Simple Signposting to Better Health and Wellbeing

Self-care and National Support Services

NATIONAL SUPPORT - ALCOHOL

Do you think you would benefit from some further support to reduce your drinking to 'lower risk' levels?

• Speak to your GP, a loved one or call Drinkline 0300 1231110 (Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm, weekends 11am - 4pm). The Drinkline service provides free, confidential, accurate and consistent information and advice to callers who are concerned about their own or someone else`s drinking regardless of the caller`s age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or spirituality
• Cutting back on the booze can be a really effective way to improve your health, boost your energy, lose weight and save money.  Any reduction in the amount you drink every week will be beneficial – and with the right help, it's easier than you think. Download the 'Drink Free Days' app to update and track your drink-free days, get simple and practical tips to help you control your drinking, receive reminders and celebrate milestones.
• Get further information from NHS Choices www.nhs.uk

Organisations that offer support: 

Please see the foot of this section for a list local drug and alcohol services, along the brief details on the support they offer.

SELF CARE - ALCOHOL

Further tips on cutting down

Make a plan
Before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you're going to drink.

Set a budget
Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol.

Let them know
If you let your friends and family know you're cutting down and it's important to you, you could get support from them.

Take it a day at a time
Cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success.

Make it a smaller one
You can still enjoy a drink, but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.

Have a lower-strength drink
Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You'll find this information on the bottle.

Stay hydrated
Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink.

Take a break
Have several drink-free days each week.  

NATIONAL SUPPORT - Drugs

Change Grow Live

Local Support Services

Together

Together - Waythrough

We will help you regain control of your life, by building on your strengths and supporting you to make healthy changes.

We off the following recovery support:

• 1 to 1 sessions 
• Group work 
• Prescribing medications to help with your recovery 

In addition, we also provide services such as needle exchanges, and clinical support; including testing for blood-borne viruses, certain vaccinations, providing naloxone, essential health checks. 

Email: SW_together@waythrough.org.uk

Phone number: 0800 233 5444

Address: Magdalene House, Grendon Road, Exeter, EX1 2NJ

Website (typed address): https://www.waythrough.org.uk/find-support-near-me/together/

Website (hyperlink): Together - Exeter - Waythrough

Opening Hours: 

• Mon: 9am-8pm
• Tues: 9am-5pm
• Wed: 9am-5pm
• Thurs: 9am-5pm
• Fri: 9am-5pm

Y-SMART

We provide support and advice for young people, parents, families and professionals.

At Y-Smart we are committed to being inclusive, no matter who you are, where you are from and how you are today. If you need our help, would like some information or advice, please contact us - we're here to help.

Email: y-smart@devon.gov.uk

Phone number: 01392385637

Address: Barbican House, 5 Barbican Close, Barnstaple, EX32 9HE

Website (typed address): https://www.y-smart.org.uk/

Website (hyperlink): Home - Y-SMART

Self-care and National Support Services

Give reassurances that there are lots of sources of support

If you are worried that this person is in crisis, please see section for Suicide Prevention

 If no immediate risk take the following steps:

Encourage them to ring:

Samaritans - (All age groups)

Tel: 116 123, open 24 hours a day.

Papyrus - (Young people)

Tel: 0800 068 4141

Text: 07860039967

Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Lines are open 24 hours every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included)

SELF CARE 

• Encourage the person to contact their GP. Their GP will be able support the person in many ways

• Mind 'The charity for better mental health' has an extensive range of self help resources available

• The NHS have has a range of self-help tools available

• Andy's Man Club provides a weekly talking group, a place for men to come together in a safe environment to talk about issues/problems they be have faced or currently been facing.  Meetings take place regularly in different locations across the region, where applicable these can be found in the local support and contact details section.
• For Men -CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer accredited, confidential and free support to men anywhere in the UK through a helpline and web and webchat service.  They talk through any issue with you and offer support, advice and signposting.
• Quell - Free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing support for adults across the UK
• Kooth - is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous support, for 11-25 year olds
  

Better Health - Every Mind Matters

Better Health Every Mind Matters website​. NHS-assured information & advice on common mental wellbeing concerns: anxiety, stress, low mood & poor sleep​

Tips to manage mental wellbeing based on Mind’s ‘5 ways to wellbeing’. 

