Support for women

Finding support for you

Here are some sources of support and some useful ways to get support if you are finding it hard.

• If you are feeling anxious, low, stressed or having trouble sleeping Good Thinking has five clinically validated assessments for you to choose from. An assessment takes 20 minutes and will provide you with a diagnosis, helpful resources and if necessary, relevant treatment options.
• If you’re feeling anxious or stressed about financial difficulties, then explore the helpful range of resources and guidance on City Hall’s Help with the cost of living hub.
• Watch a 60-minute NHS wellbeing webinar on mindfulness and its benefits. From this webinar you will go away with three mindfulness-based exercises that you can start to practice, as well as some activities to start you off on your mindfulness journey.
• In conversation with Sanah Ahsan and Jumoké Fashola. Sanah Ahsan, a community psychologist, award-winning poet and all-round disrupter, sits down with Jumoké Fashola, BBC radio presenter, journalist, vocalist and actor. In a powerful and intimate exchange, the pair explore how we can encourage vulnerability in our communities, especially breaking down the trope that women of colour must be strong or powerful.
• When overwhelmed and stressed, it can feel like there is nothing that can help you. In this Good Thinking podcast, mindfulness trainer and consultant psychologist, Janet Wingrove, shares how even a small pause, some breathing space, can start the journey to feeling calmer and more resilient, and reconnect you with those values that help you to keep going.

Twenty minutes to better resilience with Dr Radha

Making small changes can make a big difference and can help you to effectively build emotional resilience.

Our ability to adapt well to the stress of life, as well as being able to bounce back from adversity, crises or trauma, is often referred to as emotional resilience.

We’ve teamed up with Dr Radha, NHS GP, broadcaster and campaigner for wellbeing, as well as Londoners like you, to develop a 20-minute training video on emotional resilience.

In this short training video, you can learn more about resilience and get lots of practical ideas and inspiration about how you can strengthen your own ability to adapt well to stressful circumstances.

British Sign Language version

We have also produced this video with British Sign Language interpretation. Watch now on our YouTube channel.

Other resources to help you

Dealing with difficult emotions can be challenging but help and support is available.

In London, there are a range of free resources, online tools, and helplines available to help you deal with the uncertainty and stay mentally healthy.

Digital resources available now

Good Thinking is a digital mental wellbeing service that has over 100 free, NHS-approved resources designed to help those dealing with anxiety, low mood, poor sleep or stress. Take the clinically validated self-assessment to get a better understand of what you’re going through, helpful resources and if necessary, relevant treatment options.

To help build resilience and maintain good mental wellbeing, Every Mind Matters has a range of resources for everyone at Including an interactive quiz, the Your Mind Plan, to get top tips and advice relevant for you.

NHS psychological treatments

If you do not require urgent support but are still concerned about your mental health, contacting your GP is a good place to start.

You can also refer yourself for free, non-urgent NHS talking therapy services, also known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services, which provide evidence-based treatments for depression and anxiety. In London, services are ready and open to receive self-referrals for those needing professional support.

Helplines

Or you may feel more comfortable talking to someone you don’t know by using one of the following helplines:

• If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis and needs urgent assistance, advice or support, contact your local 24/7 NHS mental health helpline.
• Shout is the UK ‘s first 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in crisis. Text Shout at any time to 85258 to start a conversation.
• Samaritans’ free, 24-hour listening service on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.