A new campaign is launching to promote the Talk Changes talking therapies service in City and Hackney, encouraging patients and residents to seek mental health support if they are struggling.
Hackney Council has been commissioned by the North East London Clinical Commissioning Group City and Hackney team to design and launch the campaign, which is targeting 18-25 year olds in particular through the use of social media. Data suggests that this age group are less likely to come forward if they are struggling with their mental health despite increased rates of common mental health problems in young people.
The strapline for the campaign, ‘Talking Changes Things’, aims to tackle stigma surrounding discussions about mental health, and get young people talking and thinking about how to best look after their mental health and know when and how to seek support.
Talk Changes is a confidential NHS mental health service for adults registered with a GP in City and Hackney. The service offers a wide range of tried and tested NHS talking therapies, such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and counselling, for patients suffering from common mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, and 100% of young adults who have used the service would recommend it to others.
The service offers a range of appointment styles: including in-person therapy; sessions online; and via the telephone. Patients can be seen for an initial assessment within a fortnight and interpreters are also available working across a range of languages to support patients needing translation support.
Dr Jon Wheatley, the clinical psychologist who leads the City and Hackney Talk Changes service, is urging City and Hackney residents to come forward and see how talking therapies can help them.
‘Looking after our mental health is more important than ever and effective help is available for common mental health problems like anxiety and low mood. If you are struggling with feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, have disordered eating or are having trouble sleeping, these can all be signs that you might benefit from some mental health support. You can self-refer to our service directly or speak to your GP to find out more about what support might be available to you.
‘Everyone has mental health and everyone needs to make sure they are looking after it. The important thing is not to suffer in silence’.
Since the start of the pandemic some 2.3 million people have come forward for NHS talking therapies. This local campaign in City and Hackney complements the ongoing national NHS campaign ‘Help!’, which uses the iconic Beatles song to get the nation taking better care of their mental health.