Wellbeing Month 2021 
March is Wellbeing Month in West Sussex Libraries! Have a look at Facebook and Twitter each day for details of our online activities and other ways we can support your wellbeing.
We can't hold any of our regular activites in libraries at the moment, including our Relax with Colouring sessions, but why not pick up a special Wellbeing Month colouring sheet from the library when you collect your books or print one at home.
Kindness by Post 
Rediscover the kindness of strangers with Mental Health Collective's Kindness by Post. Send a card or letter with a message of goodwill to someone else in the UK and have someone allocated to send a card or letter to you.
Wellbeing and Mental Health apps 
Have a look at this list of apps from Pathfinder West Sussex, designed to help a wide range of mental health and wellbeing issues - including anxiety, stress, sleep, mindfulness, depression and self-harm.
Room to Rant 
A space for young men age 16-25 to get things off their chest through rapping, lyric-writing and improvisation. Room to Rant is holding sessions in Worthing, Crawley and Brighton or online sessions if they are unable to take place due to Covid-19. No previous experience necessary! Watch this video to see Room to Rant's patron, Rag N Bone Man, visiting a group.
Local help
Community Hub (COVID-19) get in touch if you are vulnerable and in need of urgent support or know someone who is, or volunteer to help others.
Healthwatch West Sussex - information and advice, including FAQs on Covid-19
Pathfinder West Sussex - an alliance of organisations working together to enable people with mental health support needs and their carers to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Reaching Families useful information and resources for familes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Sussex Mental Health Line - offers information and support to anyone experiencing mental health problems, including stress, anxiety and depression. A 24/7 phone line is available
West Sussex Local Offer help to find information about local services, support and events for children and young people aged 0 - 25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
West Sussex Wellbeing keep up to date with key information about Coronavirus
YMCA DownsLink Group e-wellbeing - a digital service for young people to help them access the right support and information for their emotional health and wellbeing
Youth Emotional Support (YES) Service free service for young people aged 11-18 looking for support with their well-being. They offer one-to-one support or group working and information about online or face to face counselling and other agencies provide suppport and advice.
Reading for Wellbeing We all know how good reading is for our wellbeing and now that our libraries are open for browsing you can come along and choose a good read! Reservations are free or use our Select and Collect service and let our expert staff choose for you. Or download a eBook, eAudiobook, eNewspaper, eMagazine or eComic - there is so much choice!
Have a look at our Love Reading page for lots of other ideas too!
Books Beyond Words 
Beyond Words is a charity that produces books and resources for people with a learning disability or communication difficulty who find pictures easier to understand than words. Have a look at their Coping with Coronavirus webpage for their free resources to support people through the Coronavirus pandemic.
Easy News 
Easy News is the first news magazine designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities, aimed to encourage discussion around news stories and keep readers informed about the world around them.
Staying Safe Online 
Don't forget to stay safe online. For the latest advice, guidance and information:
Wellbeing Resources There are many sources of help and advice to support your wellbeing and prevent feelings of anxiety and worry.
Have a look here for helpful websites and resources for both adults and children.
Essential Delivery Service See our Libraries Reopening page, which has details of our Select and Collect service where you can reserve items online or ask staff to choose some for you. If you feel safer staying at home or are unable to get to the library, we can offer an Essential Delivery Service and may be able to deliver items to you. Please indicate on the Staff Select form or during the phone call to the library that you would like to arrange a delivery.
For further information about the Essential Delivery Service, please email jackie.manners@westsussex.gov.uk
Reading Well 
We have all of the books on The Reading Agency's Reading Well schemes in our libraries and these can be reserved on our catalogue. Many are also eBooks and can be downloaded from our eLibrary . If you are not a member join here!
Books about kindness
The theme for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week was "kindness". Have a look at the Mental Health Foundation's website to see why "kindness" was chosen and find out ways to support your and other's mental health.