Plus self-help CBT techniques section​ Life’s challenges - practical tips on dealing with drivers of poor mental health eg coping with money worries and job uncertainty, maintaining healthy relationships and loneliness​

The Mind Plan – free, personalised plan. Answer 5 quick questions on how you’ve been feeling over the last 2 weeks and you’ll get recommendations on practical self-care actions that could help. You can customise the plan and get it emailed to you​

​Free email support programmes – complete the Mind Plan to sign up for regular emails with further tips on building wellbeing actions into everyday life, or go to the “anxiety” page to sign up for a tailored email programme with expert advice and practical tips to help deal with anxiety

Support Services - Adults

Adults can self-refer to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. IAPT is a national NHS programme, which offers evidence based psychological therapies or interventions approved by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). IAPT is primarily for treating people with mild to moderate mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

IAPT treatments are delivered via a stepped care model where patients are initially offered low intensity therapies, such as computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) and guided self-help. If these treatments are unsuccessful, or not appropriate for individuals, higher intensity therapies are utilised and include one to one cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT). Please see local support and contact details for further information.

Support Services - Veterans

Veterans Combat Stress is the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans. They offer free, confidential 24-hour support to Service and ex-Service personnel who are experiencing mental health issues, including feeling suicidal.

Tel: 0800 138 1619

Web: https://www.combatstress.org.uk/help-you

Support Services - Perinatal

PANDAS Foundation

The PANDAS Foundation is here to help support and advise any parent who is experiencing a perinatal mental illness. We are also here to inform and guide family members, carers, friends and employers as to how they can support someone who is suffering.

Tel: 0843 2898401 (0900 - 2000 hrs, 7 days per week)

Web: http://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/

Support Services - Carers

The Carers Trust

It is important that you take care of your own health, even if you are busy looking after someone else's health.  Being healthy is not only important for you, but it also helps the person you care after too.  The website contains some helpful guides on relationship management and information on self-care and respite care.

Support Services - Children and Young People

Children and Young People can contact the 'The Mix which is a leading support service that can help young people to take on any challenge they are facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. 

• Tel: 0808 808 4994 (Freephone)
• Web: http://www.themix.org.uk/

For Parents

YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline, which parents/careers can call if they are worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving.  They also run a group called Parents Say, for parents whose children are accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Web: https://youngminds.org.uk/

Talk about the Five Ways to Wellbeing.  The mental health equivalent to the dietary advice to have ‘5 a day’ fruit and vegetables for physical health.

1. Connect - With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community.

• As being well connected is good for your mental wellbeing… Is there anything you could be doing more of?
• Can you think of connections that you would like to make or remake?

2. Be Active - Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

• What activities do you engage in on a regular basis? How would I like to develop this?
• Are there any minor adjustments you can make in your life that can help you to be more active?

3. Take Notice -  Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, eating lunch or talking to friends. 

• How can you practice slowing down and pausing more often?
• What difference will incorporating this into your daily life make?

4. Keep Learning - Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. 

• What would you like to learn about? What interests you? What do you value? What would you find useful?
• What do you need to do to make learning something you look forward to?

5. Give - Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. 

• Do you notice what it’s like for you when you give to others?
• What else could you give others that you hadn’t thought of before?

Local Support Services

Mental Health and Wellbeing

TalkWorks

Devon's NHS Talking Therapies Service. A free, confidential, service, part of NHS Talking Therapies, for people (aged 18+) in Devon (excluding Plymouth), helping you to feel better and giving you the tools and techniques to improve your mental and physical wellbeing.

Phone number: 0300 555 3344

Website (typed address): https://www.talkworks.dpt.nhs.uk/

Website (hyperlink): TALKWORKS | Devon's NHS Talking Therapies Service

Devon Mental Health Alliance

The Devon Mental Health Alliance (DMHA) is a partnership between five local organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector providing support for people living with mental health problems across Devon.

Website (typed address): https://www.mentalhealthdevon.co.uk/

Website (hyperlink): www.mentalhealthdevon.co.uk

Website (typed address):  for information about urgent help - https://www.mentalhealthdevon.co.uk/urgent-help

Website (hyperlink): for information about urgent help - www.mentalhealthdevon.co.uk/urgent-help

Devon Mind

If you’re experiencing a mental health problem, it can often feel difficult figuring out who to ask for help. Devon Mind is here to listen, advise, and help you take the first steps to a life with better mental health.

Phone number: 01752 512 280 (during office hours)

Website (typed address): https://www.devonmind.com/

Website (hyperlink): Devon Mind, leading the fight for mental health in Devon

Self-care and National Support Services

Provide the details in the Self-Care section below and offer support to help navigate and access the local services – most services have moved to initial contact via phone due to the pandemic, with some elements accessed online (see specific area for contact details/ websites).

 Self-Care

• For information about sexual health, STIs, HIV and contraception visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/ or https://www.brook.org.uk/
• The Sexual Health Helpline provides advice and information on all aspects of sexual health, call free on 0300 123 7123 (open from 9am-8pm, Monday-Friday and Saturday-Sunday 11am to 4pm). Calls will be treated with sensitivity and in strict confidence.
• This website https://www.contraceptionchoices.org/ is designed to help people decide which method of contraception might suit them best and provides honest information on the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
• For information about HIV prevention and treatment visit https://www.startswithme.org.uk/ and for HIV PrEP see https://prepster.info/ including how to talk about PrEP here.

