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Welcome to the Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May 2020) edition of the Nottingham Time to Change Bulletin. This special week is organised annually by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and the theme for this year is ?Kindness?. A recent survey found that two-thirds of UK adults say that being kind to others has a positive impact on their mental health so it?s great to see how so many people in Nottingham are doing little (and big) acts of kindness to improve the lives of others and make them happier. If you want to find out more about Mental Health Awareness week, there are some great ideas and resources on the official web site.? During the week, the MHF would like you to carry out or reflect on act Sof kindness and share them using the hashtags:

#KindnessMatters

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

Time to Change have put this pack together to offer some advice about sharing your story - or information about an activity/virtual event you might like to organise.

Every Mind Matters Every Mind Matters has some great advice around looking after your mental wellbeing but it also includes tips on helping too. You might find these?top tips?useful or perhaps you would like to share them with a friend..?

Make time for a cuppa and a chat

Nottingham Time to Change is currently hosted by Nottingham City Council who is workingin partnership with Wilkos and Nottingham Forest to give out teabags and a positive postcard to those who may be feeling alone. We would like to encourage all champions and readers to pick up the phone this week and have a natter with someone over a cup of tea - you will not just make their day but yours too. Find out more about Nottingham brews up in time for mental health awareness week

Local Support for Mental Health

Nottingham Time to Change realises that we are all facing pressure at the moment that will be impacting on our mental health.? They have produced a mental health signposting guide for both adults and children which can be accessed here.

In particular, we should like to bring your attention to two new 24/7 helplines:

• Nottinghamshire Foundation Trust Mental Health Helpline ? phone 0300 303 0165 or go to nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/help-in-a-crisis
• The Grief Line - a dedicated service for those who need immediate support following bereavement. Phone the Grief Line on 0800 111 4451 or email [email protected] or visit their web site.

Things to do whilst at home

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Building Wellbeing and Resilience

This new website that has been designed by a group of people for anyone who is struggling with the very challenging situation we are all in.? You may find it makes you feel a bit calmer and find perhaps new ways to cope.

Even if at the moment you?re facing things on your own, or feel like you?re alone, we hope you can still feel supported and connected to others in some way.

Truth Mental Health - Truth Digital? Every fortnight on Tuesdays, 7pm to 9pm (Over Facebook or Instagram)

If you are a performer and would like to share materials around mental health and life in quarantine on an online platform for open mic live performances and discussions about mental health, during the pandemic, please contact [email protected]. Hosted by @plentifulpoet these live sessions will also include discussions from wellbeing practitioners offering advice and support during lockdown. Get involved, visit their?Facebook page.?

Music for Everyone Lockdown Choir IMAGE Music for Everyone (a Nottingham charity) has launched a weekly Lockdown Choir giving people the opportunity to join a free ?come and sing? workshop on a weekly basis ? participants receive a weekly email with the music for that week and a link to the YouTube rehearsal video to watch at leisure.? Ability to read music not essential, just enthusiasm for having a go!? Singing is a great mood-booster and stress-buster so ideal during these times particularly for those who can?t get out and about.? The sessions are free though donations are welcome if people are able to support the charity. People can sign up via the MfE website and also see the You Tube playlist which is regularly updated with music to listen to and sing along to: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/mfe-notice/

Rock Choir Event The Rock Choir, the largest contemporary choir in the UK, are TODAY hosting a 24 hour fundraising extravaganza to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation and Mental Health Awareness week. ?It features singing sessions, songs from across the decades, as well as video messages from their own key worker choir members and celebrities, such as Jess Glynne, Michael Ball and Sir Cliff Richard, to name but a few!

Learn more about mental health Sometimes it?s the little things that can help the most. These online short courses made by top university and institution partners are packed full of useful information to help you stay well and healthy, both physically and mentally. Thinking more about your diet? Food and Mood: Improving Mental Health Through Diet and Nutrition from Deakin University is open to join COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression from the University of Reading Exploring mindfulness? Learn how to Maintain a Mindful Life with Monash University?s course.

Like jigsaws? Try one from Wollaton Hall IMAGE Many of you are probably missing our fantastic Nottingham landmarks - so why not try this jigsaw of Wollaton Hall, with some of the local residents on the grass in front?- how quickly can you complete it?

Books on anxiety available to borrow from local libraries?? Libraries stock lots of books and e-books that can help to explain what anxiety is and how it develops, the physical symptoms to look out for, exercises on how to spot and challenge thoughts that make us anxious and practical ways to change how we behave in order to reduce feelings of anxiety. Well worth a read. You can find e-books in our online library here To explore the full collection of Reading Well books, including mental health for children, teenagers and adults here

Useful Information

Harmless? Harmless are a great local charity that specialises in self-harm, although they also provide a variety of mental health support including a regular e-newsletter.? Recently they have been working on an exciting new podcast series to open up opportunities to explore mental health. Their new series ?Less of the mad? will take a refreshing look at mental health by gently exploring the topics with a range of professionals and more importantly, those with lived experience.?

