and analytics for the UK government. She has led large data and digital transformation programmes to ensure that UK government has the right data insights to make the best decisions in response to some of our most pressing social problems. Kate has recently completed an Executive MSc in Social Business and Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics and, with one of her former classmates, has recently founded a social enterprise seeking to use social media and its data to improve the mental wellbeing of teenage girls./p> I am passionate about doing my bit to help in the invisible global pandemic of mental ill-health. MHM's work is fantastic and desperately needed and I am proud to be on the Board of Trustees. Kate is a single parent and spends much of her spare time jointly exploring whatever interests a young boy (a hamster and two goldfish have recently joined our household.) She also loves art, theatre and reading.
Do I need to complete a DBS check? Expand Yes, we require all volunteers to undertake DBS checks when working with us. We are committed to treating all applicants equally and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against the subject of a positive disclosure.
What is the application process? Expand We encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering with us to complete an application form or contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information and an informal chat about the roles available. We will invite any prospective volunteers to attend an interview, and if we feel we may be able to offer you a suitable role you will also be invited to visit our service for a look around, meet with the Team Manager and potentially even observe a session.
Can I volunteer if I am claiming benefits? Expand If you are currently claiming any benefits, volunteering shouldn’t affect this as long as you are still able to meet the conditions for receiving those benefits – eg, you need to be free to attend job interviews. Please speak to your job coach or benefits adviser before starting to volunteer.
Is there an age limit for volunteering with MHM? Expand We have no upper age limit for our volunteer roles, but request that all our volunteers are 18+.
Lorna Hodson-Fraser - Associate Director of People and Organisational Development Expand Lorna joined MHM in August 2021 and provides leadership across our people, recruitment, learning, and organisational development functions. Lorna’s HR career started in engineering, and she has since gained experience in NHS, education, and the fire service. Outside of work, Lorna is a foundation member and Manager of the Blue Light Choir, which was established to promote mental wellbeing and reduce the stigma associated with mental health in emergency services. "I'm passionate about influencing and representing the vision and values of the organisation and shaping the cultural agenda for colleagues".
SafeTALK (half-day) Expand SafeTALK is a half day suicide prevention training course that can help you make a difference. Know what to do if someone is suicidal by following the easy to remember TALK steps – Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep-safe. These practical steps offer immediate help to someone having thoughts of suicide and help you both move forward to connect with more specialised support. LivingWorks SafeTALK is a face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audio-visuals, and skills practice enabling participants to become suicide alert. Please note that due to the content, SafeTALK training cannot be delivered virtually. To learn more read our SafeTALK Course Overview or contact [email protected].