A Harrogate dad has shared the last messages he exchanged with his son shortly before he took his life to mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Steve Phillip founded The Jordan Legacy in his son’s name to improve people’s wellbeing and support available to them.

Jordan was 34 when he took his life on December 4 2019. The day before, Steve and Jordan had been texting each other and talking about meeting up.

But the meeting never happened. Mr Phillip has spoken previously to the Stray Ferret of his anguish.

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Now transcripts of his final message has been made available to encourage others to come forward.

Mr Phillip has also revealed details of the call he received from his son’s girlfriend Charlotte revealing the news.

She broke into the house with the help of a neighbour and found Jordan:

• Me: “Hi Charlotte?”
• Charlotte: “Hi Steve, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. It’s Jordan. He’s killed himself.”

Jordan Phillip.

The call lasted two minutes but Steve does not know what he or Charlotte said for the remaining one minute and 45 seconds. He said:

“Jordan was the kind of person who would stop and chat to homeless people and to local strangers.

“He loved his family and his friends so much that he would often protect them from the ultimate depths of his despair.

“But he was always there for them, no matter how difficult his day was. There was nothing selfish about Jordan, not even at the moment he chose to end his pain.

“He took the time to write notes to his girlfriend Charlotte and his family to let us know that he loved us.

“If I could give any advice to anyone it would be look after those around you, listen to them more, be there, don’t be scared to question the signs you see and ask the difficult questions.”

Mental Health Awareness Week starts today and finishes on Sunday.

The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and the annual event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness raising weeks in the UK and globally.

To mark the start of the week, North Yorkshire Police has also revealed how the number of mental health calls it has taken over the last year has grown to 32,117.

That is an increase of 6,512 calls compared to the previous April to March period.

Do you need help or know someone who does? Get help from a mental health charity helpline by tapping here.

The Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge Men’s Shed has opened to provide friendship and support to the local community.

They are part of a wider organisation of ‘sheds’ which began in Australia. Their goal is to create a space for people to come together to create and build while making friends and overcoming loneliness.

Despite their name, organiser Alan Cottrill assured the Stray Ferret that the group is also open to women who want to clear their mind through DIY.

“We’re making and repairing things – but also making friendships.”

“There’s been lots of research over the last couple of years which show that this is a good way to get men to talk. Women talk face to face but men talk shoulder to shoulder.”

The Men’s Shed have the premises behind St Cuthbert’s for three years and aim to start working with other charities next year.

Health bosses have yet to find a new base for Harrogate’s mental health crisis team, despite conceding that it had to return “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which runs mental health services for the district, moved the team to The Orchards at Ripon following the closure of the Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Unit in April.

Adult and children crisis teams support people with mental health problems who may otherwise need to go to hospital.

Officials relocated the team, which includes 29 staff, after they were unable to identify alternative accommodation in Harrogate. They said the move was a short-term solution and that work was underway to find a new site.

At a North Yorkshire Health Scrutiny meeting in December, trust managers conceded that the move “cannot be sustained in the long term” and that it had to return “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Read more:

• Harrogate needs mental health crisis team ‘at earliest opportunity’
• Harrogate families describe anguish of mental health problems and impact of Briary Unit closure

However, the trust has now said it intends to explore requirements for a new site “in the near future”.

Naomi Lonergan, director of operations for North Yorkshire and York at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We intend to explore our requirements for a new location for our Harrogate mental health crisis services in the near future, which will include discussions with our stakeholders and partners.

“It remains our priority to offer face-to-face contact and see people who need crisis interventions in their homes or as close to home as possible. Although the crisis team has been relocated to Ripon, most people accessing the services can still do so in the Harrogate area.

“We continue to use rooms in the Harrogate community bases to enable face-to-face contact and we are also offering attend anywhere virtual consultations where clinically appropriate.”

Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Wing, which offered specialist inpatient care for people suffering with mental health problems, closed in April.

Inpatient mental health services transferred to York.

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which buys medical services for the county, said the transfer of inpatient beds “released £500,000”, which could be invested in community mental health services.

Have you been affected by this change in mental health services? Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Harrogate Grammar School‘s deputy headteacher has said he hopes his new masters degree in mental health and wellbeing can be used to support pupils when they return to school next week.

Recent data from NHS England shows one in six children aged 5 to 16 has a mental health disorder.

The school said data like this and the impact of the pandemic explained why it had made mental health and wellbeing a key focus.

The Leadership of School Mental Health and Wellbeing course at Leeds Beckett University, which deputy headteacher Tim Milburn has just completed, is the first of its kind in the country.

Mr Milburn hopes the skills he has acquired will help students after the latest lockdown ends. He said;

“This has been a great experience and it has given me the understanding and confidence to effectively lead whole mental health within school using the latest research.

“The content of the course has also enabled me to adopt best practice so that the mental health and wellbeing of both staff and students is supported and strengthened.”

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Mr Milburn was writing his dissertation last year when schools were closed when he changed his focus to look at how technology can be utilised to support young people with their mental health.

