Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest community and mental health trusts in the North West, has developed a range of resources to help residents stay healthy during this winter and beyond.
At the start of the National Self Care Week 2021, Mersey Care is marking the awareness campaign by promoting the support available to families and communities in line with the national theme of ‘choose self care for life.’
Among the resources produced is a graphic explaining the different options available (see above), animations on self care, the five ways to wellbeing, a range of self help guides and information on Mersey Care’s crisis lines for severe mental health issues.
“All the different options available to our communities can get confusing, so we hope we’ve helped to explain things for people. By using these services it should help people get the right support and manage increased demand in other areas of the NHS,” explained Dr Noir Thomas, Mersey Care’s Medical Director.
“Winter is always a difficult time of year with the cold, dark nights, Christmas approaching and plenty of bugs hanging around. We’d urge anyone who is struggling or doesn’t know where to go for help with a minor illness or injury to ring NHS 111 – it’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Self care is about keeping fit, healthy and active, as well as knowing how to take medicines, treat minor ailments and knowing how and where to seek the right help when you need it.”
Mersey Care is also advising everyone to make sure they’re winter ready by keeping their medicine cabinet well stocked. They suggest having items to treat minor illnesses such as pain relief medications, lozenges, cold and cough syrups, antihistamines, and much more . They advise talking to your local pharmacist for more information
To help explain the different resources available, Mersey Care has produced a number of animations, including one specifically made for Self Care Week, another one highlighting the five ways to wellbeing and a final one explaining the urgent mental health services.
The COVID-19 lockdowns have also taken their toll on many people and Mersey Care has made a number of free self help guides available for depression, stress, panic and many other issues.
“We want to empower and help people take charge of their own health,” added Dr Thomas. “Everyone can make small changes to their lifestyle to help improve their physical health and mental wellbeing, such as maintaining an active lifestyle, eating a well-balanced diet, drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking.”