Mental Health support for those with diabetes
Mental Health support for those with diabetes
People in Worcestershire living with diabetes are being invited to access a group therapy course aimed at supporting the mental health effects of the condition.
Worcestershire Healthy Minds supports people aged 16+ experiencing more common mental health conditions like stress, anxiety or low mood. The service also provides a range of group therapy courses including ‘Living Well with Diabetes’ delivered weekly from venues across Worcestershire. It is an educational course providing tools to help manage the mental health effects of diabetes to help people feel happier, healthier and more in control of their life.
This week is national Diabetes Week and it is estimated that more people than ever before have diabetes in the UK and the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has doubled in the last 20 years. Living with diabetes is tough, and managing it is down to the person who’s living with it. The demands of managing diabetes and self-medicating can have a huge impact on someone’s life.
Estelle Ellis, from Worcestershire Healthy Minds, said: “Having a long term condition such as Diabetes can affect all areas of our life, not just physical health. The ‘Living Well with Diabetes’ course looks at how our thoughts and behaviour affect the way we feel both physically and emotionally. Whether you have just been diagnosed with diabetes or have been living with it for a while, it can have a huge effect on day to day life.”
The course lasts 6 weeks and there are sessions starting in Redditch, Worcester and Bromsgrove over the next few months. You can self-refer to attend and you don’t have to see another health professional first. For more information on the course and other support provided by Worcestershire Healthy Minds visit www.nowweretalking.nhs.uk
In October 2018 Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, which runs the Healthy Minds service, launched a new mental health campaign called ‘Now We’re Talking.’ The aim is to raise awareness of the local Healthy Minds service and to encourage communities to talk and seek support when experiencing lower level mental health issues such as stress and anxiety.
Since its launch the Healthy Minds service has seen an 85% increase in self-referrals, May saw the highest number of referrals than ever before. This means there are more people across the county accessing and receiving support for things like stress, anxiety and depression.
You can self-refer to Worcestershire Healthy Minds by calling 0300 302 13 13 Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm or via email at www.nowweretalking.nhs.uk. You can also follow the campaign on Twitter @NowWereTalking_ and on Facebook @NowWereTalkingWorcs