Your physical and mental health

There are many things that can affect your mental health, particularly if you are dealing with financial problems. It's normal and help is available.

The NHS can help you find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline.

For urgent mental health support, contact:

• call 111 option 2 NHS Mental Health Crisis Line (24/7 helpline for anyone of any age)
• The Samaritans
• if it's a life-threatening emergency call 999.

Mind BLMK

Mind BLMK’s Wellbeing Centre in Luton offers a range of services to support better mental health.

Crisis Cafes are safe, non-judgemental spaces that you can come to if you find yourself in crisis or mental distress in the evenings. You will be met by a trained mental health worker who will listen and help you identify ways to address the problems you are facing.

Crisis Cafes are open seven days a week, 365 days of the year, between 5 to 11pm.

You can find the Luton Crisis Café at the:
Luton Wellbeing Centre
46-56 Dumfries Street,
Luton
LU1 5BP

Total Wellbeing Luton

Total Wellbeing Luton offer a talking therapy service and emotional health support. This service can be access by anyone who lives in Luton and is over 16.

You can also use their self-help page with the 5 steps to wellbeing and discover other organisations working in Luton and supporting mental health.

Other useful links

• Every Mind Matters provides simple tips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health.
• The Mental Health Foundation provides advice and information about how to look after your mental health.
• Visit the NHS mental health and wellbeing advice website for self-assessment, audio guides and practical tools, if you are experiencing stress, feelings of anxiety or low mood.
• Call The Samaritans for free any time, from any phone on 116 123 just to talk. You don’t have to be suicidal.

Mental health crisis breathing space

The mental health crisis ‘breathing space’ scheme gives people in problem debt and receiving treatment for a mental health crisis a ‘breathing space’ from the people they owe money to, so they can focus on their mental health recovery.

Find out more, refer someone you know, or apply yourself for a mental health breathing space.

A similar ‘breathing space’ scheme is also available for people who are not currently in mental health crisis, which allows individuals time to get debt advice to help relieve the stress caused by debt.

If your child is struggling with their emotional and/or mental health, there are a number of local and national services offering information, advice and support for children and young people aged 0 to 25 years.

This collection of resources reflects a multi-agency approach to supporting the emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Luton.

More about support for children and young people aged 0 to 25 years

Healthier Together

It can be extremely stressful when your child is unwell. We know that there is a huge amount of information available at your fingertips, but finding something that provides clear and accurate information is not always easy!

The Healthier Together website has been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. It provides support for young people, parents and pregnant women.

You'll find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last.

Support for

• Parents and carers
• Young people’s health
• Pregnancy and new baby
• Labour and birth

Chat health

11 to 19 year olds can text the Luton Community Health services school nurse team on 07520 616070 for advice and support on all aspects of health & wellbeing such as:

• Mental health
• Healthy eating
• Relationships

Support for students

Students can look on the Nightline website to see if their university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.

Depending on your age and any pre-existing conditions, you can have one of two different health checks:

• NHS Health Check
• Mini health check at a health station

The NHS health check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It's designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.

You can contact your GP or Total Wellbeing Luton (Luton’s Health & Wellbeing service provide).

Please refer to the NHS website for more information

Mini health check at a health station

Keep a regular track of your health at one of Luton’s health stations. The health stations are free to use and will give you a fully-automated mini-health check in under 10 minutes.

More information on mini health checks

Your physical health has a big impact on how you're feeling emotionally and mentally. It can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make you feel worse.

Try to:

• eat healthy, well-balanced meals
• drink enough water
• exercise once a day
• avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs

Active Luton offer a range activities at their centres, including swimming and group fitness.

The GoLess card offers discounted rates for activities at Luton Active centres. If you are receiving certain benefits you may be eligible for the Go4Less Advantage card which offers more discounts, more about Go4Less cards.

There's also lot of free content online to help you get active outdoors and at home. Here are a few ideas:

• Be Active have a dedicated section of their website about getting active and keeping moving, including walking, running or cycling
• Walking: find out more about walks to go on including The Luton Hat Trail, Upper Lea Valley Walk, plan a route, walking clubs and more
• Cycling: Information about Luton’s bike recycling scheme, cycle training and the Luton and Dunstable Cycle forum
• Couch to 5k: a nine week programme of podcasts, consisting of three runs a week, the programme gradually builds up intensity and provides a choice of coaches
• Active 10 app: from the NHS is a good way to monitor and gradually increase brisk walking levels over time. It’s available to download via the App Store and Google Play
• This girl can has put together a useful list of exercises to try at home, from table top press ups to living room wall sits - great for both women and men
• You can follow home workout videos from the NHS which includes a strengthening workout and a 10-min cardio workout
• NHS seated exercise routines for older people and those with limited mobility routines for older people and those with limited mobility
• There are a number of websites with online home workouts that you can watch and do whenever, some for free or with a free trial period, for example Fitness Blender has over 500 free workout videos
• NHS 111 online get help for your symptoms - if you think you need medical help right now, 111 online can tell you what to do next

Get help with NHS prescriptions and health costs: you might be able to get free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and help with other NHS cost.

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).