As the COVID-19 situation progresses and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious, tired and fed up. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

Now we are at the end of the year it could be considered a good time to reflect on this year. For many of us we may feel like just forgetting this year altogether due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Many have experienced loss, isolation, loneliness, stress and anxiety caused by uncertainty – which could never have been anticipated.
However, during difficult times we may learn new things about ourselves. Everyone will have had a different experience of this past year and this article looks at some of the questions you could ask yourself when reflecting on 2020. Whether you are an optimistic person or a pessimistic person – try to consider the some of the good and bad points from this year.

Questions to ask yourself when considering the good points in 2020

 What is the best thing that happened to me this year?
 What did I enjoy the most in 2020?
 What was my favourite moment in the past year?
 What was the best compliment that I received?
 What is the thing I am the proudest about during in 2020?

When answering these questions you may find that your answers are a lot different to what you may have said in 2019.

For example, it may be that in 2019 your favourite moment was a holiday abroad, but this year has been very different and your favourite moment may have been spending more quality time with your family at home during lockdown. It is important to remember that we have all experienced things differently during the pandemic and what may be
positive for one person, may not have been so positive for another. There are no right or wrong answers, but more an encouragement to help you reflect on a challenging year in a more positive light where possible.

Questions to ask yourself when considering the not so good points in 2020

 Did I fail at anything?
 What is the most important lesson I have learnt this year?
 What could I have done better?
 What didn’t I achieve that I would have liked to?

When answering these questions try to consider your answers carefully and reflect on why you may not have achieved what you would have liked, or why something has not gone as well as you would have liked them to. Could you do anything differently if that situation happened again in the future? What did you learn from that situation? Every individual’s experiences are different; it may be that you couldn’t do what you had planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so you have instead planned it for the future. When reflecting on some of the negative aspects of this year, it is important to be kind and forgiving of ourselves and those around us. We have all come through unprecedented times and everyone has faced their own challenges along the way. Try to accept that we have all had very little control of the outcomes of this year, so instead try to reward yourself for how resilient and adaptable you have been.

Reflecting on 2020 questions to consider

 What am I thankful for this year?
 What would I do differently?
 What advice would I give to myself?
 How am I different from this time last year?

When reflecting on the past year try to give yourself a fair assessment. Look at the positives and negatives. Try not to be too hard on yourself, we are always learning and sometimes making mistakes is one of the ways in which we may do this. You may have surprised yourself with how resilient you have been throughout the last year. Even if you have struggled this year, you may find next time you are in a difficult situation that you are more resilient than you were before.

Thinking about the future

 How have my long term plans now changed due the COVID-19 pandemic?
 How has this year effected what I do in the future?
 What have I learnt from this year that will change the way I do things in the future?

Future plans, aspirations and goals don’t have to be written off because of COVID-19. Whilst some aspects may need to be put on hold until restrictions are lifted fully, it is important to remind ourselves that we have all found new ways of working, socialising and living. Consider your long-term plans and how they can be adapted so that they are still
achievable. Having aspirations and goals to work towards can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing.

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number.

Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be
causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Reflecting on 2020’ please use the below  –
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2415100791352585232

It is almost the end of 2020 and what a strange year it has been for us all. Who’d of thought a global pandemic would mean that our entire year would be spent locked inside with drastic reduction in holidays and social occasions. These are the sorts of things we live for, spending time with friends and family, holidays away, treating the kids etc. but instead we have had a whole year without our usual routines and interactions and in some very unfortunate scenarios many have experienced unexpected bereavements.

With all that has gone on in 2020 it can be hard to remain positive in the moment, let alone looking to the future. With 2021 just around the corner it is good to help yourself to remain positive and look forward to what the year ahead can bring, whatever that may be. Many of us hope we are over the worst of it and with approvals of vaccines it is looking more likely that this is the case each day.

