Support is available for anyone feeling overwhelmed this festive season.
Published: Thursday, 21st December 2023
Don't suffer in silence if you feel overwhelmed over the festive season because help is always available.
This is the Christmas message from Hounslow Council and its partners as they encourage anyone in the borough who is feeling overwhelmed and reaching crisis point to #JustSaySomething. Christmas is a time of celebration but for some people who live alone, it can increase their feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Long and cold winter days and nights can lead to some people feeling depressed. Financial pressure and ongoing concerns about the cost of living and rising prices can lead some to breaking point.
Nationally, around three-quarters (74 per cent) of those who take their own lives are men, with the age-specific suicide rate highest in those aged 50 to 54 years. In London, around 10 people take their own life each week. The number of suicides in North West London, including Hounslow, is a concern for health and care partners working across the region.
Working with partners in health and care, the Council wants to make Hounslow a suicide-free borough by promoting the range of services available to anyone who is finding life difficult. The campaign also wants to promote positive mental health and break the stigma around the issue by encouraging people to talk about the issues affecting them.
Cllr Samia Chaudhary , Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Transformation, said:
Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, which is why we want to let everyone know that there is always hope and there is always help.
The issues that are affecting you may seem overwhelming but the best way to start to deal with them is by opening up and speaking about them. This can be with someone you know and trust or with one of the trained professionals who will listen to your concerns and direct you to where you can get support.
The Council works closely with the mental health charity MIND to provide the Hounslow Safe Space Helpline - 020 3475 5185.
This free service operates between 11am and 11pm every day of the year.
Callers can speak to trained staff who are experienced in dealing with people who need urgent mental health support. The service is aimed at anyone who is over 18.
Mental health support is also available online from the KOOTH website which is aimed at young people aged 11 to 25 and from the QWELL website which is designed for adults.
You can also find online support and a range of resources to support your mental health at the Thrive LDN website.
Anyone can take the free online suicide awareness and prevention training here.
If you are struggling with money issues or need support around debt and other financial matters, you can find more information on what’s on offer locally on Hounslow Council’s website.
- You can find out more about the Hounslow Safe Space Helpline here.
