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Christmas tips for health and wellbeing

Christmas tips for health and wellbeing

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To help you take care of yourself and your family this Christmas season, we’ve pulled together some useful information and tips for health and wellbeing. Find more support on our Your Health pages.

Stay healthy this winter
Useful advice from the NHS to help you stay fit and well this winter, including vaccinations and what to do if you feel unwell.

Looking after your mental health at Christmas
Top tips from Mind to look after your mental health or support someone else, with ideas to help cope with money and relationship worries and where to find support.

Christmas and dementia
Christmas can be stressful and emotionally challenging, especially for those affected by dementia. Dementia UK Admiral Nurses share 12 tips to help people with dementia and their families have a happy and relaxing time.

Christmas tips for autistic people
National Autistic Society tips to make the festive period as stress-free as possible for autistic people and their families.

Healthier Christmas recipes
British Heart Foundation has created healthier versions of some favourite Christmas recipes. Try healthier mince pies, berry trifle, Christmas pudding ice cream and low-fat Christmas cake.

Support with an eating disorder at Christmas
Charity Beat shares some common questions and answers and tips for dealing with the challenges of Christmas, whether you have an eating disorder or are supporting someone you care about.

Online event – Health Trainers

Online event – Health Trainers

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At our next online lunchtime event on Friday 12 April, 1pm-2pm, you can hear from local Health Trainers Jack and Kirsty.

They will give an outline of what support is on offer to help to improve and maintain health and wellbeing, plus details of 1:1 clinics, healthy lifestyle programmes, Weigh & Go programmes, health checks, Health Walks and more.

They will also share some top tips for keeping well and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

This session is free to attend and open to anyone who lives or works in Northumberland.

This event has now passed – watch the recording

Sign up to our newsletter to hear about future events.

Online event – Stroke Association

Online event – Stroke Association

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Join us on Friday 17 November, 1pm-2pm to hear a presentation from Janet Nesbitt, a volunteer from Stroke Association. (Please note this event has been rescheduled from Friday 10 November).

In this free, online public event Janet will provide an overview of stroke, including risk factors, stroke effects and what to do if you think someone is having a stroke.

We will also hear about local and national Stroke Association services, including support for stroke survivors and their carers, how to access advice and information and opportunities for volunteering. There will be a chance to ask questions.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: bit.ly/Stroke-Association-Nov-23

This event has now passed.

Latest wellbeing sessions from Northumberland Recovery College

Latest wellbeing sessions from Northumberland Recovery College

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Northumberland Recovery College is offering a range of free courses and workshops to support people with their mental health and wellbeing.

What is a recovery college?

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

Details of upcoming sessions are below and will take place via Zoom. To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk or text 07515 326 750.

All On Board Families: Starts Thursday 10 June, 1pm-3pm. A series of 10 live interactive workshops to support parents of neurodivergent children to better understand their child’s brain, emotions and behaviours.

Collage Workshop – Bellwether Project: Friday 11 June, 10am-11.30am. Join artists Trish and Nick from INSTAR for a fun and creative workshop exploring collage.

Useful Apps for Visually Impaired People: Tuesday 15 June, 11.30am-12.30pm or Tuesday 22 June, 2pm-3pm. Discover apps that can help if you or someone you know has a visual impairment.

Listening Workshop: Wednesday 16 June, 10am-12pm. Providing support to families by developing listening skills.

Assertiveness Workshop: Wednesday 23 June, 10am-12pm. A workshop to help you understand assertive behaviour and develop a sense of self-awareness and self-esteem.

Ways to Wellness Taster Session: Tuesday 29 June, 2pm-3pm. Centered around the five ways to wellbeing, this session will encourage you to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Anger Awareness Workshop: Wednesday 30 June, 10am-12pm. This session will help you to understand anger and provide you with strategies to use when dealing with anger.

View all June sessions

Find out more about Northumberland Recovery College.

Mental Health Support and Services

Wellbeing sessions from Northumberland Recovery College

Wellbeing sessions from Northumberland Recovery College

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Northumberland Recovery College is offering a range of free courses and workshops to support people with their mental health and wellbeing.

What is a recovery college?

