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Staff wellbeing

Resources

If you are experiencing physical or mental health concerns, are wanting to find out how to improve your health wellbeing or are a manager seeking more background health and wellbeing information to support a member of staff our list of resources (which will be updated over time) may be of help. If you are in crisis or know a colleague who may be feeling this way the Counselling Service has specific advice.

The University Library also provides access to hundreds of wellbeing resources, digitally and in print, across a wide variety of topics.

Addiction

Alcohol 

If you think you may be misusing alcohol in a way that is harmful, you are dependent on alcohol or would like to cut down your alcohol intake, there is support available:  

Drugs

There is lots of help and support for drug addiction including NHS services, charities, and other local organisations:  

Gambling

Gambling can harm many areas of your life. This can include problems with your:

  • relationships
  • physical and mental health
  • finances

Support available:

Allergies

An allergy is the response of the body’s immune system to normally harmless substances, such as pollens, foods, and house dust mites. Whilst in most people these substances (allergens) pose no problem, in allergic individuals their immune system identifies them as a ‘threat’ and produces an inappropriate response. This can be relatively minor, such as localised itching, but in more severe cases it cause anaphylaxis, a condition which can lead to upper respiratory obstruction and collapse and can be fatal.

  • Allergy UK - leading charity providing support, advice and information for those living with allergic disease.

Bereavement and Grief Support

We are sorry that you may have lost a loved one and be experiencing grief. This is a natural process, but it can be devastating and finding the right support for you is important.

There are many support services available for grief and bereavement, some tailored towards the person lost and services for particular age groups. You or someone you know may benefit from reaching out to one of these services.

24 hour Support Lines: someone to talk to any time of day, any day of the year.

Samaritans

116 123 (UK) For anyone at anytime for any reason

Childline

0800 1111 Support for 18yrs & under and their relatives

Silverline

0800 470 8090 Support for the over 50's

Grief and Bereavement Support Services

Greater Manchester Bereavement service: find bereavement support local to you.

The Good Grief Trust - The Trust brings all bereavement services together around the country, to ensure that everyone receives the support they need to move forward with their lives. You can locate the nearest support via their website. 

Cruse Bereavement Care: Help for anyone experiencing bereavement to understand their grief and cope with their loss, with free and confidential support. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5pm, Weekends 10am – 2pm. Helpline: 0808 808 1677.

National Bereavement Helpline Partnership: Open everyday 7am – 10pm for emotional support. Helpline: 0800 448 0800.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide:(SOBS) Support, information, help by email, support groups and a national helpline open 9am-9pm Monday-Friday, 0300 111 5065.

The Lullaby Trust: Bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child. Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm and 6 – 10pm on weekends and public holidays helpline: 0808 802 6868.

Grief Encounter: Supporting bereaved children and their families in the UK get the best possible help, recognition and understanding following their loss. Open Monday-Friday 9 am-9pm Helpline: 0808 802 0111

Child Bereavement UK:Support and advice for bereaved families. Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm Helpline: 0800 02 888 40.

The Compassionate Friends: supporting bereaved parents and their families. Open every day 10am – 4pm and 7 – 10pm. Helpline: 0345 123 2304.

Marie Curie: Practical and clinical information and support on all aspects of end of life and bereavement. Open 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday, and 11am – 5pm on Saturdays. Helpline: 0800 090 2309.

 Bereavement Advice Centre:  For information and advice concerning a death.

Cancer Support

If you or a loved one has a cancer diagnosis, there are many helpful sources of advice and support.

Cancer support (general)

  • Macmillan Cancer Support is an excellent source of free and expert advice. They have lots of information that covers the practical side of a cancer diagnosis on their website. You can find your local support centre here,  call their free support line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm), use the Macmillan Chat Service which is open 7 days a week 8am – 8pm, or join their online community. Visit their page Work and cancer for lots of useful information about the affects of cancer on work, what are your rights and support available. For help talking to your employer and colleagues look through ‘Finding the words: Talking about cancer at work
  • Maggie's Manchester is based in Withington, across the road from the Christie Hospital. If you or a loved one are being affected by cancer you can drop into Maggie’s for practical, emotional and social support from their professional staff at any time from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Bowel Cancer

The bowel is part of the digestive system. It is made up of the small bowel and the large bowel. The large bowel is made up of the colon and rectum. Cancer that affects the large bowel is typically called bowel cancer. You may also hear it being called colorectal cancer. This means cancer in the colon or rectum. Cancer that affects the small bowel is called small bowel cancer. For information and support about small bowel cancer.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer starts in the breast tissue, most commonly in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast. It is the most common cancer in women in the UK. Everyone has breast tissue and people of all genders can get breast cancer. Regular self-checking for everyone, regardless of gender is essential. There are many resources available to offer guidance on checking your breasts, such as this short video check your breasts.

