As part of this year’s World Mental Health Day, the Harrogate Samaritans is asking the public to look out for one another. This comes after a long six months of social distancing, leaving many people isolated. 

This year’s theme is ‘mental health for all’. 

The charity will be sharing advice today to help spot the signs of someone that is struggling on social media, and asks that you join in the conversation using #WMHD.  

Other resources can be found on the Samaritans website. These supply information on how to help someone having suicidal thoughts, and provide advice on looking after your emotional wellbeing. 

Branch director at Harrogate Samaritans, Liz Wilson said: 

“As the pandemic continues and we face potential new restrictions, we must remember to prioritise our mental health and stay connected with others. The age of social distancing has meant people are having less face to face contact so it can be much harder to spot signs that someone might be struggling.”

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Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water will be marking World Mental Health Day by placing signs at Fewston and Thruscross reservoirs that encourage mindfulness.

The signs include a quote that explains how “mindfulness is about being in the present” and offers an example of a mindfulness exercise for visitors to try.  

Harrogate Town fans have been asked to nominate someone whose mental health has suffered during the coronavirus pandemic and is deserving of a special Zoom call from a first-team player.

The initiative is part of mental health charity Mind’s ‘Do One Thing’ campaign, which inspires people to make one small change or take one action to look after their mental health. All English Football League clubs are taking part.

Nominations should be emailed to community@harrogatetownafc.com by Friday October 9. A group of senior Town players will then judge the nominations.

Supporters can also get involved in the campaign by sharing on social media their one piece of advice or activity that can improve mental health.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said:

“Coronavirus has undoubtedly affected the lives and routines of many fans. Whether that’s seeing familiar faces on the terraces on match day or celebrating/commiserating the result with fellow fans after, many fans will feel that the current climate has left them less able to do the things that support their mental health.

“Whether it’s going for a walk, learning a new skill or doing something creative, taking the first steps to getting support for yourself, or reaching out to someone else; Mind and the EFL are encouraging fans to do one thing for better mental health this World Mental Health Day.”

Read more:

• BT Sport to broadcast Harrogate Town documentary tonight

• Harrogate Town chairman on life without fans

On Friday night BT Sport aired “Proud To Be Town”, a 90-minute documentary filmed during and after lockdown.

It included contributions from manager Simon Weaver and first-team players who opened up about how the three-month shutdown of professional sport affected their mental wellbeing.

The Harrogate parent group Ready Steady Mums will hold its final walk today before the government’s new ‘rule of six’ forces it to stop. 

Ready Steady Mums, which was formed in 2016, provides parents with the opportunity to stay fit and socialise.

The group usually meets at St Mark’s Church at 10am on Fridays, does a group walk then enjoys refreshments.  

The Stray Ferret recently reported that the parents were able to meet up again following the easing of restrictions.  

However, the group’s meetings are set to be cancelled once again due to the new restrictions, which state that from Monday it will be illegal in most circumstances to gather socially in groups of more than six people.  

Laura Brett, group leader, said: 

“We just can’t justify it. We don’t want to do anything wrong. That being said, we are very disappointed. Particularly as Professor Chris Whitty is emphasising how coronavirus is more dangerous when you are unfit. Our group helps mothers to stay physically fit and it helps their mental health.” 

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The new rules take away other benefits of Ready Steady Mums – besides promoting mental and physical health, the group provides a network to help navigate parenthood. 

Ms Brett believes groups like hers should be exempt from the rules because of their health benefits and intends to seek clarification from the government on this matter. She said:

“Mums have lost the opportunity to make friends. Some of our members have just moved to the area and haven’t had the chance to meet anybody. The group also provides encouragement, as it is easy to lose confidence in any circumstance, never mind in the current situation. Many of the volunteers were previously midwives, which means that the group allows us to signpost concerns and guide the members to professional help if they need it.” 

The group attempted to stay in touch during lockdown to support each other. However, its activities now fall foul of the new rule.

After the final session on Friday the network will still encourage members to meet in smaller groups. 

A Harrogate charity has reported a 44% increase in demand for its counselling services in recent months.

Wellspring Therapy and Training, which provides affordable professional counselling for people suffering with their mental health, said it expected demand for its services to continue to rise.

News of its extra demand coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day today.

A total of 65% of adults and 75% of young people nationally have said their mental health has worsened since the pandemic.

Wellspring’s centre remains closed as it continues to offer video and telephone counselling.