Small grants for mental health related projects - NSUN Covid-19 Fund The National Survivor User Network (NSUN ) is to launch a new fund at the end of April. Grants up to ?1,000 will be available for peer support, community action and mutual aid for mental health during the pandemic. This fund will be available to support user-led organisations and smaller, constituted community groups. Groups which might not otherwise be eligible for a grant. This fund will open at the end of April.? Find out more here.

Nottingham Bike Aid -?Free bikes to keep or loan?for key workers and volunteers in Nottingham If you wish to donate a bike to the project, please contact Ridewise or Nottingham Bikeworks by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]

Your opinions matter

How is COVID-19 affecting you?

Colleagues from University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University have launched ?The Wellbeing of the Workforce (WoW) Study?. This is investigating how people?s work has changed because of COVID-19, how this has affected their wellbeing and feelings about work, and what might be helping people to cope with the current uncertainties. Please consider taking part in this short online survey: http://tinyurl.com/wow-study.

Study on Stress and Health during COVID-19

The COVID-19 Stress and Health Study is a research study being carried out by the University of Nottingham, Kings College London and the University of Auckland exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional and physical health of adults. This study is open to all adults aged 18 and over and living in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

#VoicesofToday campaign launched?by Nottingham Castle Trust?

Nottingham Castle Trust, the team behind the ongoing rejuvenation of Nottingham Castle,?would like the views of local people in its latest campaign called?#VoicesofToday.? The campaign celebrates the city's long, proud history of?standing up to injustice by?encouraging Nottingham residents to get creative and represent their experiences or perspectives on activism, protest and rebellion in a number of ways, including poetry, drawing, singing, acting, dance, creating a protest banner or something different altogether.? To find out more about the project, visit the Nottingham Castle Trust's website.?

Nottingham's parks and open spaces?

Nottingham City Council wants to find out what the Nottingham Time to Change Champions might want or need from the city's parks. The council has been awarded funding through the National Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund's Future Parks Accelerator Fund, to find new and innovative?ways to protect and enhance local green spaces. Take part in the survey here.?

Working during coronavirus

Having to leave your house to go into work at the moment might feel difficult and stressful.? Knowing how to look after your mental health during the crisis will help you cope with the situation and help to keep your moods positive. Mind have tips for taking care of your mental health and wellbeing, help for understanding difficult feelings, and ways to find support.? For more information click here.

Working from Home? You may like to consider the following?

• Remember you are not ?working from home? rather you are ?at home, during a crisis, trying to work?.
• Try to avoid compensating for lost productivity by working longer hours.
• Your personal, physical, mental and emotional health is more important than anything else.
• Be kind to yourself and not judge how you are coping based on how you see others coping.
• Be kind to others and not judge how others are coping based on how you are coping.
• Success may look differently to during normal times.

Nottingham Time to Change Employers? Section

At Nottingham Time to Change we are disappointed that the TTC Employer Pledge has had to be withdrawn.? However, employers can still access (by Zoom invitation) the free Masterclasses such as:

• How to measure the impact of mental health strategies and initiatives
• On Wednesday 27 May 2020 from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm
• Speakers will include Gary Williams from Mind's Workplace Wellbeing Index?and Paul Samrah from Moore Kingston Smith

To book your place, click here.

Free webinar for line managers on how to support employees working remotely

Mind are holding a free webinar on Thursday 21st May where our Workplace Wellbeing experts will be offering advice to line managers on how to support employees working remotely.

Supporting the mental health of furloughed workers

The coronavirus outbreak has forced many organisations to make difficult decisions with regard to their employees.? Furloughing staff is the best option for many organisations, but it can have a big impact on the people who find themselves without any work to do.? The City Mental Health Alliance offers advice on what organisations can do to support the mental health of their furloughed workforce.

Mental Wellbeing in the Retail Sector

Time to Change and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have come together to provide guidance to retailers on how to develop a holistic mental wellbeing strategy for the workplace. Before COVID-19 36% of employees in the retail sector had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, but only?51% of employees in the retail sector would feel confident talking to their line manager about their mental health. Download the free toolkit below to find out?what changes you can make in your workplace and be inspired by some of the country's leading retailers.

Mind at Work

Mind at Work is a good site for both employers and employees.? As today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week,? there are still lots of ways for you and your employees to get involved. Mind are encouraging you to #SpeakYourMind and share how you are coping with the pandemic and there are lots of downloadable resources and social media posts.?

Future Nottingham Time to Change E-Bulletins

We shall be producing an an NTTC e-bulletin approximately monthly.? If you would like to suggest an article/item for inclusion, please email it to [email protected].

To sign up to the Time to Change Bulletin please click here