Mental Health Awareness Day at DFC on Saturday
By Ray Simpson
If you need help, don't be afraid to ask
We'll be holding another of our Mental Health Awareness days on Saturday at our home game against Brackley.
if you're worried about something in your life, then please don't be afraid to ask for help and advice.
Plus, if you've got a friend who doesn't seem his or her usual self, encourage them to seek help.
Remember, it's ok not to be ok!
Here are four of the organisations who will be present on Saturday:
Darlington MIND
Darlington Mind is a registered local charity that provides professional, confidential support and recovery services for people experiencing emotional or mental health problems and their carers.
Darlington Mind is a relaxed and informal environment and, as a charity, they are dedicated to promoting and preserving good mental health and assisting those experiencing mental distress to regain their full potential in life and work.
They recognise that people are different and have different needs and as a result they offer a wide range of support and recovery services to meet the needs of different people.
The people who attend their services come from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, have different interests and have different goals but what they do have in common is life stressors and personal life events that lead them to want to proactively maintain and improve their mental health and quality of life.
Darlington Mind is a relaxed and informal environment and, as a charity, they are dedicated to promoting and preserving good mental health and assisting those experiencing mental distress to regain their full potential in life and work.
They recognise that people are different and have different needs and as a result they offer a wide range of support and recovery services to meet the needs of different people.
The people who attend their services come from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, have different interests and have different goals but what they do have in common is life stressors and personal life events that lead them to want to proactively maintain and improve their mental health and quality of life.
Kooth.com
Kooth.com is a free, online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for young people aged 11-18 years in Darlington, Hartlepool , Middlesbrough Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton.
The Kooth website allows young people to gain anonymous access to advice, support and guidance on any issue that is affecting their wellbeing. From friendship or relationship issues, family disagreements or difficult home lives, to concerns around eating, anxiety, stress, depression, self- harm, suicidal thoughts etc.
Their qualified counsellors are there to give young people the support they need, when they need it. Kooth.com’s live chat service is available from Monday to Friday 12 noon - 10pm, Saturdays and Sundays 6pm - 10pm and is accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop, completely free of charge.
As well as being able to talk to their counsellors, at Kooth.com you can also connect with other young people in monitored forums or get self-help through their online magazine. The large variety of forum categories allows young people to anonymously share their issues and receive positive messages of advice and support from young people across the country. As their forum posts are all checked before they go live on the site they can guarantee every young person a safe and helpful experience.
To register to Kooth, please go to www.kooth.com
First Stop
They are here to help you find your way when the trail has disappeared, sharing a problem with someone who is not emotionally involved but who can express empathy and give you options and the pros and cons for you to choose your own solution is about helping you find control again and puts you back in charge of your life goals.
People come to them for a vast range of topics and they will help you prioritise, understand your options, refer you to a specialist if that is required, support you to challenge or question decision makers, ensure you understand what is required from your tenancy or other legal documents such as; Benefits contract, utilities, repayment agreements,etc.
Our goal is to help you achieve independence and to be free to follow your aspirations.
No appointment needed, just pop down to the centre and someone will be there to listen.
Darlington Mental Health Support
The Darlington Mental Health Support Team are based in Education settings within the local area. They are based within some primary and secondary schools within Darlington - working with children and young people within the transition years 4 to 8.
Their purpose is to help children and young people who are struggling with mild to moderate mental health difficulties/symptoms.
Their aim is to help children and young people with skills and strategies to support their mental health as early as possible, before things get difficult and impact everyday life.
They also help support parents and carers of children and young people who are struggling with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
They are currently in phase 2 of rolling out their service, so come and speak to them at the match. To find out more, or you can speak to your school’s mental health lead
