Mental health support during the Covid-19 pandemic west Kent

Release the Pressure – 24 hour helpline
call 0800 107 0160

Text support – 24 hours mental health
crisis support Text “Kent” to 85258

Adult Urgent Mental health support
Kent & Medway 24 hour helpline for urgent mental health support, advice and guidance. Provided by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) - 0300 222 0123

Maidstone Safe Haven
Kent & Medway the emphasis of the service is on reducing immediate distress, and supporting people to access services and opportunities available to them in the wider community. Available 6pm – 11pm 365 days per year - call 07484061684 Email: Maidstone.mhm@nhs.net

Live Well Kent
Live Well Kent can help you improve your mental and physical health and wellbeing - Call: 0800 567 7699
Email: info@livewellkent.org.uk
www.livewellkent.org.uk

Involve Carers Support West Kent
Providing phone support for carers Call: 03000 810005 Email:
office@involvekent.org.uk
www.involvekent.org.uk/carers

A carers story during Covid-19

I feel excited & privileged to be able to share a families account on how they have managed to spend their time during the current climate. The family member expressed that they wanted to give something back to the NHS. As a family they have used the services on more than one occasion, across different departments within the NHS.

Like everyone else, they faced all the barriers with self isolation. But this is what they have done & are continuing with. Please enjoy
reading their experience.

Congratulations to the family for the money you have raised for the NHS. If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please get in touch. We would love to hear your experiences.

The park life group keeps to strict guidelines of social distancing. It started after the first clap for Carers, 7 weeks
ago..somebody said do you fancy keep fit starting tomorrow to raise money for NHS? Yes we all said enthusiastically. Then tomorrow came and 10 am was near, doubts set in, will she or won’t she? and yes you guessed it 50 consecutive days later, will are still doing it!

We have had various ‘theme’ challenges. Starting with Rainbow week when each day represents a different colour complimented by colour
matching gym clothes, orange was quite hard as some say it looks pink and others orange (eyes are not what they used to be ) second challenge came and it was ‘Lockdown Holiday Destinations’ England, Spain, France, Egypt, Jamaica, Hawaii and America all in fancy dress of course bearing in mind we are in lockdown with only online shopping once a week so having to be creative with costumes and making do.

The challenge brought out new talents of creativity and certainly raised a few eyebrows for the occasional onlooker!

So everyday so far keep fit, so now it was decided to go farther afield within our retirement Park area; we decided on a ‘Social distance Walk’ around our grounds one lap equalling half a mile. Combined all 10 of us we achieved the equivalent of four and a half marathons.

For that we are all purchasing a medal (proceeds to the NHS). By now then we have raised nearly £900 for the NHS and are starting to feel a little fitter! Two other challenges have been, ‘Favourite Film‘ day. I chose ‘The most exotic Marigold Hotel’ quite apt owing to our ages, and most recently a James Bond day where us ladies were obviously having to be more inventive therefore ‘Jane Bond
007:5’ ‘Goldfinger’ (literally) and the very lovely Ursula Andrews ‘to name a few.

To mark our 50th day we are hoping to complete another Marathon walk around the Park and maybe a jog, wish us luck! The clapping may have stopped but we haven’t as we are still isolating and raising money for the NHS.

So who are we? We are all over 55 on a retirement Park men women and disabled some fighting fit and others waiting for serious operations with one thing in common all having achieved our very best in lockdown. What have we achieved? Routine, reason,
comaraldery, laughter, revealing unknown talents for creativity.

What message can we give? Even in the face of adversity there is always a light and it just takes tiny steps towards it to achieve something positive, and we are not alone.

Written by annonoymous carer