Local Support Services

Devon Sexual Health

Providing sexual health services that support healthy relationships and sexual wellbeing across Devon (including Torbay).

Phone Number:  0300 303 3989

Addresses: Main sexual health clinics are in Exeter, Barnstaple, Torquay and community sexual health clinics are in Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Tiverton and Bideford.

Website (typed address): www.devonsexualhealth.nhs.uk

Website (hyperlink): Devon Sexual Health – providing sexual health services that support healthy relationships and sexual well-being – Devon Sexual Health

Opening Hours: Various – see website for clinic hours.  Offer young person only drop in clinics in Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay

Self-care and National Support Services

NATIONAL SUPPORT

• Call the free Smokefree National Helpline to speak to a trained, expert adviser on 0300 123 1044. All lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm*
• Better Health quit smoking website which includes information about the benefits of quitting, advice on various quitting aids and a local stop smoking service lookup tool 
• NHS Quit Smoking App (Apple) or NHS Quit Smoking App (google/android) - a 28-day programme that provides practical support, encouragement, and tailored clinical advice on your mobile/tablet. Includes a savings calculator so you can see how much money you're saving.
• Get a free Personal Quit Plan Quitting smoking is easier with the right support. Give up for 28 days, and you're 5 times more likely to quit for good – get your plan now!
• You can also speak to your doctor, pharmacy team or local Stop Smoking Service for expert advice on stop smoking medicines.

SELF CARE

• Download the NHS Quit Smoking app from apple or google/android
• Get further information from the National Health Service www.nhs.uk/quit
• Consider using e-cigarettes to stop smoking
• Get daily email support - If you would like some extra support, you can sign up for 28 days of stop smoking advice and tips – delivered straight to your inbox.  Sign up for email support
• Find your online community - You do not have to do it alone – join others going through the same thing in a friendly and supportive environment.  Join the Quit Smoking Support Group on Facebook

Emphasise that quitting will the best thing they will ever do and the NHS Smokefree service can provide the friendly and helpful support they need to quit for good

Local Support Services

Stop Smoking Support

Stop for Life Devon

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do and there’s no better time than now to stop!

If you live in Devon and currently smoke, you could be eligible for FREE 1-2-1 support. You are 3x more likely to quit with our support, so it is time to start saving and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Email: info@stopforlifedevon.org

Phone Number: 0800 122 3866

Website (typed address): www.stopforlifedevon.org

Website (hyperlink): Devon Stop Smoking Service | Devon County Council Stop Smoking Service Provided by Best You

Self-care and National Support Services

If you’re worried that someone is at immediate risk of taking their own life then phone 999, you should stay with that person until help arrives. Do not put your own safety at risk by getting physically involved.

 If no immediate risk take the following steps:

Encourage them to ring:

Samaritans - (All age groups)

Tel: 116 123, open 24 hours a day.

Papyrus - (Young people)

Tel: 0800 068 4141

Text: 07860039967

Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Lines are open 24 hours every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included)

Other options include:

• contact their GP for an emergency appointment or call the out of hours service.
• call their Mental Health worker, if they have one.
• call their social worker or key worker, if they have one 
• encourage to re-engage with mental health services if already engaged
• go through their Safety Plan with them

If they don’t want help, don’t push them. Sometimes it’s easy to want to try and fix a person’s problems, or give them advice but try and at least leave a couple of key telephone numbers with them for Samaritans any local support numbers for their area (Crisis teams etc).

It’s usually better for people to make their own decisions. Help them think of all the options, but leave the choice to them.

A person may not be suicidal but you may still be concerned

Encourage them to contact their GP, they will be familiar with their medical history and will be able to direct them appropriately which may include a referral to the Primary Care IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies).  IAPT team are skilled in helping people 18 years old and older overcome emotional and mental difficulties like:

• Depression.
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Sleep problems
• Confidence and self-esteem problems

All the local IAPT services are listed under the 'Mental Wellbeing' section of MECC Link and can be found within the 'local support and contact details' section. 

 

SELF CARE

• Hub of Hope - Postcode based directory of services

• Mind 'The charity for better mental health' has an extensive range of self help resources available
• The NHS have has a range of self-help tools available

• Andy's Man Club provides a weekly talking groups, a place for men to come together in a safe environment to talk about issues/problems they be have faced or currently been facing.  Meeting take place throughout Yorkshire and the Humber

• A range of self-help techniques is available on the MindWell Leeds website, these include:
  
  • Stress
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression
  • Sleep
  • Self Harm
  • Having a baby

Local Support Services

Suicide Prevention

NHS Crisis Support

First Response Service provides a 24/7, all year round service for callers experiencing an urgent mental health crisis and for those who have concerns about someone's mental wellbeing.