The school is part of the Red Kite Learning Trust, which serves over 8,000 students in Harrogate and Leeds, and Mr Milburn plans to share his knowledge with other schools in the trust to help support thousands of young people locally. He said:

“I have been very fortunate that Harrogate Grammar School and Red Kite Learning Trust have supported me to complete this course and I am really looking forward to paying back that investment by working with colleagues across the trust to continue the important work on mental health and wellbeing.”

A Harrogate school has won gold for its mental health and wellbeing support for pupils.

Coppice Valley Primary School has rolled out a wide range of activities including meditation, and more as part of a mental health curriculum.

It is collaborating with local services Compass Buzz and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The school also has set out specific support for pupils in need.

The school said the focal point of its provision is its weekly personal, social and health education lesson which teaches children how to look after their mental health.

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More than 800 schools have signed up to take part in the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools award.

The award shines a light on the work of schools to support mental health, something which has become more poignant after a year of coronavirus.

Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health, which is part of Leeds Beckett University, established the award in 2017.

Coppice Valley’s headteacher, Emma Meadus said:

“I am extremely proud of the mental health offer we provide at Coppice Valley for all pupils.

“Achieving this award is a fantastic recognition of all the hard work of the whole school community to create our mental health provision.”

Sam Wright, Coppice Valley pupil wellbeing worker, added:

“Working towards the award over the last year gave me the perfect opportunity to audit our mental health provision for the whole school.

“I was able to see what we were doing well and which areas we could improve on. We’ve built a robust offer for all our children through the award-process.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke with frontline workers and members of the Harrogate based Just ‘B’ team about the mental health impact of the coronavirus crisis on medical staff.

Just ‘B’ is part of charity North Yorkshire Hospice Care and provides emotional wellbeing and bereavement support, both locally and nationally, through a support line.

Frontline health staff often cite exhaustion and the relentless nature of the crisis as their reasons for calling the helpline.

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• Harrogate support helpline Just B is here to listen 

Tony Collins, a volunteer for the Hospice UK Just ‘B’ helpline and Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Hospice Care and St Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate, urged frontline workers to access the helpline.

When speaking to the Duke and Duchess, Tony said:

“I think there’s something about reticence to call at the moment, and also around calling when they feel they have space to start processing and reflecting on the experiences they’ve been through.

“The phrases and the words we hear time and time again are ‘exhaustion,’ ‘relentless,’ ‘there’s so much death, when is it going to finish.

“We know that anxiety is high among frontline workers as they continue to work through the Covid-19 pandemic. This is why the helpline is so important in providing a safe space for frontline workers to reflect and process what they have been through, talking to someone else without the fear that they’ll be burdening loved ones.

“People often think: ‘I’ve got my friends, family and colleagues, you’ve just got to knuckle down and get on with it’. Frontline staff are used to putting others first, forgetting that they also need to look after themselves.

During the call, NHS staff and emergency responders spoke about their personal experiences with mental health, and how services such as Just ‘B’ have allowed them to cope better and begin to come to terms with their grief.

The Just ‘B’ emotional wellbeing, bereavement and trauma helpline can be accessed daily between 8am and 8pm at 0300 303 4434.

Once was hard enough, but twice feels pretty bleak. And, this time we’re doing it as we enter the darker and colder winter days.

It will be a challenging month for everyone; whether it’s being separated from loved ones, worrying about older relatives or closing your business once again… It’s an uncertain time, and for some this can really impair mental health.

Judith Williams, Director of Complete Life Coaching, Harrogate.

So I have turned to Harrogate life coach, Judith Willliams, Director of Complete life coaching to get some tips on how we can  keep happy and healthy during lockdown

‘With the announcement of a further national lockdown, the country is now facing more separation, stress and concern for their own safety and that of their loved ones. During lockdown the importance of connecting was clear. But with the nights drawing in and the weather changing, how can we stay positive and connected?’

1. ROUTINE–  Make sure you have one.. Whether you are working from home or not, it is really important to have some routine in your life. Focus on healthy lifestyle habits (diet, exercise, sleep)
2. STAY CONNECTED– Schedule regular times to connect (preferable via video chat). We are actually less likely to reach out when we are feeling low, so commitments to people help us avoid isolating ourselves.
3. GET CREATIVE – This is an opportunity to spend time creating Christmas gifts that are meaningful. Things like personalised playlists (or mixtapes as they were known), photo books or a homemade knitted scarf. It’s a great way to spend time and keep loved ones in mind. It can also help to keep costs down when finances may be stretched.
4. SPREAD SOME LOVE– This year spend time personalising your greetings cards. We are so much more aware of how important the people in our lives are to us, tell them why.
5. VOLUNTEER– There was a huge feeling of togetherness in the first lockdown, in which thousands of people signed up to volunteer. This may be needed again and is a fantastic way to spend your time and improve your mood.
6. ZOOM- QUIZ  Bring back the Zoom quiz. So many did it the first time around and it brightened a lot of peoples weeks.