Information and support for Breast Cancer

Breast Screening

The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, often before the woman is aware of any problem. Early detection may mean simpler and more successful treatment. Scientific evidence shows that regular breast screening, between the ages of 50 - 70 years, reduces the death rate from breast cancer.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a cancer that forms in or on an ovary. It results in abnormal cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Each year 7,400 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK. Here you can find out what ovarian cancer is, including the different types, and support available.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way. Some prostate cancer grows too slowly to cause any problems or affect how long you live. But some prostate cancer grows quickly and is more likely to spread. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading.

Dementia

Dementia

Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases.

Many people living with dementia may want to continue working. You can also read about your rights in the workplace and how to talk to your employer about your dementia diagnosis so that you can be given the right support.

Health Conditions

Arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods.

Asthma and lung conditions

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults. 

There are other lung conditions that you can find out more at Asthma and Lung UK

Coronavirus

You might be worried about coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) and how it could affect your life. This may include being asked to stay at home or avoid other people. This might feel difficult or stressful. But there are lots of things you can try that could help your wellbeing.

Crohn’s and Colitis

Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis are chronic (ongoing and life-long) conditions in which symptoms vary from person to person and will range from mild to severe. Symptoms may also change over time, with periods of good health when you have few or no symptoms (remission) alternating with times when your symptoms are more active (relapses or ‘flare-ups’). Crohns and Colitis UK share information to help support you.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes – where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin and type 2 diabetes – where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss or impairment can be temporary or permanent. It often comes on gradually as you get older, but it can sometimes happen suddenly.

HIV

George House Trust (based in Manchester) has been providing HIV support, advice and advocacy services to improve health outcomes since 1985. GHT have a range of ways to help and engage with people living with HIV including one to one advice, drop in sessions and events:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is the name doctors use to describe a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance in the bowels.  These include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.  At any one time, IBS affects around 10-20% of people living in the UK. 

 

M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

This is a long-term (chronic), fluctuating, neurological condition that causes symptoms affecting many body systems, more commonly the nervous and immune systems. People with M.E. experience debilitating pain, fatigue and a range of other symptoms associated with post-exertional malaise, the body and brain’s inability to recover after expending even small amounts of energy.

Migraine

Migraine is the most common neurological disorder in the UK and can be a very difficult lifetime condition. Yet it is often trivialised, and many individuals struggle for years to live with it.

Sepsis

Sepsis is life threatening. It can be hard to spot. If you think you or someone you look after has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E. Trust your instincts. Symptoms via the NHS.

Sight loss

Stomas

A stoma can be temporary or permanent. A temporary stoma is formed to allow the bowel to heal after surgery. If there’s not enough bowel left to join the healthy bowel to the anus, you may have a permanent stoma.

Stroke

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. Damage to the brain can affect how the body works. It can also change how you think and feel. The effects of a stroke depend on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is.Stroke can be life-changing. It can happen to anyone of any age and affects everyone in different ways.  

A stroke is a medical emergency. If you spot the signs of stroke, call 999.

Heart Health

Heart and circulatory diseases 

Heart and circulatory diseases is an umbrella term that describes all diseases of the heart and circulation. It includes everything from conditions that are inherited, or that a person is born with, to those that are develop later such as coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke and vascular dementia. 

The British Heart Foundation website has lots of helpful information, support and stories shared about keeping your heart in good health. They have a free subscription to ‘Heart Matters’ which provides free information, inspiration, expert support and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox forpeople at risk from heart and circulatory disease and those who care for them, to take control of their heart health.  

Menstrual Health

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes painful or heavy periods. It may also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems. Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with the condition. Endometriosis can affect all women and girls of a childbearing age, regardless of race or ethnicity.