Anyone living or working in Sheffield who is struggling with their mental health during the Coronavirus lockdown can now access free NHS support over the phone or online.

Launching today, the our IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service are encouraging anyone who is feeling stressed, anxious or worried about Coronavirus to call them on 0114 226 4380.

The service is available to anyone, you do not have to have accessed mental health services in the past.

The team are available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and will help people calling them access mental health support which includes one-to-one support and group sessions.

As part of the offer IAPT have also launched a new four-week course called ‘Coping with COVID’. The course will be live streamed to participants and will focus on a different theme each week, including tips on how to calm our body, the importance of a routine, managing worry and sleep. Participants will be able to ask questions to NHS mental health professionals throughout the session.

Toni Wilkinson, Head of Sheffield IAPT, said: “The Coronavirus pandemic is a challenging time for all of us. There have been so many changes that we have to adapt to. We’re all missing our friends and families, we can’t do the things we normally do and some of us are out of work or working from home. It’s natural for these things to cause worry, stress, frustration or impact on our sleep – but that’s where IAPT can help.

“We want the people of Sheffield to know that it’s okay to not be okay at the moment, but if you are feeling stressed, worried or down, we’re here to help. Speaking to someone will make a big difference, and we know it can be difficult to take that first step and ask for help. All you need to do is give us a call and one of our team can help find the best support for you.”

You can find out more about the support on offer from Sheffield IAPT, including mental health support for anyone suffering with a long-term health condition, by visiting www.iaptsheffield.nhs.uk