Online courses to help recovery

A WEST Berkshire organisation that helps people improve their mental health is offering free online courses to support anyone currently struggling.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit a year ago, the team at Recovery in Mind has had to adapt how it works, moving to online courses to ensure people were still able to access the support they needed.

The organisation – which helps people gain the tools and skills they need to improve their mental health through a range of free courses – has continued to provide teaching and support to all of its ongoing and new students throughout this unprecedented time.

With support from Greenham Trust and its Double Matched Day event, the public’s very generous donations and the dedication of its team, it has been able to continue its courses since last autumn, as well as providing weekly newsletters which have proved invaluable to its students.

Founder Angela Ryan has been overwhelmed by the success of the virtual working and said the group will continue to work online in the future, as well as reintroducing its face-to-face sessions once lockdown restrictions ease.

“We have had to change our approach with teaching but it has allowed us to grow and develop as a community organisation in a really positive way,” she said.

“We are finding student retention has increased and from this we will continue to learn and develop Recovery in Mind’s approach to supporting future students.”

The team has written ‘nanocourses’, which are available to watch on its website and which give people an insight into how the organisation works.

It is hoped these will also offer help to those who struggle with any mental health or wellbeing challenges and include subjects such as how to manage your anxiety, how to think more positively and how to learn to be kinder to yourself.

“These are all very common issues which we can all struggle to cope with at some point in our lives and especially now with having to cope with living through a global pandemic,” Angela added.

“Our courses help people learn and self-manage their thoughts and feelings and find ways to cope with everyday challenges.

“Recovery in Mind has already helped so many adults in West Berkshire, but wants to continue to help more.

“Covid has had a huge impact on everyone’s mental health and wellbeing – it’s challenged all of us to our limits but some more than others.”

There are still spaces left on Recovery in Mind’s next free course, which begins from April 21. No doctor’s referral is needed to attend a course and you can find out more at www.recoveryinmind.org