Anna Freud Centre Self-Care Summer
Do you want to know how to take care of yourself this summer? The summer holidays offer an opportunity to recharge, but some young people may find themselves struggling without the structure and support network of school.
The Anna Freud Centre has created Self-Care Summer resources for primary and secondary schools, which will help children and young people find strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing over the summer break.
These packs feature a range of creative activities based on self-care strategies that other young people have found useful to help them stay mentally healthy. The packs also signpost young people and their families to additional support, including the Anna Freud Centre crisis messenger text service.
Each week in the summer holidays focuses on a different theme, beginning with relationships and connection and ending with emotional health. Find out more and download the resources now.
Unworry pack 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.
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 showing 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 why not download an eBook, eAudiobook, eMagazine, eNewspaper 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.
Wellbeing Booklist Books that have inspired us to get out into nature
2021’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme was nature, and as part of this, a group of West Sussex library staff got together to talk about the books that inspired them to get out into nature. You can listen to our conversation in episode 4 of our podcast, Lend Us Your Ears.
We’ve also brought together a list of brilliant books that have inspired us to get out into nature and improved our wellbeing, which you can find below.
All the following books are available to request, just search in the box above.
Fiction
Delia Owens – Where the Crawdads Sing
Seni Glaister – Mr Doubler Begins Again
Seni Glaister – Growing Season
Henry Williamson – Tarka the Otter
Non-Fiction
Rosamund Young – The Secret Life of Cows
Sam Murphy – Run for Life
Raynor Winn – The Salt Path
Derek Jarman – Derek Jarman’s Garden
Ruth Allen – Grounded: how connection with nature can improve our mental and physical wellbeing
Robert McFarlane – Old Ways: a journey on foot
Patrick Barkham – Wild Child
Richard Mabey – Brush with Nature
Richard Mabey – Nature Cure
Rob Cowen – Common Ground
Dominic Couzens – Wild and Free
Tor McIntosh - Slow Adventures
Matt Gaw – Pull of the River
Cheryl Strayed – Wild: From lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Dr Catherine Kelly – Blue Spaces: How and why water can make you feel better
Alexandra Heminsley – Leap In
Alexandra Heminsley – Running like a Girl
Sue Stuart-Smith – The Well Gardened Mind
Amy Liptrot – Outrun
Helen Macdonald – H is for Hawk
Tim Peake – Limitless
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 book lists 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, you can join the library here!
NHS screeening 
Screening is a way of finding out if people are at higher risk of a health problem, so that early treatment can be offered or information given, to help them make informed decisions.
See the West Sussex Wellbeing website for more information about screening, including details about cancer screening.
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,
Q&A session with local author, James Withey [Word, 595k]
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 
West Sussex County Council's information on local support for people 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.
Library booklists to support children We have put together some booklists to support children, 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.
SAM - Self-help App for the Mind. A non-profit, community-backed app to help you monitor and manage your mental health
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.
stem4 - supporting postive mental health in teenagers.
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.
