Counselling Support
In these challenging times with COVID-19 and the necessary restrictions this places on all our lives we have been establishing new ways for you to contact us for support. The Family Support Team are available Monday-Friday from 9.00-4.30pm and we have counsellors available some weekday evenings and some Saturday mornings. If you would like to access telephone or online support or counselling please contact us on 01785 254 645, and ask for the Family Support Team, or by emailing familysupport@khhospice.org.uk.
If you are worried, anxious, or struggling with difficult feelings please have a look at and try the resources on this page.
We have also launched a new bereavement support facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/268819704145704/
Relaxation Sessions
Rachel our Complementary Therapy Coordinator has kindly put together some relaxation sessions which you can enjoy at home. Make yourself comfortable and listen to her soothing words to completely relax you and take your mind off current issues.
Visualisation
Body Scan
We are in this Together
Over the last few weeks the media has been full of updates about Coronavirus – from daily bulletins on the TV to minute by minute stories on social media – it is hard to avoid. While it is important to stay informed, there are also many things we can do to support and manage our wellbeing during such times.
The fear of being out of control and unable to tolerate uncertainty are common characteristics of anxiety and rumour and speculation can fuel anxiety. There is a lot of misinformation around so having access to good quality information can help you feel more in control, so use trusted sources such as gov.uk or the NHS website.
Limit the amount of time you spend reading or watching things which aren’t making you feel better. Perhaps decide on a specific time to check in with the news. Think about turning off news notifications on your phone and mute people sharing updates or misinformation.
If you are feeling anxious or worried about the coronavirus then it can be good to get someone else’s point of view. Think about who to speak to – speaking to someone else who is struggling might not be best. Find somewhere quiet where you can sit down and chat openly and honestly about your feelings and your concerns. It is easy to get overwhelmed in our own pattern of negative thoughts, so talking these through can help break those cycles.
Increasing numbers will join those already in self-isolation and of course during lockdown we are unable to socialise and interact with others in the way that we normally would, so now might be a good time to make sure you have the right phone numbers and email addresses of the people you care about. Lockdown for an unknown period of time may seem like a daunting prospect. It will help to try and see it as a different period of time in your life and not necessarily a bad one, even if you didn’t choose it. It will mean a different rhythm of life, a chance to be in touch with others in different ways than usual. Stay in touch with other people regularly by phone, email or on social media, as they are still good ways of being close to people who matter to you.
Create a daily routine that prioritises looking after yourself. You could try reading more or watching movies, having an exercise routine, trying new relaxation techniques, or finding new knowledge on the internet. Try and rest and view this as a new if unusual experience, that might have its’ benefits.
Useful Links
For more information and ideas to help with your well-being during the coronavirus pandemic, MIND the mental health charity have the following webpage:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
Other websites to visit include:
Every Mind Matters https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ourfrontline/
Frontline staff and keyworkers can call or text a trained volunteer and access specially developed online resources, toolkits and advice to support their mental health and emotional wellbeing through this challenging time
The Government website
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-pub…
The Mental Health Foundation
https://mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus?bblinkid=213337963&bbemailid=203…