Published on: 13 May 2024
Mental Health Awareness Week (13 to 19 May) is an annual initiative, aimed at encouraging conversations around mental health in workplaces, families and communities across the UK. local organisations including Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust recognise the importance of addressing mental health issues and providing support for individuals navigating its challenges.
Everyone experiences ups and downs at some point but poor mental health is not something that should be experienced alone. There are lots of self-help tips and advice on the NHS’s Every Mind Matters website. But there are also lots of ways to reach out in Derby and Derbyshire if you need someone to talk to – including drop-in centres, safe havens open every night of the week, and a 24/7 local helpline – and these are described in more detail below.
Richard’s story
The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year is ‘movement’. Richard* is a Derby resident who has accessed support through Derby Wellbeing, a service that brings together the NHS, social care and community and voluntary sector organisations to help with a range of needs.
Here, Richard highlights the importance of getting help – and the value of movement through running.
“I’ve been a part of Derby Wellbeing for almost three months now, and I truly believe it has been lifechanging.
“Throughout my teenage years, anxiety became my close friend – day and night. Nightmares plagued my sleep, leaving me exhausted and emotionally drained. Anxiety started to take its toll, and I continued to feel more guilt and shame in my teens. Behind the smiles and laughter, I had a deep sense of insecurity. I felt lost and alone, but remained hopeful that things will get easier as an adult.
“I became exposed to a lot of different drugs and influences from a young age. Drugs helped to fill a hole in my life that was left by my childhood, and I really believed, at the time, my wellbeing was improving. I still suffer with crippling anxiety and depression. My ADHD brain can also make it difficult to focus. I have tried lots of jobs, and was always told how great I was, but that I wasn’t fit for the role. I was emotionally unstable.
“I managed to get myself clean from drugs and alcohol – I am now five years sober. A couple of friends encouraged me to start running – to channel my energy into something more positive. I’ve now ran countless miles and have entered many races.
“I define happiness as getting out of the bed in the morning and feeling positive as well as motivated about the day. I’m now the happy one out of my friendship group. They now look to me for support. My coach and I have built a mental health toolkit together. Now no matter what happens in life, I have the tools to cope with how I feel and have the strength to continue breaking down the walls that have trapped me for so long. For the first time, the future is bright.”
*Name has been changed for confidentiality.
Urgent mental health support services
If you, or someone you care for, needs urgent mental health support, there are a range of options available to support you. These are summarised below, or you can find more information online – on the 'help in a crisis' page on the Derbyshire Healthcare website or on the ‘Derby and Derbyshire emotional health and wellbeing’ website. Remember: in a medical emergency or life-threatening situation, please attend your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department or call 999.
Mental Health Crisis Support Drop-In Services
There are three crisis support drop-in services open Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons in Buxton, Swadlincote and Ripley. These drop-in services, run by Derbyshire Mind in partnership with local community organisations, offer an out-of-hours friendly and welcoming community support space open to anyone over 18 experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. This is an opportunity to get support and help in a relaxed and comfortable environment. All three services are open Fridays and Saturdays 6pm to 11pm, and Sundays 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
- The Buxton service is located at Zink in the Market Street Car Park (top of Clough Street), SK17 6LJ.
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The Ripley service is at The Croft, Slack Lane (just off Ripley Market Place), DE5 3HF.
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The Swadlincote service is at 12-14 West Street (opposite the Empire Cinema), DE11 9DE.
Full details of all three services are on the Derbyshire Mind website.
Safe Havens
These centres, in Derby and Chesterfield, are open every evening from 4.30pm to 12.30am and are places where people can get support when they feel overwhelmed or unable to cope.
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Derby’s Safe Haven, run by Richmond Fellowship, is at 309 Burton Road, Derby DE23 6AG. Tel: 0330 008 3722
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Chesterfield’s Safe Haven, run by the charity P3, is at 188 North Wingfield Road, Grassmoor, Chesterfield, S42 5EJ. It can be contacted through the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline on 0800 028 0077 or you can self-refer by making a booking on the P3 website.
Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service – 0800 028 0077
This free helpline is staffed by NHS professionals from Derbyshire Healthcare and advisers from the charity P3. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for residents of Derby and Derbyshire of all ages, adults and children alike. There is now a new option for Deaf people and those with a hearing impairment to contact the helpline via the SignVideo app. Learn more at www.derbyshirehelpline.com
The helpline works closely with the Safe Havens and also Derbyshire’s Crisis Houses, which offer short-term residential accommodation to people with urgent mental health needs, to support their wellbeing.
Help Us, Help You – NHS Talking Therapies
The NHS is encouraging anyone struggling with feelings of depression, or anxiety such as excessive worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or obsessions and compulsions, to seek help through NHS Talking Therapies services. These are effective, confidential and free treatments delivered by trained clinicians, online, on the phone, or in person.
If you’re struggling with feelings of depression or anxiety, seeking help through an NHS Talking Therapies service can be one of the best steps you can take to overcome mental health issues and get back on track.
You do not need to have a diagnosed mental health problem to refer yourself to an NHS Talking Therapies service. Getting support as soon as you start having difficulties can help to reduce their impact.
For those whose first language is not English, talking therapies can be delivered through multi-lingual therapists or through confidential interpreters, and in British Sign Language (BSL) through SignHealth’s NHS Therapies for Deaf People service.
Your GP can refer you for NHS Talking Therapies, or you can refer yourself online at nhs.uk/talk.
Useful websites
These websites have lots of information about other support services and community groups in the local area:
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Hub of Hope website – this website also has information about support available nationwide