Try to find the silver linings of 2020

Although it’s been a tough one for us all, try to find some positivity from the past year. Did you manage to spend less money because you weren’t going out as much? Were you able to spend more time at home with loved ones? Were you able to spend more time focusing on yourself? What have you learnt from your experience in the past year, perhaps to appreciate the luxuries and what’s on your doorstep? As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining, you just need to find yours whatever it may be.

Appreciate things as they come

Look forward to and savour the moment when you’re able to do something you haven’t been able to do for so long, hug a family member, have a family get together, or go to the pub. This is just an example of a few things that could change going into 2021. It may not be the case, who knows that the New Year might bring but at least many of us have got over the initial shock of lockdown now allowing us to take things in our stride.

Feed yourself positivity

Manage the influences in your life to help feed your positivity. You won’t be able to completely avoid negativity, but you can pinpoint sources of it such as TV/Social media and limit the amount of time you spend absorbing it. This will help you maintain a level of positivity by reducing unnecessary concern.

Start 2021 as you mean to go on

Much like getting off to a good start when starting your day, try to do the same with your year. Set yourself some goals to achieve in the New Year, or little things you would like to do more or less of. Don’t over burden yourself with too many, or unrealistic resolutions, but think of the little things you would like to do more of in the new year – perhaps 2020 has highlighted a couple for you. Maybe checking in with friends more, or try to bring more positivity to others. Not only does helping others make you feel better and more positive, but by working on yourself you will feel like you’re progressing in areas you wouldn’t have normally considered.

Look after your general wellbeing

Looking after your general wellbeing often has a positive effect on your state of mind as it reduces stresses and anxieties, it can also make you feel more positive. Making sure you get enough sleep, have a healthy diet and exercising whether that’s mind, body or both will help you feel more positive when dealing with difficult situations or prolonged periods of time. Taking this with you into 2021 will help you feel good about things making you better equipped to deal with stresses that come your way.

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Keeping positive for the year ahead’ please use the following link  –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1053849321093692173

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

A New Year gives everyone the chance to set new goals for the year ahead. Whether you do New Year’s resolutions or not, January is the start of a New Year and may feel like a new beginning. It can be a good time to think about what you would like to achieve in the year ahead and to any changes that you would like to make from the previous year.

Care first produced an article “Reflecting on 2020” which you can find in the previous weekly calendar for Week 40. You may find this article helpful in reflecting on last year, which may then help you to think about goals that you would like to achieve this year. A lot of the goals that we set ourselves for the New Year tend to be around making positive
changes to our health and wellbeing.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when setting goals for the New Year:

• Set realistic goals – You are much more likely to achieve your goals if they are achievable. When setting goals it is important that they challenge you but that they are also achievable for you. For example you may set yourself the goal to do a 10 mile run by the end of 2021. This may be achievable for you if you spend the year working towards it. However if you set yourself a goal of running 10 miles in the first week this may be unrealistic for you to achieve.
• Set smaller targets to help you achieve your actual goal – You may have set your goal for the year but it is likely to take you time and hard work to achieve this goal. Set yourself smaller targets throughout the year which will help you achieve your overall goal. To refer back to the running example; if your goal is to run 10 miles by the end of the year, you may like to set yourself smaller targets in order to achieve this such as; running 1 mile by the end of month one, two miles by the end of month two and so on.
• Create a list with the “pro’s” and “con’s” of why you are trying to achieve your goal – By creating this list it may act as a positive reminder when you are lacking motivation. You can look at the list and see the reasons why you are trying to achieve that particular goal.
• Track your progress – It is important to note down your progress so you can see what you have achieved so far. Sometimes it is very easy to feel so far away from your overall goal, especially near the beginning. However by tracking your progress you will be able to see how well you’re doing, which may help you to keep motivated.
• Reward yourself – Celebrate your success. Plan rewards for yourself when you reach smaller milestones, just be sure that the treats do not contradict your overall goal! If your goal was to eat healthily and you have been sticking to it, treat yourself to some new exercise clothing for example.
• Try not to do everything at once – It is challenging enough to change one behaviour such as eating healthier for example. However, if you have lots of goals at the same time such as; eating healthily, doing more exercise, improving hydration, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake and many more, it may be unrealistic to achieve all of these at once – so try not to do too much all at one time.
• Don’t be too hard on yourself – We all have good days and bad days. Try to use your own resolve to overcome any setbacks to recover and progress towards your overall goal. Use the list you created for your “pro’s” and “con’s” to help you. Do your best and keep trying.
• Stick at it – It can take time for your new activity to become part of your normal routine. Give it time and do not expect to be perfect at the start. The more you do it the better you should get and it will become part of your normal routine overtime. So keep at it.
• Keep trying – You may run out of steam after a few months of trying. If you do then start over again. Focus day by day and do not think too far ahead.

