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Somerset Health and Wellbeing Advisory Network

Helping you to help others

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Vaccination Clinics In Somerset

Sedgemoor

Bridgwater Town Hall, High St, TA6 3BL
Every Friday: 9am - 2pm
Walk in
Bridgwater Community Hospital, Bower Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6JE
Every Sunday: 9am - 7pm
Auction / Market at Junction 24 Market Way, North Petherton TA6 6DF
Saturday 21st May: 9am - 3pm
Walk in
Sydenham Pantry, Community Hub, Fairfax Road, Bridgwater, TA6 4HX
Wednesday 25th May: 1pm - 6pm
Walk in
Hamp Pantry, Grenville House, Rhode Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6JE
Thursday 26th May: 1pm - 6pm
Walk in

Somerset West and Taunton

Minehead Community Hospital, Luttrell Way, Minehead, TA24 6DF
Every Tuesday: 8:30am - 7pm
Everyday Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Walk in
Wellington Community Hospital, Bulford Lane, Wellington, TA21 8QQ
Tuesday & Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Walk in
Wiveliscome Community Hall, West Street, Wiveliscombe, TA4 2JP
Wednesday 25th May: 2pm - 6pm
Walk in
Exmoor Rural Health Hub, Moorland Hall, Wheddon Cross, Minehead, TA24 7DU
Wednesday 1st June: 9am -3pm
Walk in
Priorswood Community Centre, 13-14 Priorswood Place, Taunton, TA2 7JW
Sat 14th & 28th May: 12pm - 6pm
Sat 11th June: 2pm - 6pm
Sat 25th June: 12pm - 6pm
Walk in

Mendip

Clarks Village (Alfred Gillet Trust Building) Outlet Shopping Village, Farm Road, Street, BA16 0BB
Thurs 19th & 26th May: 9am-5pm
Tues 24th & 31st May: 9am - 5pm
Sunday 22nd May: 10am - 4pm
Walk in
Cheese & Grain, Market Yard, Justice Lane, Frome, BA11 1BE
Wednesday 25th May: 9am - 5pm
Thursday 2nd June: 9am - 5pm
Walk in
Frome Market, Standerwick, Frome, BA11 2QB
Wednesday 25th May: 10am - 2pm
Walk in

South Somerset

Chard Leisure Centre, Fore Street, Chard, TA20 1GR
Wednesday 25th May: 9am - 5pm
Thursday 2nd June: 9am - 5pm
Walk in
Crewkerne Henhayes Centre, South Street, Crewkerne, TA18 8DA
Sunday 15th May: 9:30am - 5pm
Walk in
New walk in clinics are regularly available across the county. Please encourage your networks to check the NHS walk in site for up to date information.
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Dementia Action Week 16 - 22 May

This year the theme of Alzheimer's Society Dementia Action Week is diagnosis. Research shows that the misconception around memory loss being a sign of normal ageing is the biggest barrier to people seeking a dementia diagnosis. With diagnosis rates falling to a five-year low, we want to encourage those who might be living with undiagnosed dementia to get guidance and support so they can feel empowered to take the next step.

As well as the misconception around memory loss just being part of getting old, research found being in denial, and referral times to specialists, are big barriers for those experiencing symptoms to seek a diagnosis.

Please share the resources and tools available with all your networks to help people understand more about dementia and how to get diagnosed.

Clinton Roger's Film

This week, Clinton meets with Reminiscence Learning to learn more about the work they are doing around dementia awareness ahead of Dementia Action Week (16-22 May).

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Together we can tackle loneliness

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental health and the practical steps we can take to address it.
One in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time. There’s no single cause and there’s no one solution. After all, we’re all different! But, the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.

The Mental Health Foundation have great information and resources available. Please share widely with your networks.
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We’re aware at the moment that young people are experiencing heightened levels of concerns relating to exams and associated stress and upcoming transitions for leaving or moving schools.

We know it can be difficult to know where to go for mental health support for young people. The resources below signpost to key local and national mental health support for Young People and families. We recommend sharing directly with young people and families and including on your websites.

