Quaranzine Mental Health resource pack

8 Mar

Written By Christopher Dickens

Photography Tim Mossholder

A year into the pandemic, the team sat down to compile a list of resources to help you and those around look after yourselves

First of all, here are a few general tips on how we can all improve our mental health:

Exercise
Practise mindfulness
Eat healthily
Get more sleep
Socialise

Charities and helplines:

MIND

Infoline: 0300 123 3393

Email: info@mind.org.uk

Website: www.mind.org.uk

Text: 86463

Our Infoline provides an information and signposting service. We're open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).

Ask about:

mental health problems
where to get help near you
treatment options
advocacy services

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress.

Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)

Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

Nightline Association

Run by students who can empathise with the pressure of being a student, this night service lends a listening ear if you’re a student in need.

Phone: University specific numbers can be found here.

Anxiety UK

Anxiety UK operates according to a ‘user-led’ ethos - being run by and for those living with or affected by anxiety, stress and anxiety-based depression.

Phone: 08444 775 774

Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

BEAT – Eating Disorders

Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity. Their national helpline exists to encourage and empower people to get help quickly, because the sooner someone starts treatment, the greater their chance of recovery.

Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adult helpline) / 0808 801 0711 (youth line)

Website: www.b-eat.co.uk

Brook – sexual health / pregnancy

Brook aims to tackle the societal stigma that limits young people’s ability to take control of their sexual health, enjoy healthy relationships and explore their identities.

Website: www.brook.org.uk

YoungMinds

A number of studies have suggested that the majority of mental health issues develop before the age of 24 indicating a necessity for early intervention. YoungMinds leads the way in supporting young people and those around them with dealing with mental health issues.

Phone number: 0808 802 5544

Website: https://youngminds.org.uk/

CALM

Sadly, suicide is the UK’s biggest threat to males under 45. This charity aims to combat this tragic issue with advice and support for men aged between 15 to 35.

Phone number: 0800 58 58 58 (nationwide), 0808 802 58 58 (London)

Website: https://www.thecalmzone.net/

The Mix

Exceptionally innovative and progressive, this charity, which is aimed at under 25s, talks to young people about very real issues that they might be facing.

Phone number: 0808 808 4994

Website: https://www.themix.org.uk/

OCD Action

A stigmatised and often neglected condition, this charity campaigns for better treatment and can provide specific advice on how to overcome your OCD.

Phone number: 0845 390 6232

Website: https://ocdaction.org.uk/

PODCASTS:

Dear Therapists

Every episode consists of authors Lori Gottlieb, LMFT, and Guy Winch, Ph.D. guiding a guest through a personal challenge, providing insight and actionable advice. Afterwards, they bring their guests back to discuss how they applied the guidance to their life (and how it went).

Dear Therapists

Therapy for Black Girls

Clinical psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., founder of Therapy for Black Girls, a website dedicated to connecting black women and girls to mental health resources in the US, also runs this podcast sharing weekly mental health advice and resources.

Therapy for Black Girls

Griefcast

Hosted by comedian Cariad Lloyd, this podcast exploring grief and death is known for successfully balancing seriousness and humour on what could otherwise be a difficult topic.

Griefcast

Terrible, Thanks for Asking

Host Nora McInerny, wants the real answers to the difficult questions. The result is a great blend of sad and funny, at a time when more people than ever are doing...well, terrible.

Terrible, Thanks for Asking

Not Another Anxiety Show

Host and registered nurse Kelli Walker talks with guests about what anxiety is, why it happens, and, most important, how to deal, from specific anxiety-busting tips to broader self-care practices.

Not Another Anxiety Show

The Gratitude Diaries

In this podcast, author and editor in chief of Parade Janice Kaplan explores all things gratitude. She covers a wide range of topics through the lens of gratitude, from family and relationships to money and ambition.

The Gratitude Diaries

Mad Chat

Calling pop culture nerds who love to talk about mental health representation in the media: You need to listen to Mad Chat. On each episode, host Sandy Allen and a guest analyze a beloved piece of media through the lens of mental health, including BoJack Horseman, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Killing Eve, Frasier, and more.

Mad Chat

Mentally Yours

Hosts Ellen Scott and Yvette Caster talk to guests about how to “survive and thrive,” especially during these rough times. Guests bring their own experiences to the table and talk through how they’re staying afloat, whether they’re a parent struggling through lockdown or a TikTok star making content around her borderline personality disorder.

Mentally Yours

No Feeling Is Final

An eight-part memoir in podcast form, this unique show explores creator Honor Eastly’s experiences with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and living under the scrutiny of what she calls The Voice. Eastly describes it best herself: “No Feeling Is Final is a show for anyone who’s ever wondered if life is worth living.”

No Feeling Is Final

Other People’s Problems

Other People’s Problems opens the door on what actually happens in a therapy session. Listen in on real people working through their problems with host Hillary McBride, Ph.D. Not only is it deeply fascinating, but you inevitably learn something about yourself too.

Other People’s Problems

The Mental Illness Happy Hour

With more than 500 episodes, The Mental Illness Happy Hour delivers weekly conversations with comedians, artists, friends of the host, and doctors about all things mental illness, trauma, addiction, and more.

The Mental Illness Happy Hour

Unite/Mental Health Nurses Association

Unite the Union’s Mental Health Nurses Association runs a great Youtube channel producing weekly podcasts on a range of mental health topics. The content is not union-specific, everyone can access it and there are a good range of topics, such as LGBTIQ+ issues, substance abuse, spirituality and many more.