Adult mental health and wellbeing
Emergency Contacts for Urgent Mental Health Support
Herefordshire & Worcestershire 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline 0808 196 9127
Samaritans 116 123
Emergency Response 999
Mental wellbeing can take many different forms, but a useful description is 'feeling good and functioning well'.
If you're feeling stressed, anxious, sad, lonely, depressed or perhaps you're not sure how you're feeling, take the NHS mood self-assessment, which is designed for those aged 16 and over.
You can also take the One You Every Mind Matters quiz to get a free personalised plan, which can help you feel more in control, deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood and improve your sleep.
There are five steps we can all take to help improve our mental wellbeing:
Step 1: Take notice
Enjoy the moment: Walk a different route to work or visit somewhere new (visit our things to do section for ideas)
Step 2: Connect
Talk and listen: Ask how a friend is or call instead of texting (find local social groups on our service directory)
Step 3: Be active
Improve your physical wellbeing: Go for a walk or take the stairs (visit our being active page and things to do section or Change4Life for ideas to get more active)
Step 4: Give
Your time to others: Volunteer in the community or simply say thank you (visit our volunteering page for ideas and information)
Step 5: Keep learning
Enhance your self-esteem: Sign up for a class or read a book (visit our learning, work and volunteering section for additional inspiration)
Please feel free to download and display our winning ways to wellbeing poster.
There are a number of fantastic local organisations, which can help support your mental health and wellbeing.
Give us a shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who needs to talk and may be struggling to cope.
Text: 'HERE'to 85258 to start a conversation
Now We’re Talking, provided by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, The Now We’re Talking campaign brings together local partners across Herefordshire and Worcestershire to raise awareness of mental health support, from tips to maintain good mental health, support if you’re feeling stresses, anxious or depressed, to urgent help in a crisis.
Hereford Men's Mental Health Group (HMMH) is a peer support group for men with, at risk of, or recovering from mental ill health. The group meet on the second Monday of the month at United in the Community, Victoria Park, Hereford.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust provide a 24 hour helpline for anyone living in Herefordshire, who experiences a mental health problem for the first time or a sudden deterioration of an existing problem. You can contact them on 0808 196 9127 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year).
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Wellbeing and Recovery College offer a range of free courses and workshops, aimed at helping individual's to learn new skills, so they can better manage their own mental health and wellbeing.
Herefordshire Libraries run Reading well for mental health, in conjunction with The Reading Agency. Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your mental health and wellbeing using books chosen and recommended by health experts and by people living with the conditions and topics covered. The books can be borrowed free of charge from any public library in the county.
Herefordshire Mind provide a range of different support services, groups and activities for local people with mental health problems. It also offers a Safe Haven, open 5pm-10pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Herefordshire Samaritans offer a telephone and drop in service, if you’re struggling and need help.
Marches Counselling Service offer affordable, professional counselling and psychotherapy services for individual adults or couples (18 and over), both in person and remotely.
Strong Young Minds support young people aged 10 to 26 years old to address any issues which affect their mental health and wellbeing, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and cyberbullying.
The Cart Shed helps individuals during difficult times in their lives by offering therapeutic support in a calm and caring woodland setting. This can help improve mental health and wellbeing through learning new skills, finding friendship and raising inspirations.
We are Farming Minds provide free access to counselling, and offer free social events to help break the isolation often associated with farming. Their helpline is available 24/7, by calling or texting any time of day for free on 0808 8020070 or text 07786 203130. They offer free mental health awareness workshops to anyone living/working within the farming community, to help people recognise the signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health.
Take a look at the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) mental wellbeing leaflet...
You can also find help and support from the following national organisations.
Op Courage is a dedicated NHS mental health service, designed to help serving personnel who are due to leave the service, reservists, veterans and their families.
The service can help you and your family with a range of support and treatment, including:
- Supporting you with intensive emergency care and treatment, if you’re in a crisis
- Helping you transition to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Welfare Services (DMWS)
- Supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping you access local services
Signposting for professionals
If you work in Herefordshire and surrounding areas, Now We're Talking has set up a page to help professionals access basic information and signposting around support people with mental health and suicide.