Our lifehacks page offers resources which have been developed with young people for young people and offer ideas and support for looking after ourselves and keeping emotionally and mentally healthy and well. After all, Mental Health is something you DO, not something you HAVE. We want to help you and your friends take action for positive mental health.
Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing : New Lifehacks (cypsomersethealth.org)
Mindline Somerset, - Open 24 hours a day, seven-days a week, open to people of all ages who need urgent mental health support. The helpline is the first port of call for mental health help – it is operated by people in your local area who will know how best to support you.
Mind Somerset
ChatHealth - is a mobile health service for parents and young people in Somerset. Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
Parents of children 0-4: Confidential help from the Health Visiting Team Just send a text 07480 635514
Parents of children 5-19 years: looking for confidential help and advice? Just send a text to your School Nurse Team. Text 07480 635515
Young People 11-19 years: Discreet and quick, it only takes one text to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from a local School Nurse. You don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to. Text 07480 635516
Young Somerset's Wellbeing Service - Free wellbeing support for young people experiencing low level mental health needs. Find out more here:
Wellbeing Support | Young Somerset
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Every Mind Matters - Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. Every Mind Matters have expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
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Kooth – Safe and anonymous online support for young people until 10pm – friendly counsellors, self-help and community support.
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Papyrus Suicide Prevention of Young Suicide -envisions a society which speaks openly about suicide and has the resources to help young people who have suicidal thoughts. Suicide is biggest killer of under 35's in the UK.
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Somerset Big Tent - brings together local organisations that offer support to children and families.They also run weekly virtual hubs for young people and parents:
Virtual Hubs Archive - Somerset Big Tent
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Somerset Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) - offer a variety of teams and services for young people aged 0–18 years old who are struggling with their mental health.
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NHS Mental Health Apps - distrACT app - gives you easy, quick and discreet access to information and advice about self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The content has been created by doctors and experts in self-harming and suicide prevention.
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Calm Harm is an app designed to help people resist or manage the urge to self-harm. It's private and password protected.
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The MeeToo App supports the mental health and emotional well-being of children and young people in Somerset, through pre-moderated peer support, where young people can safely talk about difficult issues including relationships, friends, college, anxiety, appearance, exams, break ups, Covid and learn how to help themselves by helping each other.
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Join a Wild Workout

Tuesday May 24th 12:30pm – 3:30pm, meeting in Holford.
Join Quantock Landscape Partnership Trust and Stepladder Somerset for a Wild Workout for an adder survey. You will be observing and not handling the protected species. This is a chance to use the best gym nature can provide – the great outdoors! This is a great opportunity for people who want to try something a bit different that will improve their wellbeing. To register, for more info and for any questions please get in touch with Nick on StepladderSomerset@second-step.co.uk or 07855 012317.

Online Suicide Awareness Training

At the heart of our approach to suicide prevention is the belief that suicide is everybody’s business and we all can have a part to play in suicide prevention.

SCC Public Health in conjunction with Every Life Matters have launched a series of online 3.5-hour suicide alertness courses and 90-minute suicide awareness courses that will run throughout the next 12 months.
The aim is to reduce the stigma attached to suicide, increase understanding of when someone is at risk of suicide, raise awareness of how to practically support someone, and the range of services and resources available for people in our communities experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Please share this information with your networks. As we go forward more course dates will be added.

Diverse Communities

The challenges of inequality in health can take many forms within our diverse communities, barriers in understanding; cultural differences, language
unconscious bias, micro-aggressions, health disparities by ethnic background, vaccination myths. These barriers can lead to lower uptake and engagement with health and social care, preventing access to health care, assumptions and some ‘normal’ practices can lead to misdiagnoses or late treatment.

Somerset Diverse Communities have created two podcasts on 'timely access to mental health support' and 'the health system for ethnically diverse communities'. There will be more to follow.

We want to hear from you

Your feedback is valuable to us and we'd like to receive more from you and your communities. Ideas on different ways to engage and issues you are spotting locally will help us to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare.
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Local Helplines

If you require support please contact your local authority.
Mendip District council call 0300 303 8588
Sedgemoor District council call 0300 303 7800
South Somerset district council call 01935 462462
Somerset West and Taunton council call 0300 304 8000
Somerset County Council call 0300 123 22224
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Resources and Further Information:

For the latest local information as well as digital resources, posters and flyers please visit: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/

For information and resources on staying healthy happy and safe at the time please visit: https://www.healthysomerset.co.uk/covid-19/
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