Health & Wellbeing

Text message service launched by Council to support mental health

A NEW Wiltshire Council-commissioned partnership will provide critical timely support for anyone in Wiltshire struggling with their mental health.

It will be delivered by Mental Health Innovations, the charity that powers the national service called Shout.

The 24/7 text messaging support service will provide free confidential support for anyone in Wiltshire who is struggling with their mental health. As it is free, it will not appear on anyone’s phone bill.

Wiltshire Council has commissioned the service locally using money from the government’s Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant, which can be used for projects that provide a ‘better and more integrated response to physical and mental health issues’.

To use the service, people should text the word ‘WILTS’ to 85258. This will start a text conversation with a trained volunteer who will aim to get the person texting to a calm and safe place, with a plan of what they are going to do to support themselves moving forward. This will include providing information about local support services where required.

Wiltshire Council will receive anonymised information about the type of support that is being accessed which will provide valuable insight and help inform how local services are delivered.

The service has been available since November 2, which was National Stress Awareness Day – a day in the calendar that aims to raise awareness of the effects that stress can have on people in their daily lives.

The national Shout service has had 1.6 million text conversations with children, young people and adults in the UK, averaging approximately 2,000 conversations each day – 86% of Shout service users felt that the conversation was helpful.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “Sometimes people who are struggling with their mental health don’t speak out or seek support. Shout provides a support outlet that is completely confidential and discreet, while ensuring the texter gets access to expert local information and guidance.

“As stated in our Business Plan, we want to support people and help them adopt healthy behaviours, with a real focus on mental health. It’s a challenging time at the moment for lots of people, particularly with the high cost-of-living, so we hope this service provides some reassurance that we are ready to help anyone who needs us, so please get in touch.”

The 24/7 text messaging support service will provide free confidential support for anyone in Wiltshire who is struggling with their mental health

Credit: Jonas Leupe/Unsplash

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Grant award for Mind’s innovative GP referral trial

WILTSHIRE Mind has been awarded a two-year Community Partnership Grant from NHS Charities Together and RUHX for an innovative pilot project aimed at providing a direct referral route from selected county GP surgeries to free counselling for adults and young people – reducing the waiting time and providing equity of access for those seeking support.

The pilot project will offer therapeutic counselling support to those who face anxiety, stress, mild depression, worry, low confidence, anger or grief.

The grant will cover the cost of the trial for two years.

The trial is expected to start just before Christmas 2022. If successful, it’s hoped it could be rolled out across Wiltshire.

For more information contact Paul Mills, Wiltshire Mind CEO, at paul.mills@ wiltshiremind.co.uk.

Health & Wellbeing Hospital scoops biodiversity award for transforming green spaces

SALISBURY District Hospital has announced that it has won this year’s national NHS Forest award for successful ways to support biodiversity.

NHS Forest inspires and supports healthcare sites in transforming their green space for health, wellbeing and biodiversity.

Each year, at their autumn conference, they present awards to NHS Forest sites that have created inspiring green spaces and used them in particularly innovative ways.

Over the past three years the hospital has worked hard to achieve greater engagement and understanding of the natural environment in and around the site, which extends to approximately 21 hectares in its countryside setting.

Key was the production of a full colour nature guide, complete with illustrations, scientific information and seasonal calendar, written by staff member James Macpherson.

The hospital’s Facilities Waste and Grounds Team has mapped and created a strategy for protected wildflower verges, and ArtCare, the hospital’s arts in health service, has created a walking guide to public footpaths and natural spaces around the hospital.

There are also monthly nature walks for staff and the public, species surveys, creative activities and online resources.

As part of the Well-City Salisbury project, ArtCare has partnered with artists to host an eight-week course providing activities for mental health referral participants.

Working with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, a CAMHS garden to support younger mental health patients has also been developed at the hospital.

Staff, patients and visitors are now more connected to the natural environment, the grounds are better managed, wildflowers are flourishing, including bee orchids, and staff have relaxing outdoor spaces to visit during breaks.

Gemma Heath, sustainability manager at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Thanks to dedicated and collaborative working between nature groups, staff member James Macpherson, ArtCare, and the Facilities Waste and Grounds team, I am delighted that the hospital has won the national NHS Forest Award for Successful Ways To Support Biodiversity.

“The natural environment is an important part of our hospital site and has a vital role to play as we work towards a greener NHS.

“It provides staff, patients and visitors with increased wellbeing, helps reduce carbon emissions, supports habitat and species conservation,and encourages education.”

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