It offers counselling at a price chosen by the individual, according to their situation, meaning it could be as little as £5.

Freya, who did not wish to reveal her real name, has used Wellspring’s counselling service throughout lockdown.

The charity expects its referral rate to continue to rise as the long-term effects of lockdown are felt.

She said:

“All these emotions were sitting there like a great weight, but not going anywhere. After my first counselling session at Wellspring, I came away with such a sense of relief and gratitude. When lockdown happened, we ended up doing video calls instead.

“It’s lifted so much of the pressure and the anxiety. I also think I’m more able to deal with things when I do experience difficult emotions now. I am able to move forwards and think about the future. I’d highly recommend Wellspring and encourage anyone weighed down by life’s pressures to get in touch and see a counsellor. It’s a safe place.”

Read more:

• Harrogate charity receives grants to continue offering support to vulnerable members of the community. 
• WATCH as one boy finishes running 465 miles for mental health charity.

Lockdown has amplified anxieties over issues such as money, jobs and social interaction.

The charity is passionate about helping those who are struggling to find hope again.

A survey carried out by a Harrogate cycling club has shown that riding in groups improves mental and physical wellbeing.

Liferiders, which was set up nearly four years ago, is a beginners cycling group which encourages people to get from “couch to countryside.” The group was founded on the idea that riding bikes together helps people feel better.

At the start of lockdown Simon Thomas, the group’s founder, asked members to fill in a survey to measure their wellbeing during lockdown. Having enjoyed a number of rides together, members then took the same questionnaire and saw their wellbeing had improved by at least 35%.

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He told The Stray Ferret:

“It has been interesting for me to watch more people turn to cycling during lockdown. Some people might come out of this with a new hobby and a new sense of wellbeing.”

The group cycle all round the district on quiet roads and cycle paths.

Since lockdown the group has seen an influx in new members joining. The cycle group meet every Wednesday evening as well as some Sunday mornings and all the rides are free to join.

For more information and to join a ride visit – http://www.cbad.club 

An 18-year-old student from Harrogate has staggered over the finish line of his monumental running challenge, completing 465 miles in 30 days and raising over £6,500 for mental health charity MIND.

Morgan Glazier, who is a student at Rossett School in Harrogate, decided to go on a run every day for 30 days (one mile on June 1, two on June 2… up to 30 on June 30).

The Stray Ferret spoke to Morgan just before he set off on his final 30-mile run this morning, and again later in the day as he crossed the finish line. He said:

“I am very, very sore, but that is to be expected after four back-to-back marathons. I have done the distance before but usually with a month’s recovery in between. I’m ready to sleep for a month now.”

The teenager should have been sitting his A levels this year, before enjoying a summer of celebrations for finishing school and turning 18. Instead, when the coronavirus put paid to his plans, he set himself the epic challenge.

Morgan’s mum was there at the finish line, having supported him throughout the challenge. She said:

“He’s been amazing, he started off on his own, he just sort of went off and did it and then the last couple of weeks I’ve been at the start and finish and just making sure he’s getting plenty to eat and drink! But he’s been cheery the whole way through, I really am proud of him.”

Read more: 

• Mental health charity launches fundraising appeal to meet increased demand 
• Harrogate race for life postponed until October

Morgan hopes his running will highlight the positive effects that running can have on mental health. He told the Stray Ferret that he chose MIND charity as It has helped so many people:

“I was diagnosed with OCD a couple of years ago, but I had been struggling for while before I got help. I  want to raise awareness and encourage people not to be embarrassed. I Chose mind charity as i know they offer support to anyone struggling. I am running in memory of my uncle who died as a result of his mental health problems, and for everyone who suffers or has suffered from a mental illness.”

Morgan initially set out to raise £100 for Mind, and increased this to £5,000 as people across the district showed so much support. Today, as he crossed the line, the figure stood at £6,600 with donations still coming in.

To sponsor Morgan, click here.

Morgan Glazier on the final day of his 465-mile challenge

Morgan Glazier, 18, is aiming to run an incredible 465 miles over 30 days this month.

The student from Rossett School, in Harrogate, is running in aid of the mental health charity MIND, after suffering with OCD for a number of years. He is hoping to improve his mental health during lockdown, through running, whilst raising money for a charity close to his heart.

To meet his 465 mile target, he will add an extra mile to the distance to correspond with the date. For example, on June 1 he ran one mile and then on June 2 he ran two miles, this will continue until June 30 when he will run 30 miles in a day.

