Wellbeing Support During Isolation
During the time of the coronavirus pandemic, we have put together some resources to support you through this difficult time, with a focus on your Wellbeing & Mental Health.
Strategies for Interrupting Anxious Thinking Patterns
If you have noticed a shift in any feelings of Anxiety, then perhaps you might benefit from trying these easy to follow strategies which can be found here.
5 Steps to Wellbeing
It is important to keep a check on your overall wellbeing during this time, and mindkit have developed this online tool to support you with the 5 steps to wellbeing, which includes:
- Connect
- Be Active
- Keep learning
- Help others
- Taking notice
Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be seen as a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness is generally used as a therapeutic technique, and can be done each day in lots of different ways, and o support you with introducing a daily mindfulness practice, we have researched the following online resources to support you.
The Apple App Store has lots of app to support a daily mindfulness practice, including The Mindfulness App which is also available on the Google Play Store.
If you would prefer a tutorial introduction to mindfulness, then YouTube can lots of videos to assist you in this.
Meditation
Meditation can be seen as the act of giving your attention to only one thing, as a way of becoming calm and relaxed, and implementing a daily meditation into your routine may support you during this time of isolation and during or after lockdown.
There are lots of different ways to meditate, but if you are just starting out then YouTube has lots of short & simple meditation videos that you can try. Headspace are also offering some free taster mediation sessions for beginners. The Online Yoga Journal has lots of information about free online meditation for newbies, and Freemedation is a website offering lots of advice, and free online courses for everyone.
A time to reach out
Consider making contact with family & friends by either phone or social media so that you remain connected to others. In light of the current lock down situation, most people would probably welcome the contact as there are many people in the UK who are also feeling cut off from the outside world.
In doing so there may be an opportunity to share with others any difficulties you are having with being isolated, or just to take your mind off being at home 24/7.
Taking this step may result in developing, or deepening the connections you have with others.
Online support resources
If reaching out to those you know is not an option for you at the moment, then maybe these online support organisations may benefit your wellbeing at this time.
You may find this information from Mind, the national mental health charity, and this from the Mental Health Foundation helpful.
Our partners Outlife have put together this information about supporting other LGBTQ people during the corona virus crisis.
House of Pride has produced this LGBT+ Guide to Self-Isolation.
Switchboard, the LGBT+ helpline, has produced this Emotional Wellbeing Support Pack.
LGBT Foundation has produced this Wellbeing Hub.
Switchboard – the LGBT+ Helpline
Opening Doors London telefriending for over 50s
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
The Outside Project's LGBTQ mutual aid Facebook group
Narcotics Anonymous online meetings
Reducing Boredom & developing connection with others
Engaging with online groups & media is a proven way to keep a check on your boredom levels, and to develop connection with others. Below are a number of online resources for you to try.
Galop have a list of Community links to LGBT+ organisations and online forums.
LGBTribe offers peer to peer online support for the LGBT+ community.
Outlife have various LGBT+ forums that you may interest you, and to help you keep connected to others.
Black Out UK offers online resources to support BAME community.
+Pals, a social group for gay and bisexual men who are living with HIV in London, are currently offering phone/online support.
The Trans Network London lists various Trans organisations is London, some of which are offering online support.
As well as offering immediate & constant contact with family & friends, Facebook also has numerous interest groups and daily live events that may be of interest to you.
Netflix has so much to watch including lots of LGBT+ related content.
BBC iPlayer has all BBC content that has been on the BBC channels.
Youtube are currently streaming lots of online quizzes and interest themed events.
Instagram are streaming daily quizzes live, as well as other specific interest themed events.
Time out online have a new section titled 'Time in' with listings of the best things to do at home.
The National Theatre are offering free live streamed plays every Thursday via Youtube.
The British Film Institute are offering a 14 day free trial of their BFI Player.
The Apple App store have lots of fitness apps to support you in exercising at home.
Zoom is an online video platform, to help you keep connected to family & friends, and offers group facilities.
