Mental health
Mental health is important and local support is available. This goes beyond the NHS and includes our voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) partners. They offer a wide range of support and resources to everyone who needs them. This support can keep you well and help you through all parts of your care journey. Don’t wait until you are in crisis. A range of helpful resources can be found by visiting the following websites:
People living in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield can find help and support from Choose Well, provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. - Children and young people living in Wakefield can find support and resources from WF I Can, in Calderdale from Open Minds and in Kirklees from Thriving Kirklees.
- People living in Leeds can find help and support from our trusted partners at MindWell (for adults) and MindMate (for children and young people).
- People living in Bradford District and Craven can find help and support from Healthy Minds.
- This May Help is aimed at parents and carers who may have concerns about their child’s mental health. Well-known presenters are helping raise awareness of this new national initiative launched by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.
Looking after your mental health and sources of support
- Your physical health can affect your mental health. Staying physically well is important. Simple routines around exercise and a focus on healthy eating, limiting alcohol use and engaging in social activities can all contribute to wellbeing.
- This NHS information about mental health includes a self-assessment tool.
- For urgent help in a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
- If you live in Bradford, you can also call: 0800 952 1181
Young people
For overnight support for young people and children experiencing a mental health crisis call NightOwls on: 0800 1488244, text on 07984 376950 or chat online at wynightowls.org.uk
NHS 111
Call NHS 111 for 24/7 crisis mental health support. You can also access NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. Please note that 111 is not an emergency healthcare service. In a mental health emergency where there is an immediate threat to life call 999.
People of all ages who are experiencing a mental health crisis can now get support through the NHS 111 service mental health option. You can call NHS 111 for yourself, or for someone else, to get mental health support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you aren’t able to make the call yourself, then anyone can call on your behalf. This could be a family member, friend, carer or even your GP.
If you are deaf or have hearing loss, please use NHS 111 -SignVideo to connect to your local crisis service.
Signs that you or someone you know may be facing a mental health crisis could include:
- changes to your mood
- withdrawing from people (close family, friends or work colleagues)
- not taking care of yourself like you usually would
- having increased thoughts about your life not being worth living
- excessive worry
- feeling out of control or unable to cope
- feeling anxious about leaving the house
- hearing voices or seeing things that others can’t
- thinking about harming yourself
For all the information about the NHS 111 service mental health option and other sources of help please see the Get help page here.
Suicide prevention – Check-in With Your Mate
The West Yorkshire Suicide Prevention website is a dedicated information portal to help people with suicidal thoughts and those concerned for the mental wellbeing of anyone who lives in West Yorkshire. Key content includes: details of organisations that support people who are feeling suicidal in each area – Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
Information about WestYorkshire Suicide Bereavement Service is also available, along with the latest news and information from suicide prevention partners locally and nationally. The site also has a growing collection of suicide prevention resources to use and share.
The Suicide Prevention Check-in With Your Mate campaign, urges people to start conversations about mental health with the men in their life – at home, in the community and at work. View and share the resources of the campaign at staffcheck-in.co.uk/campaign-toolkit/males/
Click here for more information on mental health services in West Yorkshire