‘Blue Monday’ but any day can be challenging
15 Jan 2024
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
As we head into mid-January, it is recognised that this can be a challenging time of year, particularly with the comedown from Christmas. Some people identity the third Monday of January as ‘Blue Monday’, but we recognise that whatever the day, we can have mental health struggles.
We’d like to remind colleagues who are struggling that we have a range of support available to colleagues including:
Health Hero
Health Hero is a specialist external provider ofwellbeing and mental health support services. Support is free and anonymous.
To contact by telephone, call 0800 358 5997 or +44 141 271 7555 (landline alternative for international and/or mobile use) to speak to an advisor.
Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Calls are confidential - Confidentiality may only be broken in a situation where you or someone else is in danger.
Health Hero offers:
• Counselling – online and face to face
• An online vClub portal with wellbeing information & resources
• Legal Information
• Money & Debt Support
Qwell
Qwell provides free, safe and anonymous online mental health support whenever you need it. There are no waiting lists for support and no referral needed. Access to these platforms is available instantly 24/7. Support available includes:
Booked and drop-in chat or messaging with qualified mental health professionals
Self help tools and activities
Community Support (discussion boards and live forums)
Counselling & Mental Health Service
The University’s Counselling & Mental Health Service offer a range of group workshops and other resources and information to help you.
Urgent Support
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or looking to signpost someone, the following services are available:
Important: If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to your closest Accident and Emergency department
• Samaritans – 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, 116 123, Contact Us | Samaritans
• SANEline – 4pm – 10pm, 365 days a year, 0300 304 7000, SANEline services - SANE
• Find a local NHS Mental health helpline in England: Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Mental health crisis support in Greater Manchester: 24/7 helpline open to all: 0800 953 0285. Further local Manchester crisis care services.
• If you need help urgently for your mental health, but it's not an emergency, call 111
Further support service information can be found in an article shared over the winter break.
Starting well this January
This month at UoM, we have a full programme of wellbeing events and activities themed around four key areas of wellbeing including: financial, physical, psychological, and social. There are a range of activities on offer: including a webinar on dealing with overwhelm, learning more about Purple Wave events and how to get involved, wellbeing focused conversations training for line managers and much more. We encourage line managers and leaders to support colleagues in attending events.
Wellbeing training for Managers
January marks the beginning of ‘Managing with Wellbeing in Mind’, a full day training course delivered by external provider We Are Wellbeing. There are courses running from January – December 2024. More detail about the course overview will be shared in due course. For now, please register for a date that works for you. In-person course dates and online training course dates are available.
More information