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.
All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘New Year, New You’ please use the following link  –
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3720878601476173840

The coronavirus outbreak is dramatically changing our lives, including our relationships with other people in our communities, our families, our homes and our workplaces. Many of us have lost some or all of our normal ways of seeing others, as we try to keep each other safe. Some of us have also found ourselves spending far more time than we’re used to with those who share our homes, whether family, housemates or both – not to mention pets. Both losing normal contact with people and being thrown into much closer contact than usual can feel stressful and it may be worrying, frightening or even unbearable.

Five quick tips for nurturing healthy relationships:

Many tips about how to maintain good relationships are as relevant and important now as they were before coronavirus. For instance, all five of the Mental Health Foundation’s top tips for nurturing healthy relationships are as important now as before:

1. Give time – put more time aside to connect with your friends and family.
2. Be present – this means really paying attention to the other people in your life and trying not to be distracted by your phone, or your work, or other interests.
3. Listen – really listen to what others are saying and try to understand it and to focus on their needs in that moment.
4. Let yourself be listened to – honestly share how you are feeling, and allow yourself to be heard and supported by others.
5. Recognise unhealthy relationships – harmful relationships can make us unhappy.

Recognising this can help us to move forward and find solutions.

During this strange and difficult time, it is also worth considering additional ways to protect our relationships, and try to cope a bit better with some of the relationship problems living through a pandemic can create.

To view the webinar ‘Maintaining Relationships in the New Year’ you can use the following link –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3773607880802829580

If you feel you may need some support, you can also contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression which often takes on a seasonal pattern. Many people living with SAD experience worsening symptoms of depression during the winter months, and as such the disorder is sometimes called ‘Winter Depression’.

If you or someone you live with experiences SAD then you may find the below advice on coping with SAD helpful. The information in this article should not be considered medical advice, and does not substitute the advice provided by a GP or other qualified health professional.

Consider CBT or other forms of talking therapy

NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommends CBT in the treatment of SAD. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is based on the idea that the way you think and behave affects the way you feel. CBT isn’t always effective for everybody with SAD, and it may be that other forms of talking therapy, such as counselling may be more effective for you. In each case it may be a good first step to discuss your concerns with your GP and jointly decide upon the most appropriate form of support for you.

Try to get as much natural light as possible

Symptoms of SAD tend to be worse for most people during the darker, winter months when sunlight is less abundant. Some studies have suggested that people living with SAD may benefit from increased light exposure, so it may be beneficial to maximise time spent in natural light during the winter months. This can include taking a walk outside on your lunch break, making your working environment as light and airy as possible, or even sitting closer to sources or light, such as windows where possible.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

People living with SAD may find that their diet worsens during times they may be feeling low or depressed. This can lead to vicious circle of negative thoughts, and actions such as eating unhealthily which only serve to intensify feelings of low mood. Striving to eat a healthy, balanced diet can be effective in helping to improve the symptoms of SAD in some people. The NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eatwell/ has lots of helpful content and tips on how to improve your diet.

Exercise regularly, and try to avoid stressful situations

Exercise is shown to be an effective form of treatment for many forms of depression. For people living with SAD, exercising outdoors where possible in natural light can be a particularly effective means of improving symptoms. The NHS also recommends avoiding stressful situations wherever possible, and taking steps to recognise the signs of stress, and how best to manage these.

