A variety of free resources are available for supporters to access to care for their mental health.
Help and support is available via:
Victim Care Merseyside – call 0808 175 3080 between 8am and 6pm. Call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org for 24-hour listening support. For immediate text-based support – text SHOUT to 85258. NHS Talking Therapies at Merseycare – get in touch on 0151 228 2300 or via the website: https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/liverpool/talking-therapies. Anyone in need of immediate support with a mental health crisis can call 111 and select the mental health option to access urgent mental health support. For emergency help – if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 999.
Liverpool City Council’s director of public health, Professor Matt Ashton, said: “We know that lots of people will have been affected following the awful events on Monday evening, including those who were working, had attended the champions parade as a spectator or had loved ones present.
“Difficult or traumatic events affect everyone differently; some people may be feeling things now, or it could occur in the coming hours, days or weeks. Regardless of when something happens, it’s vital that you make use of the support available to you and speak to those around you.”
Local GPs can also help with mental health and wellbeing. Plus, there is more information on Kind to your Mind Liverpool, which is managed by the council’s public health team, together with the NHS.
It has some hints and tips on how to look after mental health, particularly after experiencing trauma, including:
Give yourself time…
Recovering from these thoughts and feelings can take time. Don’t put yourself under too much pressure to feel better immediately.
Talk about it…
It doesn’t help to avoid talking about difficult experiences. Talking to someone you trust about what happened and your feelings about it can help you to feel better – it could help them too if they are going through the same.
Ask for support…
Friends, family or others you trust will usually want to help and support if they know you’re struggling, and being with others helps avoid poor mental health. They can offer emotional support, help with practical tasks or just spending time doing normal things – all help improve our mood.
Stick to your routine…
Try to keep doing the things you would normally do, even if that feels difficult – you have the right to feel safe in your community and carry on with your usual daily activities. Eating well, moving around, getting enough sleep and taking care of our responsibilities are all part of self-care and essential to mental health and wellbeing.