His efforts will see him run the equivalent of a marathon or longer on each of the final days. Morgan hopes his run will highlight the positive effects that running can have on mental health. He said:

“Lockdown has been a bit tough and I haven’t been feeling great. I’ve always enjoyed long-distance running and I often use it to get away from everything. It’s a way for me to disconnect myself from negative thoughts and improve my mental wellbeing.”

The mental health charity, MIND, is close to Morgan’s heart. He hopes his running will bring awareness to positive mental wellbeing.

Read more: 

• Mental health charity launches fundraising appeal to meet increased demand. 
• Harrogate race for life postponed until October. 

The mental health charity means a lot to Morgan and his family, who said:

“I am doing it in memory of my uncle, who died as a result of his mental health problems, and for everyone who suffers or has suffered with a mental illness.”

To sponsor Morgan, click here.

A charity which offers counselling to people across the Harrogate district has launched a fundraising appeal so it can help more people struggling with their mental health through the coronavirus crisis.

With its One-Day Lockdown Challenge, Wellspring Therapy & Training is hoping to fund more professional counselling for people going through mental ill health and emotional distress.

The charity, which is based in Starbeck’s High Street, has been offering remote counselling throughout the crisis and said demand has begun to increase. Executive director Emily Fullarton said:

“It has started to creep up. We’re definitely getting more referrals now and I think it will pick up further.

“People are starting to realise this is going to go on for longer than they realised. Normal life isn’t going to happen. Schools reopening and people having a bit more time to think – when you’re in a crisis, you don’t tend to process it. It’s only when you are out of it you start to think about how it has affected you.”

The urgent fundraising appeal was kicked off by young supporter Joe Lepine, 13, who decided to stay awake for 24 hours. Aiming to raise £200, with support from friends and family he achieved ten times that sum.

Now Wellspring is inviting others to follow his example and challenge themselves to do something for 24 hours – always within social distancing guidelines. From giving up TV to doing star-jumps every hour, the charity says there is something suitable for anyone who wants to show their support.

For most people, coping with lockdown and the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic can be challenging. It can be so much worse for people who already struggle with their mental health. 

The Harrogate branch of Mind has been offering its support for the last eight weeks. 

Development manager Helen Greensit, one of a team of three making regular phone calls to check in on people, said the initial challenge was the change in routine. 

“It’s the change, in the fact that they can’t do what they would normally do. And it’s the worry about, ‘can I go and get my shopping?’. Especially for people who are vulnerable and have underlying health conditions – many of them are staying indoors anyway. For others, it has messed with that routine. 

“A little group of them used to go to the pictures every now and again. All that is disrupted. For those who have got a daily routine going, they suddenly can’t do that.” 

The small team at Mind began by calling people to check in, offering to call back once a fortnight or week, or even several times a week if it was needed. Some said they were fine without a regular call – but the team called back after a few weeks, and some said at that point that they would benefit from a regular chat. 

Working together

Through the conversations, Helen and her colleagues also identified people in need of additional help. They liaised with the Resurrected Bites food waste project to arrange deliveries for people who were struggling to get food, as well as speaking to GPs and pharmacies to ensure essential medicine and healthcare were available. 

It is not just people who were already known to Mind who have benefited from its support – a growing number of new contacts are being made and added to the list of calls. Helen is keen to reach even more and welcomes anyone who gets in touch.

A loss of routine made the first few weeks of lockdown hard for many people

In a two-week period, there are more than 170 calls being made to people in the community to check in, have a chat and schedule the next call. As well as supporting vulnerable people, Helen and her colleagues are finding benefits for themselves in the conversations. She said: 

“We’ve opened it up to the community. We’ve said, ‘it’s a community service, if you are feeling lonely and isolated, even if it’s just a weekly chat you want about your pet rabbit, if that’s what you want, that’s fine’.

“A lot of my friends think ‘lucky you, going to work’. I do feel happy I’ve got a purpose and I can come into work and I can do something valuable that’s going to be helpful.” 

Alongside their calls, the team at Mind are now looking towards the next steps, when lockdown eases. The Acorn Centre on Station Parade usually hosts up to 30 people at a time, with some doing crafts and activities, others chatting informally over a coffee, or getting help from the staff and volunteers. 

Planning ahead

Helen said that, in line with government guidance, it may be possible in the coming weeks to re-open to smaller numbers. The phone support is likely to continue for those who are still isolating at home, and to provide additional support for people who can’t be accommodated as often as usual at the centre. 

