FIND THE SUPPORT YOU NEED

NHS Moodzone (nhs.uk/conditions/ stress-anxiety-depression) has tools to help you recognise and manage stress, anxiety and depression, and links to some useful mental health apps.

Your GP can refer you for talking therapies, such as CBT, or you can refer yourself under The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme: search ‘refer yourself for counselling’ at patient.info to find a provider near you. For mild depression or anxiety, GPS may initially suggest self-help. Anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications tend to be reserved for moderate or severe conditions, usually alongside a talking treatment. Your GP may also prescribe free or reduced-rate exercise classes with the NHS or a local gym, as this has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

You can find private counsellors and psychotherapists through websites such as bacp.co.uk and psychotherapy.org.uk.

Some employers offer an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing short-term counselling and support for employees experiencing personal difficulties. Talk to your HR department.  The Blurt Foundation has lots of tools and information to help with depression (blurtitout.org).

Some mental health charities provide information and support through groups, online forums and advice on mental health conditions. Try Anxiety UK (anxietyuk.org.uk), Mind (mind.org.uk) and Rethink Mental Illness (rethink.org).  The Mental Health Foundation focuses on improving mental health and preventing crises, and has a range of useful and informative online articles (mentalhealth.org.uk).