Information Sources and Useful Links –

This article references information and studies hosted at the following web addresses. If you would like to access this and more information on Seasonal Affective Disorder in more detail please follow the links below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/seasonal-affective-disordersad/about-sad/

To watch the webinar ‘Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder’ please use the following link –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4945826913991291405

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

The New Year is a great time to set some good financial goals. But be sure to set small realistic goals that will help you work towards your larger more long-term goals.

You may want to start with a large goal such as buying a house or retiring early and then look at the things you will need to do to reach that larger goal. Regardless of your aims, it is wise to set up a support system to make it easier to reach your financial goals. It is also important to measure your progress periodically throughout the year.

Consider these financial goals to take on in the New Year.

Start to Budget

Budgeting is the most important thing you can do to be financially successful. There are a lot of people who make a lot of money, but are struggling financially because they do not manage their money well.

Setting up a budget for the first time may be intimidating, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. If you have a hard time sticking to a budget you may consider using the envelope system. This will help you to stop spending once you have reached the limit each month.

Goals for Your Budget
 Set up a monthly budget and stick to it all year long
 Reduce your spending in specific categories each month
 Budget with your spouse or other family members.

Get Out of Debt

Getting out of debt is another key step to taking control of your finances. By really focusing on getting out of debt you can reduce the amount you pay in interest, and you can make the money you’d otherwise put toward debt payments somewhere else, or to work toward a larger goal. You should start by setting up a debt payment plan, then make a commitment to stick to your payment plan all year long.

It is also an incredible feeling to be debt-free. You have more freedom to do the things that you want to do. You achieve greater job flexibility and more peace of mind. While it may take some sacrifice to make it happen, it is worth the effort.

Goals to Get Out of Debt

 Set up a debt payment plan
 Sell items to pay off debt
 Reduce spending to pay off debt
 Consider a temporary second job to pay off debt where possible

Start Saving Money

Saving money is another important key to financial success. If possible try to save at least 10% of your income each month. This money will add up quickly. You should consider saving this amount in addition to your retirement contributions if you can afford it.

Remember, sacrificing a few meals from fast food restaurants a month can pay off in the long run. By establishing a savings habit now, you are opening the doors for what you can do during your retirement years. If you are struggling to find ways to save, you can start by cutting back on some of your expenses. Saving can be more effective if you have something you are saving for, as well.

Goals to Help You Save

 Stop or limit the frequency you eat out
 Reduce your grocery bill
 Find ways to save on utilities
 Set a monthly savings goal
 Start with small short-term financial goals and work to larger ones

For further information and some great tools and articles on managing your finances including a budgeting calculator, please visit www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and ask your organisation for your username and password to log-in.

You can view the Webinar on ‘Budgeting for the year ahead’ by using the following link – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4508259769039920398

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support.

Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for us all. Having most of our social occasions and holiday plans restricted has made life for many people a little grey. Mix that with lockdown measures and having to stay at home, with many also experiencing bereavement, feelings of anxiety, isolation and financial worries to name a few – it is easy to see how so many people’s wellbeing has been affected during this time.

Although the restrictions and lockdown have affected everyone differently; key workers have had it from all angles, as not only have their social and leisure plans been brought to a halt like everyone else, their stress levels at work have increased tenfold during the crisis, especially for those working in the healthcare sector.

Many of us know a key worker, whether they are a friend, family member or partner; it is
important that we support them through this tough time, as they support us and others.

Below are a few things to consider.

Consider the pressures they are experiencing

We have all felt the mental strain during COVID-19 but for many of us, we have just had to put up with staying home. Key workers are still working and may be dealing with people with heightened stresses making the environment more stressful than usual. Healthcare workers are going to be dealing with the pressure of short staff, unwell patients and an ever increasing pressure of rising COVID-19 numbers and the emotional turmoil of witnessing people passing without any family around them.