Having started in her role just weeks before lockdown began, Helen said she has found it challenging – but has enjoyed feeling she was making a difference to people’s well-being. 

“It has always been about the people for me. Supporting and helping people is what drives me. 

“I wouldn’t have imagined it would be quite as strange times as this. It hasn’t really allowed me to get to grips with things in the way we would have done.

“It’s really nice to hear a voice on the end of the phone and think, ‘they sound like they’re doing OK’.”

If you are struggling with your mental health and need someone to talk, you get in touch with Mind on 01423 503335. Their telephone support service is available between 8.30am – 5pm every weekday. For information click here. 

Family members of people treated in Harrogate’s Briary Unit say they are deeply concerned about the impact of closing the town’s only mental health inpatient facilities. 

With inpatients now set to be sent to York, and other support moved into the community, people who have seen their closest relatives go through very distressing episodes of mental illness want to help others understand why having the hospital nearby can ease the pressure on them. 

Rachael, who asked us not to use her full name, said she worried about the additional stress placed on families by the closure of the mental health treatment centre after her daughter was treated in Middlesbrough over Christmas. 

Her daughter, who turns 25 in May, has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act four times in the last six years. Now diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she was last admitted to the Briary Wing in December. 

“I had gone to see her at home,” said Rachael.

“She was behaving very worryingly – I was so horrified. She had been so stridently adamant that she didn’t want to go to hospital again. I felt completely paralysed.” 

It was a Saturday night, making it harder for Rachael to access the usual support services. Fortunately, her daughter eventually called the police. 

Rachael said the two officers who arrived had never seen anyone going through a psychotic episode before and were shocked by the reality of it, but stayed with them until an ambulance arrived. Her daughter was admitted to the Briary Unit, but transferred to Middlesbrough where she was treated for the next three weeks. 

“Partly they said it was to put her in more intensive care where they have got a higher staff ratio, but really I think there were no beds in the Briary,” said Rachael. “I never saw a consultant in all the visits I made. They said she might get transferred back but it never happened.” 

‘Triple unfamiliarity’

Now the Briary Wing has been closed, patients from the Harrogate district requiring inpatient treatment will go to the new Foss Park Hospital in York. Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) NHS Trust, which provides mental health services in the Harrogate district, says it will also step up community-based care to prevent people needing to stay in hospital and to cut down the length of time they are there.

The new Foss Park Hospital in York

 Rachael believes the extra travel to York – or further afield if beds are in high demand – will add unnecessary stress to very difficult situations for patients and families. 

“I was very lucky that it so happened the weather was amazingly calm. Doing that in the middle of the winter when you are stressed out and want to find your way around, it’s not great – being plunged into triple unfamiliarity.” 

For Jane, a combination of difficulties with travel and the current coronavirus limitations mean that she is unable to see her husband, who is currently being treated at Foss Park Hospital. Although it is a new hospital with modern facilities, Jane said the whole situation would be made much easier if he were still in Harrogate:

“I don’t drive, so even if I was allowed to visit him, I couldn’t get there. We’ve been together for 10 years and we haven’t left each other’s side. Not being able to visit is making him worse.” 

Structure and routine

Jane’s husband was sectioned for the first time last week, after six months of struggling with his mental health following difficulties with bullying at work. The coronavirus lockdown caused further strain, leaving him without the structure and routine that helps him to manage. 

After several days of treatment, he is now preparing to come back home and Jane is keen that he has enough support in place to stop him deteriorating again. He had been receiving outpatient treatment at the Briary Unit over the last six months, but it was when that support was removed that he became severely unwell. Jane added: 

“We really do need the Briary Unit. It’s so badly needed in Harrogate. Mental health is becoming more of a problem here.” 

For Rachael, the reducing level of care available is a constant worry too. Her daughter is inconsistent with taking medication and attending psychiatry appointments, so Rachael feels another episode of psychosis is inevitable – especially as she does not believe her daughter has yet accepted her diagnosis. 

Now, Rachael can only wait and see whether – or when – her daughter begins to show the warning signs again: 

“There’s nothing done. When you are afraid someone’s working themselves up into mania, there’s nothing to be done. You are sitting on the sidelines almost going mad yourself, waiting for it to become a crisis. 

“It’s incredibly distressing. Somebody who’s so talented and you try your best and it’s not enough. I can’t live her life for her.”