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

Details of upcoming sessions are below and will take place via Zoom. To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk

All On Board Families: Tuesday 13 April, 2pm and Thursday 22 April, 2pm. Practical skills for your family to stay connected while supporting your child.

Mindfulness: Thursday 29 April, 10.30am. Introduction to what mindfulness is, how it helps so many people and how to use mindfulness in your own day-to-day life by practicing it in fun and creative ways.

Yin & Yang Yoga: Monday 3 May, 1.30pm. Four-week gentle yoga practice for all levels and abilities.

 

Find out more about Northumberland Recovery College.

Mental Health Support and Services

Taster Sessions from Northumberland Recovery College

Taster Sessions from Northumberland Recovery College

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Northumberland Recovery College is launching soon, to support people with their mental health and wellbeing. As part of this, some free online taster sessions are on offer for anyone who would like to take part.

What is a recovery college?

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

Details of the taster sessions on offer are below and will take place via Zoom. To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk or text: 07515 326750.

Yin & Yang Yoga: Monday 15 March, 1.30pm. A nourishing yoga flow to rejuvenate and balance your body and mind (suitable for all fitness levels).

Coming into Harmony: Tuesday 16 March, 1.00pm.  An introduction to nature-based healing, living and spirituality from a shamanic perspective.

Maintaining Wellness: Thursday 18 March, 10.00am. Explore ways for you to take care of yourself and be in charge of your wellness.

Building Resilience: Friday 19 March, 1.30pm. How to be more resilient in trying times.

Yin & Yang Yoga: Monday 22 March, 1.30pm. A nourishing yoga flow to rejuvenate and balance your body and mind (suitable for all fitness levels).

Building Resilience: Friday 26 March, 1.30pm. How to be more resilient in trying times.

Maintaining Wellness: Thursday 1 April: 10.00am. Explore ways for you to take care of yourself and be in charge of your wellness.

 

Find out more about Northumberland Recovery College.

Mental Health Support and Services

Digital mental health support for young people

Digital mental health support for young people

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Young people aged 11-25 years living in Northumberland can now access a digital mental health support service.

Kooth.com has been commissioned by the NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group to provide a safe, confidential and anonymous way for young people to access emotional wellbeing and early intervention mental health support.

Once registered, Kooth can be accessed on any internet device. Users can complete a daily journal, set goals and seek support through self help resources and peer to peer support. There is also professional help available through qualified counsellors.

Fully trained and qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners are available until 10pm each night, 365 days per year, to provide accessible out-of-hours emotional support.

There’s also a Kooth online magazine with helpful articles, personal experiences and tips from young people and the Kooth team.

Join Kooth here or watch this video to find out more.

A Practical Guide to Healthy Ageing

A Practical Guide to Healthy Ageing

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NHS England, in partnership with Age UK, Public Health England, and the Chief Fire Officer’s Association and older people themselves, has published a Practical Guide to Healthy Ageing.

The guide helps people to stay physically and mentally well by providing hints and tips on how to keep fit and independent. It recognises, as we all should, that there is always something we can do to improve our health and wellbeing. For older people who may be starting to find things more difficult to do, it is particularly important to take active steps to slow down or reverse some of the health challenges we are all likely to face.

To help people understand their potential risk of living with frailty, the guide includes a simple, walking speed test. Taking more than five seconds to cover a distance of four metres is highly indicative of frailty, with the proviso that there is no obvious alternative reason for walking slowly such as a previous stroke or knee/hip arthritis. This is not meant to be a diagnosis, but it can provide a good indication that someone should consider making changes to their daily lives so that they can better manage their frailty or reduce the chance of it becoming more serious.

Download the Guide

Quarterly Report October – December 2018

Quarterly Report October – December 2018

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As independent champion for people who use health and social care services, we listen to your experiences of using these services.  This report shares the themes from the feedback we received between 1 October to 31 December 2018.

We receive feedback and enquiries by:

  • Talking to people at local community events
  • Telephone calls, emails and social media
  • Surveys
  • Focus groups on specific issues

Healthwatch Northumberland is open to all feedback about health and social care services but respondents to our Annual Survey identified five priorities for specific focus these are mental health services, dementia care services, home care, GP services and access to services.