It can be easy to forget what key workers are dealing with from day to day because they go to work as normal, but their time at work during this current crisis is far from it. Factor in the uncertainty of when this might end and take away the things they look forward to such as holidays, all they have is increased stress and not much to look forward to.

Keep in touch and check in

Staying in contact seems an obvious one but it can be all too easy to let it slip, especially when things are looking up and our own lives can take precedent. However, it is important to just check in every now and then. Just touching base, maybe a message or a quick phone call can make all the difference to someone who is feeling the pressures.

If you live with a key worker, ensure they know you’re there to talk to about work should they want to. It can be common for key workers to try not to bring work home with them, especially in times like these so they can end up bottling up. Try to speak with them, ask questions, show interest in how their day was and be a shoulder to cry on if they need it.

Help to make their lives easy at home

Try your best to make home their space to relax and wind down. See if there is anything you can do to help to take a load off of them, whether that’s helping to get things ready for their next day of work, cook dinner ready for them etc. After having a long and stressful day at work, coming home to someone who has taken the initiative to help and support them will not go unnoticed, it will give them a sense of support from you and also a sense of recognition that their work days are particularly hard at the moment.

Understand the affects of high stress

If a loved one is a key worker and is dealing with high pressure and stress from day to day it is common for tempers to be shorter than usual, or not seeming their usual selves. Try to
understand that this could be down to the stresses at work and what they might say or do might not be a true reflection, it may just be an outburst of emotion. When this happens try to remain calm and not to escalate the situation. When things are stressful at work things need to remain as calm as possible at home.

Supporting our key workers through this tough time

We are all having our own experiences with the COVID pandemic, our own stresses and angst, but it is important that we all support each other during these times. It has been almost a year since the first lockdown and this sustained disruption of our way of life has been difficult, but there is hope that things will be getting better soon. Our key workers and especially those working within healthcare are experiencing something they never thought they would have to go through. It is vital that we support them through what we hope is this final, but most stressful final stretch.

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Supporting loved ones who are key workers’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 20th January at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1084412446715561484

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

To support Time to Talk day on the 4^th February the following sessions are being offered for all managers team leaders and supervisors.

February 4th (13.00-16.00) and February  12th (10.00-16.00)

The aim of the workshop is to enable and encourage managers to develop a management style that strikes the right balance between the needs of the individual/team and the needs of the business.

Content will include:

• Signs that might indicate that a staff member is struggling
• Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – issues to be aware of
• 2 golden rules for managing stress and mental health at work
• Practical problems for managers
• Good practice framework for managing mental health at work
• Clarifying the role of the organisation, individual staff and the manager
• Guidelines for managing sensitive conversations about stress and mental health
• Practical support – ‘reasonable adjustments’ during and after the Covid-19 pandemic
• Sources of support for staff and managers

To arrange to attend a session please book via staff connect

As the COVID-19 situation progresses and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious, tired and fed up. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

This article looks at how you can keep occupied during lockdown. We are all in different situations during lockdown, it may be that you are already very busy as you may still be working, whether that be from home or as a Key Worker, or you could also be home schooling your children again. But if you are struggling to keep occupied during lockdown then this article has lots of ideas to help fill your time.

The first suggestion is to reflect on previous lockdowns and think about if there was anything you wish you had done which you did not manage to do last time. To help with this you could watch our previous webinar on “Reflecting on 2020” by following this link : https://youtu.be/SZ389ZSeGIg

Idea’s for keeping yourself occupied during lockdown

• You could look at learning a new language or a new skill
• Home baking or learning to cook new meals
• A chance to re-decorate or make home improvements
• Home workouts
• Connect with family and friends via video link
• Virtual quiz night
• Movie night
• Start to make improvements to your garden before the summer
• Clear out/re-organise your wardrobe
• Read a new book or do some puzzles
• Learn how to knit
• Spend more time with your household family and pets

Not all the ideas listed above will be applicable to you as we are all different but hopefully you can get some inspiration from the ideas listed above. During these very difficult and challenging times it is easy for us to think about all the things we don’t have, or that we cannot do currently due to the restrictions in place. However, try to focus on what you can do and what is in your control and consider if there is anything you may like to achieve whilst in lockdown that is possible under the current restrictions.

