Mental Health & Wellbeing

Let's Talk

Let’s Talk – An EHRS Mental Health Initiative

If you need help with more specific advice and support please contact us at letstalk@ehrs.uk
If you would like to speak to a mental health trained volunteer on a confidential 1:1 basis, please contact us at letstalk@ehrs.uk

 

Past Events:

Let’s Talk Eating Disorders
Have you or someone you care about been affected by an Eating Disorder? The EHRS Let’s Talk Mental Health initiative in conjunction with Beat, the UK’s Eating Disorder Charity held an online talk on 2 February 2022. To watch the recording please click here.  If you would like to join the Eating Disorder support group, click here to sign up.

 

‘Let’s Talk Mental Health and Social Media’
EHRS held an online forum with mental health experts discussing the impact of social media on mental health. The expert panellists included mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin MBE, Ian Russell of the Mollie Rose Foundation, Louisa Rose CEO of Beyond and a young person concerned that her peers do not seem to understand the impact of using social media in a negative way. Addressing a number of issues regarding the negative use of social media on mental health, the panel discussed how we can educate, support and protect ourselves and our young people with their online activity and suggested steps and tips that can be taken to do this. This zoom event was organised by the EHRS Let’s Talk mental health working group and received positive feedback with participants asking for more events like this, especially with a focus on a young person’s only event and how to achieve better male participation. To listen to the recording please click here.

Sleep

There is no doubt that Covid-19 and lockdowns has messed with pretty much many aspects of people’s lives and one area has been peoples sleep cycles.

Covid-19 is having a huge impact on children’s sleep, according to a survey by the Sleep Charity (www.thesleepcharity.org.uk) which found that as many as 70% of children under 16 are going to bed later and 57% are waking later.

Experts think this will have a long-term negative impact as schools re-open. It will be harder to go back to previous sleep routines, which could impact on mental and emotional health and wellbeing. The following website offers help and advice on sleep for young people – www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52506961

Sleep is important to both our wellbeing and mental health. Lack of sleep can alter our mood scientifically causing irritability and anger and lessen our ability to cope with stress.

How does mental illness affect sleep? Mental illness affects sleep. Sleep problems are common among people suffering from depression, bipolar, anxiety and attention deficit disorders. Sleep and mood are directly related. If we get a good night’s sleep, we wake up happy. If we get too little sleep, we wake up irritable. (www.thesleepcharity.org.uk)

The following websites give tips on how to get a better night’s sleep, include sleep in search box.

www.mind.org.uk
www.nhs.uk.live-well

Written by Michael Benjamin February 2021

Support Information, Groups and Forums

JAMI
Provider of Mental Health service within the Jewish Community for both young people and adults
0208 458 223, www.jamiuk.org

KOOTH
Online mental health services have help lines for both young people and adults
www.kooth.com

EATING DISORDERS
Let’s Talk about ED is EHRS’s mutual support group for parents coping with supporting their teen who is battling an eating disorder.   This is one of our synagogue Together Groups.  Click here to go to the page which features it and enables you to join.

Additional resources:
Beat Eating Disorder Charity click here
Beat Learning platform for carers click here
Beat Resources for carers  click here

YOUNG MINDS
Children’s and young people’s mental health charity, with a special link for parents
Free Telephone Line 0808 802 5544, www.youngminds.org.uk

SHOUT
Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks in the UK, for anyone in crisis.
It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help just text 85258 Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks in the UK, for anyone in crisis.
www.giveusshout.org

HUB OF HOPE
There’s always somebody to talk to… Talking to someone could be the start of you feeling better. Just enter your post code and the web site will list all local services available
www.hubofhope.co.uk

LONELY NOT ALONE
Campaign made by young people to tackle the stigma of youth loneliness.
www.lonelynotalone.org