Sometimes, your mental health can be affected if you have experienced trauma or a stressful event, if you feel isolated and lonely, have had relationship or money problems, someone close to you has died, or you have been pregnant or had a baby.
But mental health problems can also happen to anybody and it’s important to remember you are not alone and it’s ok to ask for help if you are struggling.
The following could be signs you need some support with your mental health:
- if you are feeling down or sad
- you are worrying a lot
- you are having problems sleeping
- or you do not feel like eating much
There are lots of support services available if you need help for stress, anxiety, depression and other problems with how you are feeling. Any information you tell the services will be kept safe and private.
Find out what kind of support you need
If you feel you need some support with your mental health, a good place to start is to speak to your GP or visit the Mindwell website for more information and support. The website includes ideas you can try yourself to help improve how you are feeling, and information about where you can go for help in Leeds if you need it.
There is also a website for children and young people called MindMate:
Talk to someone
Many people find that talking to a professional about how they feel can help them get better. This is sometimes called talking therapies.
There are free services in Leeds that offer talking therapies including some with specialist knowledge and experience for helping migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with their mental health. This includes a good understanding of different cultures and faiths.
Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service is a service led by the NHS that offers psychological (talking) therapies to help people who are stressed, experiencing low mood (depressed) or are feeling nervous or anxious.
The BAME Health and Wellbeing Hub is a specialist service for the Black, Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) community. They support health, wellbeing and happiness for older people by offering:
- phone support to check how you’re doing
- information and advice about any problems you’re having
- signposting to other organisations that can help
- access to other care and support services if you need them
- group activities within and outside the hub
- training and information sharing/workshops
- working to tackle stigma and stereotypes and to break down barriers faced by minority groups.
You can contact both of these services directly:
Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service
Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service
BAME Health and Wellbeing Hub
Solace is a Leeds charity which provides psychotherapy (talking therapies) and other support to survivors of persecution and exile.
Oak House, Park Lane, Leeds, LS3 1EL
For more organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers with mental health, visit the Help in Leeds website and search for ‘Mental Health’ under Organisation Category.
If you feel you have had enough
If the situation feels out of control, you are very upset, or you are having suicidal thoughts or thoughts about hurting yourself, there are people who can help. There are phone helplines you can call to speak to someone straight away, and there are places you can visit for support. Find out more on the Mindwell website:
Places you can visit include:
Dial [email protected] is held in a place of sanctuary and provides emotional support and information. Refugees and asylum seekers are welcome. It’s open Monday evenings 6pm to 11pm for social time and every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6pm to 12am, offering support and social time. Referrals are taken from 7.30pm onwards and you need to make an appointment before going.
By email: [email protected]
0113 249 4675 or text 07763 581 853
The Well-Bean Hope in a Crisis Cafe (WBC) supports anyone in a crisis – it provides a safe place for people in crisis to go and to prevent avoidable attendances at A&E. They provide refreshments and hot food is available.
The café runs at three different venues across the week from 6pm to midnight:
- Saturday, Sunday and Monday – the WBC is at Lincoln Green Community Centre, Cromwell Mount, LS9 7JB
- Tuesday and Wednesday – the WBC is at Touchstone House, 2-4 Middleton Crescent, Beeston, LS11 6JU
- Thursday and Friday – the WBC is at New Wortley Community Centre, 40 Tong Road, LS12 1LZ
You can make an appointment by phoning:
Connect Helpline
There is also a free phone number in Leeds that you can call to talk to someone if you are feeling anxious, lonely, angry or just need to talk. You can talk about how you are feeling and also if you have problems for example with money or housing. There is also a Teen Connect service, available on the same phone number, for 13-16 year-olds. Both numbers are open 6pm-2am at night.
If it is an emergency
If you or someone you know has hurt themselves, you or they should call 999 for an ambulance or go to A&E.
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