For many, just taking each day at a time is a reasonable expectation for them, so remember that it is equally important to ensure not to put yourself under too much pressure to reach a particular goal during lockdown.

Other ideas to keep you occupied during lockdown?

• January can be seen as a good time to do a financial health check. If you do have some free time then this could be a good opportunity to go through your finances and look at a budget planner for the year ahead. Please see the link below which is a previous Care first webinar that looks at “Budgeting with Care first” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6QpafdJ2Ho&feature=youtu.be
• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen lots of amazing acts of kindness and everyone pulling together to help others. You could look at ways that you could help others such as helping local foodbanks, delivering food and essentials to people that are shielding, you could do some fund raising. There are lots of ideas to help others and you could look at the below link which is a webinar Care first provided in relation to “Kindness” which may help to give you some inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClGCoBghUdw&feature=youtu.be

• Care first have been delivering webinars consistently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and have covered a whole host of different subject areas. If you wanted to learn more about Care first or any of the topics we have covered so far during the pandemic then please visit the below link:

https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/covid-19-webinars

(If you are unsure of your organisation’s login details for Lifestyle then please check with your HR or people team)

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘How to keep occupied during lockdown” this is being delivered live on Tuesday 19th January at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/282251644066172429

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered. Where clinically appropriate Care first are continuing to offer structured counselling through phone and virtual software. At Care first the health and safety of both you the employee and our counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to our structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

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Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinaries.

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Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility. You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

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Care first Zest

With clinically proven intrinsic links between our physical and mental health, Care first Zest provides an interactive health and wellbeing management tool that can help individuals manage and improve all aspects of their mental and physical health. Care first Zest is also an effective means of pro-actively supporting the wellbeing of your team. You can complete the Care first Zest wellbeing assessment which looks at factors including exercise, healthy eating, sleep, smoking, caffeine intake and the amount of water you drink to name a few. The assessment then gives you a score on the different areas and you can see which areas you need to improve on. The idea is that if you can improve the areas you did not score well on then this will have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing.

To find out more about Care first Zest please view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2558790467075481100

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Care first Woebot

For some people, picking up the telephone to talk with a counsellor is a terrifying experience. Sometimes, when we most need it, we find it the most difficult time to talk with another human. Finding support earlier rather than later is often the best way to manage issues of low mood. Woebot is an AI tool which provides a truly unique way to help identify issues and learn new strategies to cope and reduce the possibilities of those issues escalating into something bigger, without the need to pick up the phone. Woebot works by programmatically learning how to deliver the most impactful content at the most impactful time to optimise positive clinical outcomes for its user.

To find out more about Care first Woebot please view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://youtu.be/3oFyFclUEWU

Care First Service – How it supports?

BACP Counselling – Mental Wellbeing

Information Specialists – Practical issues

Management Support – Support for managers within their working role

Care first Lifestyle – Hub of resources and information

Care first Zest – Physical and Emotional Wellbeing

Care first Woebot – Low mood and Anxiety

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How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

The Care first Zest platform is great for improving physical as well as emotional wellbeing. So if an individual takes the wellbeing assessment and then works on the areas that may need some focus. This can then improve their overall wellbeing. Many studies show a link between physical and mental wellbeing, so giving individuals access to this platform enables them to make positive changes.

The Care first AI tool Woebot is a great way for individuals to get support around low mood and anxiety. If Woebot does not detect a positive clinical outcome then Woebot will suggest that the individual speaks to a Care first counsellor if they would like to. Not every individual will feel confident enough to pick up the phone and speak to a counsellor so it is an alternative option for individuals to access support.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Monday 18th January at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5865527709426809612

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place. If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

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