Looking After You

Long Covid

As you recover from COVID-19, you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus is having on your body and mind.

What is Long COVID and when should you seek help? Click the following link for advice for you or your loved ones on the road to recovery: https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/

Crisis Support

Compañeros Crisis Café

Located in the heart of Birkenhead, Compañeros is fully embedded as a community crisis-alternative within Wirral. Support is available to anyone aged 18 and over experiencing or anticipating a self-defined mental health crisis. Compañeros accept referrals from health and care services, and people can also walk-in/self-refer.

For more information on Compañeros, please visit the website: Compañeros – Spider Project.

January 2024 activities timetable: January timetable 2024

Mental Health Support

Samaritans

If you are suffering or struggling to cope, please do not suffer in silence. Call 116 123 to speak to a Samaritan or visit the website.

Please see the link below for top tips and advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during this time:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak

https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/

The Martin Gallier Project

The Martin Gallier Project is fiercely dedicated to preventing suicides, breaking down stigmas & supporting families in the North West. Visit their website: https://www.themartingallierproject.org/

Every Mind Matters -Better Health

Every Mind Matters aims to help those who may be struggling and provide advice to those caring for children and young people who’s mental health has been affected by COVID-19. Please see important links and resources below from this campaign:

Looking after a child or young person’s mental health

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Kooth.com – Online support for young people

Kooth offers free emotional support including; immediate access to online counselling, self-help resources and peer to peer support. The platform also encourages assigning self-defined goals which can be measured to better understand progress/outcomes.

No referral is required and people can sign up anonymously. To access Kooth visit https://www.kooth.com/

Kooth offers young people (aged 11-25) in Wirral the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis.

You can also view a short video about the service at: https://vimeo.com/318731977/a9f32c87de

Hatch

The leading emotional wellbeing service for young people in Wirral.

Hatch is here to make sure that you have emotional wellbeing support https://www.hatchmerseyside.co.uk/young-people/

Open Door

Free, immediate access to a innovative range of creative therapeutic support options if you are feeling down, depressed, anxious or having panic attacks. The Open Door Charity’s programmes support individuals up to 30 years old https://www.opendoorcharity.com/

CAMHS

This pack contains information about self-help resources, community services, when to refer to CAMHS, when to contact the Early Help Team and what to do if you are concerned about immediate risk or harm.

CAMHS Information Resource Pack CAMHS Young-People-Resources

Talking Together Wirral

Talking Together Wirral is a free, confidential NHS talking therapy service, available to anyone who is aged 16+ and registered with a GP in the Wirral. https://www.insightiapt.org/locations/wirral/

NHS Health Check

The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It’s designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk. Find out more: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check-new/

Eye Health

Wirral Community Optometrists – Prompt Access to Local  Eye Care 07922 424 502: Wirral Community Optometrists Leaflet

Where can I be seen? Ophthalomogy Services

Who gets an NHS sight test?

Find out if you’re entitled to a free NHS sight test or an optical voucher to help reduce the cost of glasses or contact lenses.

Find an optician

Look after your eyes

It’s easy to neglect your eyes because they often do not hurt when there’s a problem.
Having an eye test will not just tell you if you need new glasses or a change of prescription – it’s also an important eye health check.
An optician can spot many general health problems and early signs of eye conditions before you’re aware of any symptoms, many of which can be treated if found early enough.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding Adults: https://www.wirral.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/safeguarding-adults

Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership: https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/

I Want to Stop

Breast feeding: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/combine-breast-and-bottle/

Smoking: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/

Drinking alcohol: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/

Binge eating: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/binge-eating/overview/

Feeling sad: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/low-mood-sadness-depression/

Gambling: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/

Managing Vitamin D

YOUR VITAMIN D IS LOW (DEFICIENT)

Following your recent blood test, we have found that your vitamin D level is low.
We have prescribed you some high strength replacement to collect from the pharmacy to take for the next 7 weeks.
Following completion of this you should take 400iu of cholecalciferol (vitamin D) daily to maintain your vitamin D levels (this can be bought over the counter from the pharmacy).
Please contact us in 3 months’ time to request a ‘bone profile’ blood test to ensure your levels have corrected.

For more information please read this supporting leaflet on Vitamin D Deficiency Leaflet

YOUR VITAMIN D IS LOW (INSUFFUCIENT)

Following your recent blood test, we have found that your vitamin D level is low.
You should now take 800iu of cholecalciferol (vitamin D) daily to replace this (this can be bought over the counter from the pharmacy).
Please contact us in 3 months’ time to request a ‘vitamin D and bone profile’ blood test to ensure your levels have corrected.

For more information please read this supporting leaflet on Vitamin D Insufficiency Patient Information Leaflet

Beat Eating Disorders

Beat Eating Disorders is the UK’s eating disorder charity.

Helplines are open 365 days a year from 9am – midnight during the week, and 4pm–midnight on weekends and bank holidays.

Email support for England:
help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Tel: 0808 801 0677

Website: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

Family Toolbox

Tips and tools for family life in Wirral: https://familytoolbox.co.uk/

ZILLO

ZILLO was created by Wirral Borough Council’s Children’s Services in partnership with students and staff from Wirral Metropolitan College. It is a website for young people to come to get the lowdown on the latest events, arts, culture, news and expert health and wellbeing advice.

Get involved in ZILLO’s projects, and see what they have to offer by visiting their online website: https://www.zillowirral.co.uk/

Wirral Sandbox

Wirral Sandbox is an expanding risk assessment and service directory tool for anyone working with young people.

View the latest news and information from Wirral Sandbox, learn more: https://wirralsandbox.com/

First Aid

What to do if someone is injured: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/first-aid/

Dentists

About NHS dental services, how to find an NHS dentist and how much treatment costs: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/