Mental health support is available if you need it during lockdown

5 November 2020

As Sheffield comes under great restrictions NHS mental health services are urging people in Sheffield to ask for help if they need it.

With new rules in effect until Wednesday 02 December mental health experts at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation, the provider of mental health services in the city, want to reassure people that their services are open and ready to help anyone over the next month.

Recent research from the Mental Health Foundation published last month found that 82% of UK adults have experienced stress because of the pandemic.

However, during the first lockdown in Spring the number of people accessing support for their mental health in the city actually dropped.

Although referrals to services in the city have increased over the past few months there are still spaces on a number of NHS courses designed to help people with their mental health.

In Sheffield there is range of mental health support available, including one-to-one support over the phone, online group sessions and self-help guides for:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Worry
  • Depression
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Panic attacks
  • Eating problems
  • Loss and grief

Abhi Shetty, Consultant Psychiatrist at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We know how difficult the lockdown in Spring was on everyone, particularly on our mental health. It’s absolutely understandable to feel worried or anxious about the coming weeks. We’ve seen lots of people who are struggling because they’ve lost their jobs, people who have lost loved ones and people who are worried about being isolated and not able to do the things they normally do.

"If you’re struggling it’s really important to talk to someone about how you are feeling and if you want to speak to a professional we’re here to help.

"For some people they deal with these worries by turning to alcohol or other substances so there’s also support available if you need help with this." 

You can find out more about the free support on offer from the NHS in Sheffield by visiting www.shsc.nhs.uk/heretohelp