In the light of Covid-19 (also known as Coronavirus) pandemic, and the impact this is having on our daily lives, we wanted to give you an update on all aspects of our services and activities.
Our decisions have been taken in line with guidance from the government and Public Health, to ensure the maximum safety of the general public.
As soon as we are able to restart services and provisions, we will be sure to let you know. Some updates are as follow:
Groups
All of our groups - Rendezvous, Singing 4 Fun, Hearing Voices, Thursday at One, Carers drop-in, and Carers Choir - are suspended until further notice. Attendees, and people who were thinking of going along for the first time, can take a look further down this statement for information on alternative services you could contact in the meantime.
Office
Our Dove House office will be closed to the public until further notice. All staff will be working from home as much as possible.
One-to-one appointments
If you are already under the care of our Carers Support Service or Isolation & Social Engagement Service for one-to-one support, the face-to-face element of these services will be suspended until further notice.
These services are still offering telephone support where possible. You can phone for the Isolation & Social Engagement Service on our usual main number of 0161 480 7393, and the Carers Support Service on 0161 475 6229. It is likely that you may need to leave a message.
The mass disruption caused by this situation means we might not always be as available as usual, but we are monitoring the answer machine and will get back to you. We will try to be on the other end of the phone as much as possible within our standard working hours.
For anyone who receives in-person therapeutic sessions from John, they are also suspended until further notice.
Telephone support
Where possible, we will still be available for anyone (you do not have to have been a user of our services) to phone up for support during our standard opening hours, albeit with a slightly reduced service dependent on the day and circumstances. Our hours are still Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30am - 1:00pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30am - 4:30pm, and we are closed on Fridays. If you need to speak to someone immediately, please look at the helpline numbers below.
Events
We will not be attending any public events until further notice. We will continue to review this situation. We have been notified that most events we were due to attend in the coming weeks have been postponed by the organisers already.
Information and resources
This blog from Mind, ‘Coronavirus and your wellbeing’, has lots of information and resources about how Covid-19 might affect your life and how to manage worries and anxieties around this, as well as a comprehensive range of practical tips to take care of yourself and loved ones at this concerning and difficult time.
From our point of view, we would advise that if you are self-isolating, try as much as possible to keep active with things like exercise, music, films, or whatever interests you. Avoid negative social media and try to look at factual information - as linked above and below - and take care of yourself and loved ones as much as you can.
Click here for up-to-date advice on the virus from the NHS.
Click here for the up-to-date advice from the government.
What if I'm worried I may have the virus?
If you have any concerns that you may have the virus, go online to https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/ or phone the NHS on 111.
Local and national provision form other services and for those self-isolating
We have been informed that all organisations under the Shining A Light on Suicide campaign are looking to continue as much telephone provision as possible. Please see all the numbers for those organisations here.
If you are supported by or involved with other organisations, or want to see if they're available at the moment, please go direct to their websites or social media accounts to see details of their current arrangements.
You could also try the Mind Infoline - 0300 123 3393
We are aware that Cheadle Masjid, who we have linked up with when they did some fundraising and awareness raising with us in 2019, are providing some Self-Isolation Support for anyone with nobody to help with shopping. Details here:
Please keep an eye on our website and social media, which we will update with new information as we go. Take care of yourselves and each other, thank you.
Shirley Williams (Chair), Collin McCabe (Manager), and staff Stockport and District Mind.
How you can support us
Giving to others is one of the five ways to wellbeing, and we know lots of kind and amazing people out there like to help us and other charities out, even at times of personal tragedy and difficulty.
Therefore, if you want to help us out now, at a time where Volunteering for us is suspended and lots of the events people are putting on to raise vital funds for us are being postponed, donations are as welcome as ever. And as above, because giving can make you feel good and enhance your wellbeing, it could help you as well as it will help those we support.
You can take a look at our crowdfunding project for a vital service here, or make a general donation here. Donations of any amount are hugely welcome, thank you.