Take a look at our Love Reading page to see a list of eBooks with kindness as one of their themes and also a list of books chosen by library staff and customers for the Books about Kindness hour we ran on our Facebook page during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Wellbeing Month 2021 As part of Mental Health Awareness Week in May, we caught up with James Withey, author of the bestselling book, The Recovery Letters, to ask him all about his new book How To Tell Depression To Piss Off, 40 Ways To Get Your Life Back.
Read the Q&A here.
James's new book, published just in time for our Wellbeing Month, is What I Do To Get Through: How Being Active, Getting Outside and Making Stuff Can Save Your Life.
Domestic Abuse 
See West Sussex County Council's information on local support and services for people who are experiencing domestic abuse.
West Sussex County Council's WORTH Domestic Abuse Service is now available:
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm 03302228181
Weekends and Bank Holidays 9.00am - 5.00pm 07834968539
Human Story Theatre's Happy Even After podcast showcases their play of the same name which explores domestic abuse from wedding vows, through various anniversaries and into this lockdown.
More Reading Well eBooks 
The titles below are also included in the Reading Well schemes and can be downloaded from our eBooks via the Libby app and website but not through our library catalogue.
Reading Well for mental health
Foreman, Elaine - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Gournay, Kevin - Sheldon short guide to phobias and panic
Rentzenbrink, Cathy - Manual for Heartbreak
Samuel, Julia - Gried works
Wax, Ruby - Mindfulness guide for the frazzled
Reading Well for dementia
Killick, John - Dementia positive
Reading Well for long-term conditions
Coates, Paula - Arthritis: exercise your way to health
Rubin, A.L. - Diabetes for dummies
Smith, Fran - Coping with the psychological effects of illness
Reading Well for children
Durant, Alan - Clownfish
Foster, Stewart - Check Mates
Howe, Cath - Ella on the outside
Library booklists to support children We have put together some booklists recommending books for specific interests or to support children with difficult decisions or new experiences. Topics include starting school, fears and anxieties, celebrating diversity and many more.
National help Have a look at these helpful websites and apps for adults, young people, children and for people who may need help with accessibility.
For adults
Age Space - Help to support elderly parents and relatives self-isolating due to Covid-19
Cook&Share Adur & Worthing - combines befriending with a home-cooked meal delivered to an older persons doorstep once a week by their befriender.
Headspace - reliable and relevant videos on meditation and mindfulness.
Independent Age - includes a national telephone befriending scheme as part of its service.
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March Network - some home-based creative ways to support mental health.
Mental Health Foundation - looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Mind - information to help if you are feeling anxious or worried about Coronavirus.
NHS Every Mind Matters - 10 tips to help improve your mental health and wellbeingif you are worried about Coronavirus.
NHS Every Mind Matters - mental wellbeing whilst staying at home.
NHS Mental health services - information about mental health services available through the NHS.
Rethink - advice and support for people living with or supporting people with mental illness.
For children and young people
Anna Freud Centre - a world-leading mental health charity for children and families.
BBC CBeebies Go Explore - now includes Your Mindful Garden, a selection of mindful activities voiced by Stephen Fry, to help children de-stress and unwind.
Kooth - free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.
Place2Be - provides mental health support in schools.
The Mix - support for under 25s on a wide range of topics, including coping during Lockdown. Free, confidential helpline and counselling service.
UK Youth - Coronavirus support for young people. A guide to help you keep calm, stay connected and be safe.
Young Minds - information to help young people if they may be feeling anxious.
Accessible help and support
HEE Accessible videos - accessible videos on handwashing and how to use NHS 111.
HEE British Sign Language - coronavirus information in British Sign Language
HEE Coronavirus Picture Library - a clear picture library for those who struggle with speech to communicate Coronavirus healthcare needs.
HEE Easy Read Formats - Coronavirus information and resources in an Easy Read format.
HEE Makaton format - information about coronavirus using Makaton.
Mencap - Easy Read information and resources for people with a learning disability.
National Autistic Society - helpful resources for people with autism and their families during the Coronavirus outbreak.
