We have dedicated this page to having information on amazing services that are dedicated to helping with your mental health and wellbeing. No matter your symptoms, we hope there will be something that will help. We hope that you'll find the help that you need here, but remember, if you or someone you know is in need of urgent help:
If you or someone you know is at risk of harm, call 999 or visit your nearest Accident and Emergency department.
These are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also discuss your issues with your GP if you feel comfortable doing so, they will begin the process of getting you the care that you need.
Below you will find information about each of these local services, with information on who they are, where they're located and how they can help you. All of their contact information will be there for you so that you can get in touch with them in the way that feels most comfortable to you.
Please see below a video from Dr. Anna Benson, GP and Clinical Advisory Lead for Mental Health for Herts Valleys CCG introducing what you will find on this page and videos you will see below:
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) provides access to primary care psychological therapy services in Hertfordshire and West and Mid Essex through a wide range of confidential talking therapy treatments and practical support for adults with common mental health problems. The services are part of the national initiative Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
Please see below a video from Joanna Bawa, Access Lead and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist for the Wellbeing Team, describing the services offered, who is eligible and how you can access these services:
You can find more information here, as well as links to make referral, book into helpful webinars etc.
Empower is a 48-week project that aims to improve young people’s mental health using physical activity. Each session is 90 minutes in length and consists of 60 minutes of physical activity, typically in the form of a sport session such as dodgeball, football, basketball, badminton, or dance. Following the physical activity, we complete a 30-minute wellbeing workshop, which is a facilitated conversation between participants, Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust Coaches and a NESSie psychotherapist.
You can see a video from the Trust discussing the programme below:
You can also find more information on their website here, as well as the registration form here.
Physical Activity Sessions aimed at men aged 18 and over requiring support in Mental Well-being through physical activity and conversation cafes. This mixture of sports and thoughtful conversation gives the people who attend the time doing sports they love and gives them an opportunuty to meet and connect with people who may be going through similar struggles as them.
Hear from mental health project officer Taylor Morrison on what the programme can offer you in the video below:
You can find more information on this programme, as well as Taylor's contact details and how to get started with the programme here.
A Slice of Happiness (A project of Watford and Three Rivers Trust) is a charity based in Hertfordshire supporting those facing redundancy, unemployed, or on Universal Credit using an approach called The Three Principles. The Podcasts show how simple, yet powerful this understanding is to show that 'nobody is broken' Supported by the NHS and in Partnership with Coventry University Research Centre.
Many people struggle with difficult emotions during and after traumatic events. They live trapped in these events, which can lead to self destructive behaviour, feeling hopeless and unable to move forward in life.
A slice of Happiness offers support which helps people to wake up to new possibilities and the potential we all have within us to experience peace of mind and contentment.
You can listen to testimonial podcasts of people who have been helped by their services here.
You can also find their website here, you will find more information as well as how to make a referral/self referral in the 'Contact Us' section of the site.
Every day, Samaritans volunteers respond to around 10,000 calls for help. They're there, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Samaritans is not only for the moment of crisis, they’re taking action to prevent the crisis.
They give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others. And they encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives.They offer listening and support to people and communities in times of need.
In prisons, schools, hospitals and on the rail network, Samaritans are working with people who are going through a difficult time and training others to do the same. Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy, and Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide.
That’s why they work tirelessly to reach more people and make suicide prevention a priority.
There are many ways you can contact them, these include:
At the college, we offer hope for the future despite life’s challenges, opportunity, learning from other students experiences, equipping students with the skills to make changes to support their wellbeing. The college is not somewhere to obtain qualifications but to learn self-management and personal development.
Recovery colleges offer educational courses about mental wellbeing supporting personal recovery. The ethos is to increase students’ knowledge and skills and help them take control by learning self-management strategies to help their mental health and wellbeing. The concept emerged by recognising people being experts in their own care, and their views should be central to their recovery journey.
New Leaf Recovery and Wellbeing College is passionate about making sure students are placed at the centre of all we do. We can build on peoples’ strengths and support people to move from ‘patient’ to ‘student’ and sometimes ‘teacher’ within the college. We work together collaboratively at every level, assisting the individual in their personal recovery journey to share and empower others on their personal recovery.
The college offers hope, opportunities and the tools for students to self-manage and takes control. We offer students support, resources, and the time to reflect to discover how to manage their own well-being.
The college is free to all Hertfordshire residents aged 18 and over.
