News from December 2024 Posted or Updated on 17 Dec 2024

Mental health

Winter can be challenging for mental health as many of the activities we might do to help improve our mood become more difficult. Getting outside and doing exercise can help boost our wellbeing, while financial pressures and loneliness can take their toll. At the moment, the cold weather and dark nights may make being outside for exercise more challenging, but you can still use the outdoors to help bring your life into balance.

There are some useful tips to help improve your mental health on the NHS website. One is that mindfulness is beneficial. This means taking time to notice how you are feeling, and your surroundings. You can use mindfulness exercises to help support your mental health.

https://www.amh.org.uk/winter-welln...do-to-protect-your-mental-health-this-winter/

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matte...ps/top-tips-to-improve-your-mental-wellbeing/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information...ments/mindfulness/mindfulness-exercises-tips/

Flu

During the winter, flu circulates in the community, and this winter will be no exception.

-If you’ve been invited for a flu vaccination and haven’t yet booked your appointment, then please get in touch.
-If your child has a long-term condition and has been invited for a flu vaccination, you can make an appointment for them to receive their vaccination in the surgery if you would prefer not to wait for the school immunisations.
-If you have a child aged two or three on 31st August 2024, they may be eligible for a free flu vaccination. Children can suffer complications as a result of flu, and your child gets the best protection from flu if they’re vaccinated.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/

Lullaby Trust Baby Check App

If you have a baby, sometimes it can be difficult to know whether they’re just a bit unwell and will recover in a couple of days or whether you need to seek advice. The Lullaby Trust have designed an app to support you with that decision-making. https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/infection-and-illness/baby-check-app/

Care for older adults

Caring for older adults can be challenging when you’re under pressure from work, and other commitments. The Carents Room is a support network designed for those who are caring for older adults, and you can find out more about what they offer here:
https://carents.co.uk/

Pharmacy First

You don’t always need to wait to see a GP for some common minor conditions. Pharmacies can offer advice and guidance for conditions that don’t require a prescription, and many pharmacies have specially trained Pharmacists who are now able to diagnose and treat a number of minor illnesses.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help

Money worries

You can get FREE unbiased advice about money, debts, budgets and planning for the future from Money Helper, which brings together advice from respected organisations.

Zero budgeting is a well-known technique to help manage your money. Zero-based budgeting works on the concept that every pound needs to have a job and when you receive money you purposefully allocate the money to its purpose. Over time, this focus can have a positive impact on the financial pressures of the modern world. https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...as-a-purpose-the-rise-of-zero-based-budgeting

Foodbank and healthy eating on a budget

If you don’t have enough food and cannot afford to buy food, you may be able to seek support from the Trussell Trust. The Trussell Trust is a national foodbank organisation. There may also be independent foodbanks for your area.

Eating healthily on a budget can be hugely challenging. The British Heart Foundation has hints and tips on how you can eat healthily while being mindful of the cost of food.

https://www.trussell.org.uk/

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/eat-well-on-a-budget

Domestic abuse

The festive season can be a trigger for domestic violence. Abuse can be physical, mental, controlling behaviours or financial abuse. You can find support for female victims of domestic abuse here:
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

https://mensadviceline.org.uk/

https://galop.org.uk/get-help/helplines/