Taking care of your mind

Top tips if you’re feeling worried or anxious

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in different ways, and it’s been a worrying time for lots of us. You might feel nervous about the future or frustrated by the way your life has changed.

Every Mind Matters has put together 11 tips to cope with anxiety about getting ‘back to normal’ after the pandemic. These include tips and tools for:

  • taking things at your own pace
  • challenging unhelpful thoughts
  • taking time to relax

The following sections provide more advice and support.

Sleep and managing anxiety

When we’re anxious it can be hard to sleep. NHS Good Thinking provides information and support on sleep, including apps and online help.

Tomo is a free app to support you with keeping on top of your daily tasks, anxiety and poor sleep. The app combines digital peer support with the best of social media and proven therapeutic techniques. Mindfulness is a great way to help calm your mind and help you get to sleep.

The NHS has a mindfulness meditation video to help you to sleep.

Caring for someone and taking care of your mental health

When you're caring for someone, it’s important to know what help is available.

Carers UK has helpful information about the support available to you, and those you look after.

The Alzheimer’s Society has information if you live with or take care of somebody with dementia.

Get help if you have money worries

Struggling with money can be a stressful and lonely experience. Some people feel guilt or shame, or they worry about what others will think. This can be distressing and it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, this is a challenging time for many people. There are places you can go to get help and advice.

There are organisations in Southwark that can help you with debt and money advice or support with work or employment.

The NHS provides top tips on coping with financial worries.

Mental Health and Money Advice has practical advice and support for people experiencing issues with mental health and money.

Employment advice if you're struggling with your mental health

The Work Well Advice Line offers confidential telephone and email advice on employment and mental health to anybody who needs it.

Work Well is part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Whether you're currently unemployed or stressed at work, you can speak to one of their friendly employment advisers who can help you find the support you need.

You can contact the Work Well Advice Line in the following ways:

Further information on employment advice services in Southwark.

Support if a loved one has died

Losing loved ones is always difficult and it’s normal to experience feelings of grief.

You can refer yourself for bereavement talking therapy support with the South London and Maudsley (SLaM).

Support if you have lost a loved one to suicide

The South London and Maudsley in partnership with South East London Mind can also support you if you have lost someone to suicide. This support includes practical help with things like funeral arrangements, as well as emotional support throughout the grieving process.

National bereavement support organisations

These organisations provide bereavement helplines and can also help you find support services:

Healthy lifestyle healthy mind

When we're stressed or feeling low, it's tempting to:

  • smoke
  • drink alcohol
  • eat unhealthy “comfort food”, to try and make us feel better

However, these all have the opposite effect on our bodies and can make us more depressed.

Alcohol is a depressant. It stops us from sleeping well. It may make us do or say things we regret, and it can make us feel low.

Unhealthy food can make us feel bloated and tired and depressed. And in the long term, increases our risk of diseases like heart disease and some cancers.

Smoking affects our breathing and our lungs. We know that COVID-19 attacks our lungs. So there‘s never been a better time to think about stopping smoking.

Together these unhealthy choices can weaken our immune system, making us more likely to become unwell, as well as contributing to us feeling low. 

One of the best things we can do for our health right now is to move more. It helps boost our mood, manage anxiety, and helps us to sleep better. Get advice on moving more.

Page last updated: 06 December 2023

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