A telephone and text support service for people worried about their mental health or about someone they care about is available throughout the New Year period.

For most people, Christmas and New Year is a happy time of year often spent celebrating at parties with loved ones. For others, however, it can be a difficult time filled with anxiety and loneliness.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s Mental Health Helpline and Texting Service provides emotional support for people who may be feeling lonely, stressed or experiencing mental health problems and thoughts of suicide.

The helpline volunteers are there for anyone experiencing distress and supports callers by using listening skills to enable people to make their own choices about how their health care needs may be met.

A texting service is also available for those who may find it difficult talking on the phone by providing emotional support via text
messages.

Lorraine Khalaf, Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline Manager at Lancashire & South Cumbria
NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We recognise that the New Year period can be an extremely difficult time of year for some people due to stress, anxiety and loneliness.
“The Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline is here to offer confidential support to people who are feeling low, distressed and concerned about
their mental health or about someone they care about.
“We also provide a service to callers who
may just need signposting in the right direction. No one should feel alone or that they have no one
to talk to, we are here to listen.”

The Helpline and Texting Service is open 365 days a year, Monday to Friday 7pm – 11pm and Saturday to Sunday 12pm to 12am.
To contact the Helpline please call the free phone line on 0800 915 4640 or alternatively text ‘HELLO’ to 07860 022 846.
For more information on the services available over the festive period, please visit the Lancashire
& South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust website.