During the last lockdown we had the weather on our side, which really helped. Days were warm and the sun shone which meant people took to gardening, enjoyed BBQ’s and did plenty of walking… I actually got to the point where I was having a little competition with myself on how many steps I could do in a day..

This time around we are faced with shorter colder days now, which means outdoor activities arent so fun… BUT we adapted last time and we can do the same again…I think it is really important to plan little events and milestones, both things to look forward to when restrictions lift, and also little things within lockdown… So maybe a bake-off with your family, a zoom fitness class, getting your house ready for Christmas or even just making a note of the release date of a Netflix drama you are looking forward to..

Harrogate has the most amazing community spirit so let’s look our for each other, stay safe and get through lockdown 2 together.

If you have anything lifestyle related that you would like me to cover please get in touch- ami@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate group steps up to support mums during lockdown

A Harrogate group has stepped up its support with care packages to support new mums during lockdown.

Hey Mama is an online community designed to be a place for mums to share their experiences and open up about mental health.

Now that we have entered a second national lockdown the group’s founder has set up care packages to give a boost to those in need.

The packages include treats for mum’s like chocolates, tea, face masks, affirmation cards and bullet journals.

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It has been made possible by donations from the Tesco community fund and the Two Ridings Community Foundation.

Trish Pedley, who founded the group nearly three years ago after struggling with postnatal depression, told the Stray Ferret that mums need support more than ever:

“It is hard at normal times to be a mum. Lockdown makes it three times or four times worse. The lockdown takes away that support network that is so vital.

“The group lets mums open up about their experiences with others. It shows them that they aren’t alone and that others are going through the same thing.”

As well as the care packages they are set to launch a text message service on Sunday. It is designed to give any mums struggling a direct line to help.

Since setting up three years ago Hey Mama has slowly built up a solid group of volunteers and mums.

In the future Trish hopes that they can set up Hey Mama groups all over the UK and branch out into a group for dads as well.

Anyone who wants to donate towards the group’s efforts can do so by clicking or tapping here.

Mind in Harrogate is calling for more volunteers for its much needed mental health befriending service after only a “few” come forward.

The service gives those struggling with their mental health, or perhaps isolated due to the pandemic the opportunity to make social connections by matching them with a volunteer.

The initiative has seen the charity receive numerous referrals but these are yet to be matched by the small number of volunteers that have come forward so far.

Helen Greensit, centre development manager at Mind in Harrogate, said:

“We’ve had a few really keen volunteers but by no means do we have enough. We are getting a lot of referrals for people needing this service. We will need a lot more volunteers.”

The charity is putting a call out once again for people who have time, even an hour or two each week, to chat, meet and socialise with another member of the local community.

Read more:

• Mind in Harrogate has had to increase its services to meet the demand during the pandemic. 
• Knaresborough mental health group is there for people during the “gap” as they wait for therapy or counselling. 

Volunteers will receive the appropriate training and choose the amount of time they offer to the individual.

The team is also hoping to reach out to rural communities such as Masham and Pateley Bridge. If they don’t have a car and rely on a limited public transport service, people living in those areas can become isolated.

Helen added:

“It is a service that is needed. The need for mental health services has certainly increased during the pandemic.

We need to remember to look after everyone in our communities to help them get through it.”

To hear more about becoming a volunteer ring 01423 503335 or email office@mindinharrogate.org.uk.

A mental health support group in Knaresborough is raising awareness of the support it offers during the gap people face while waiting for therapy.

Project Bob, based at Gracious Street Methodist Church, runs weekly meetings and a 24/7 WhatsApp group offering support to people who are struggling.

The group’s founder, Chris Rawson, insists it isn’t a counselling service but instead calls it a “community”.

The volunteers are Christians but it isn’t a religious group: some members are suffering with current or past mental health issues.

Mr Rawson is aware more people are suffering lockdown anxieties and face widening delays in waiting to access professional help.

He has therefore invited people to reach out if they feel in need a boost.

The group is particularly keen to help those who have struggled to cope during lockdown. Credit www.radarfilm.co.uk

He said:

“The gap between getting the help is getting wider. We wanted to set something up to support working age adults. It’s not an official service, its a community of support to anyone that needs it.

“Over lockdown we met over Zoom, which is difficult because a lot of people come to talk to us about their home. People lost their jobs or are wary of getting ill or feel stuck at home – these are the anxieties we can help with.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Mind is expanding services due to an increased demand.
• Harrogate Samaritans is calling for people to reach out to family and friends following months of isolation .

The group offers a safe space for people to talk openly about their anxieties.

Mr Rawson added:

“We want to raise awareness that we’re there and have the space to help.”

Project Bob is suitable for people suffering with mild depression, anxiety and compulsive thoughts and behaviours.

The name is derived from St Robert of Knaresborough who was said to help vulnerable people.

To contact the group, click here.