Phone number: Call 111 and select the mental health option, available 24/7 (for children & young people, and adults)

Website (typed address): https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/service-details/service/first-response-service-frs-78/

Website (hyperlink): Service details | Devon Partnership NHS Trust

The Moorings @ Devon

The Moorings @ Devon offer mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Devon area, from three locations in Barnstaple, Exeter, and Torquay.

Website (typed address): https://www.mhm.org.uk/the-moorings-devon

Website (hyperlink): The Moorings Devon

Opening Hours: See website for opening hours and contact information for each location

Devon County Council Suicide Prevention

For information about local suicide prevention work and local services. Includes online version of ‘Ok to talk about suicide’ resources, ‘mental health safety plan’ resource, and links to information about mental wellbeing and suicide prevention training.

Website (typed address): https://www.devon.gov.uk/adult-social-care/independent-living/health-and-wellbeing/suicide-prevention-in-devon/

Website (hyperlink): Suicide prevention in Devon - Adult social care

Self-care and National Support Services

Local Support Services

Bereavement Support

Pete’s Dragons (suicide bereavement service)

Specialist suicide bereavement support -  the service is for anyone affected by suicide loss within the county of Devon, including family, friends, colleagues, witnesses or bystanders. Support is available for adults and children, and begins within 48hrs of contacting the service.

Phone number: 01395 277780

Website (typed address): https://www.petesdragons.org.uk/

Website (hyperlink): Pete's Dragons | Making sure those impacted by suicide are supported.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Cruse Bereavement Support

Cruse provide expert bereavement and grief support, it is a national charity with a local branch available in Exeter.

Phone number: 08088 081677

Website (typed address): https://www.petesdragons.org.uk/

Website (hyperlink): Pete's Dragons | Making sure those impacted by suicide are supported.

Wintons Wish

A charity that offers free, accessible online grief support to children and young people (aged 25 or under) across the UK who are bereaved or facing the death of someone important.

Freephone Helpline: 08088 020 021

Website (typed address): https://winstonswish.org/

Website (hyperlink): Winston's Wish - Bereavement Support for Children

 

Self-care and National Support Services

You should inform the individual who is experiencing domestic abuse that they should call 999 if they are in danger. If they’re unable to speak when they dial 999, they can use 'The Silent Solution': Wait for the operator to speak and type 55 on the keypad. This will alert the operator that they need help.

There are local and national support services who can help both victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse and their children. Please click your location from the drop downs below to see contact details for support services available in your locality.

If you have completed a DASH risk assessment and it has scored 14 or above, this is deemed high risk and requires a MARAC (multi-agency risk assessment conference) referral as well as a referral to your local domestic abuse support service. The MARAC referral process may vary depending on your local authority, please click your local area below for more information.

If there are children linked to the domestically abusive relationship you should make the appropriate safeguarding referrals for your locality.

Local Support Services

Devon Domestic Abuse

The DDAA (Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance) is dedicated to eradicating domestic abuse through collaborative efforts and community engagement. Their mission is to provide a safe haven for those affected, offering resources and support to rebuild lives. The DDAA envision a future where domestic abuse is no longer a hidden issue but a community priority, tackled with compassion and determination. By fostering partnerships and promoting awareness, the DDAA aim to create lasting change and a safer Devon for all residents.

Email: hello@ddaa.org.uk

Phone Number: 08082 816161

Address: Devon wide excluding Torbay and Plymouth 

Website (typed address): https://ddaa.org.uk/

Website (hyperlink): Home - Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance

 

 

Self-care and National Support Services

Booking an appointment

For those wishing to find out whether they are eligible for a vaccination and how to book an appointment, go back to the Assist section and guide them through. 

Local information and support

Specific borough information for local vaccination and support services can be found below. 

Local Support Services

Devon

One Devon

(collaboration of the NHS and local councils, as well as a wide range of other organisations like the voluntary sector) service commissioned by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board.

The One Devon vaccination page tells you who needs which vaccinations when, and gives details of who you should contact and where you should go for the vaccinations you need if you live in Devon.

Email: Patients should be directed to their own GP or to  https://onedevon.org.uk/contact-us/patient-advice-and-complaints/  Professional contact : d-icb.vaccination@nhs.net

Phone Number: as per https://onedevon.org.uk/contact-us/patient-advice-and-complaints/ 0300 123 1672

Website (typed address): https://onedevon.org.uk/our-work/services-and-support/vaccinations/

Website (hyperlink): Vaccinations - One Devon