Between October and December 2018 we had 98 individual pieces of unsolicited feedback and we spoke with approximately 530 people face to face. We attended flu clinics at GP practices in Tynedale, North Northumberland and Castle Morpeth, talking to a wide range of older residents and those with long term conditions and learning disabilities. We were at Morpeth, Berwick, Prudhoe, and Widdrington libraries during Library Week. We also attended “Winter Warmer” and SEND events, the Carers’ Rights
Day at Berwick and spoke at the Belford Parish Council and the Belford Practice Patient Participation Group.

Read the October to December 2018 report in full.

 

Events

Prudhoe Health and Wellbeing Fair

Prudhoe Health and Wellbeing Fair

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Find us at Prudhoe Health and Wellbeing Fair at Prudhoe Community Hub on Wednesday 15 November from 10am to 2pm. There will be a variety of health and wellbeing organisations there on the day offering information and advice. Come and talk to us about health and care services you have used as a patient or a carer, pick up some information and a free giveaway.

Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

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Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

We’ll be joining a range of organisations for this free wellbeing event at Blyth Community Hub, Keel Row Shopping Centre on Wednesday 11 October, 10.30am-12.30pm.

Also there on the day will be Marine Medical Group, Northumberland Recovery College, Anxious Minds, Headway Arts, Health Trainers and many more.

Find out about the activities, groups and support available in Blyth Valley, speak to us about health and social care services and pick up some free giveaways.

Wellbeing Event at The Alnwick Garden

Wellbeing Event at The Alnwick Garden

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Wellbeing event at The Alnwick Garden

We’ll be joining a host of health and wellbeing organisations at The Alnwick Garden on Thursday 26 October for a free wellbeing event in the Pavilion Room.

Offering advice and information on the day will be Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Northumberland Fire and Rescue, Northern Cancer Voices, Carers Northumberland and many more!

The event starts at 10am until 1pm and is open to all. No ticket is needed to access the event.

View the event flyer

Kooth Parent and Carer Session

Kooth Parent and Carer Session

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If you are a parent or carer in Northumberland looking to find out more about Kooth and how it can help young people with their wellbeing, you can learn more at an online awareness session this month.
The session with Malcolm Connelly, Senior Engagement Lead with Kooth, will provide a brief overview of what the service can offer.
There are two sessions available:
  • Wednesday 24 November, 1.30pm-2.30pm
  • Tuesday 30 November, 10.30am-11.30am
Book your place here:
Kooth Parent and Carer Session

Kooth Parent and Carer Session

/0 Comments/in /by
If you are a parent or carer in Northumberland looking to find out more about Kooth and how it can help young people with their wellbeing, you can learn more at an online awareness session this month.
The session with Malcolm Connelly, Senior Engagement Lead with Kooth, will provide a brief overview of what the service can offer.
There are two sessions available:
  • Wednesday 24 November, 1.30pm-2.30pm
  • Tuesday 30 November, 10.30am-11.30am
Book your place here:

Kooth information session for parents and carers

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This online session will give a brief overview of the Kooth platform for parents and carers.

Kooth is a free online mental health support service for young people aged 11-25 years, commissioned by NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Find out more about the platform on the Kooth website or take a look at our Kooth Q&A.

Register here

Northumberland Recovery College: Yin & Yang Yoga

Northumberland Recovery College: Yin & Yang Yoga

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Four-week gentle yoga practice for all levels and abilities. The session will take place via Zoom.

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk

Northumberland Recovery College: Mindfulness

Northumberland Recovery College: Mindfulness

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An introduction to what mindfulness is, how it helps so many people and how to use mindfulness in your own day-to-day life by practicing it in fun and creative ways. The session will take place via Zoom.

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk

 

Northumberland Recovery College: All On Board Families

Northumberland Recovery College: All On Board Families

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This session from Northumberland Recovery College will give you practical skills to help your family stay connected while supporting your child. It will take place via Zoom.

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk

Northumberland Recovery College: All On Board Families

Northumberland Recovery College: All On Board Families

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This session from Northumberland Recovery College will give you practical skills to help your family stay connected while supporting your child. It will take place via Zoom.

A recovery college is not a building or a place, it’s an opportunity to become your own expert in what works to manage your wellbeing. The college provides learning experiences, mutual support, and activities at a pace that is right for you.

To book a place please email: nrc@mentalhealthconcern.org.uk