‘It’s ok not to be ok at the moment’ – Coronavirus mental health helpline launched in Sheffield

The Sheffield Improving Access to Psychological Therapies or IAPT service are encouraging anyone who is feeling stressed, anxious or worried about coronavirus to call them on 0114 226 4380.

The service will help people access mental health support including one-to-one support and group sessions, and is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

It is open to anyone living or working in the city whether they have accessed mental health services in the past or not.

Toni Wilkinson, the head of Sheffield IAPT, said the coronavirus pandemic was a ‘challenging time’ for all of us.

She said: “There have been so many changes that we have to adapt to. We’re all missing our friends and families, we can’t do the things we normally do and some of us are out of work or working from home.

“It’s natural for these things to cause worry, stress, frustration or impact on our sleep – but that’s where IAPT can help.

“We want the people of Sheffield to know that it’s okay to not be okay at the moment, but if you are feeling stressed, worried or down, we’re here to help.

“Speaking to someone will make a big difference, and we know it can be difficult to take that first step and ask for help. All you need to do is give us a call and one of our team can help find the best support for you.”

As part of the helpline, Sheffield IAPT have also launched a new four-week course called ‘Coping with COVID’.

The course will be live-streamed to participants and will focus on a different theme each week, including tips on how to calm our body, the importance of a routine, managing worry and sleep.

Participants will be able to ask questions to NHS mental health professionals throughout the session.

To find out more about the support on offer from Sheffield IAPT, including mental health support for anyone suffering with a long-term health condition, visit www.iaptsheffield.nhs.uk.