Copyright note for Mind factsheets: You are welcome to print and photocopy this page of Mind's website. Organisations are free to distribute copies to service users and colleagues, but must ensure they always use the latest version, as available on the website, at the time of distributionIntroduction
What is a social life?
Challenges
Challenge 1 – Friendships
Challenge 2 – Money
Challenge 3 – Social skills
Challenge 4 – Where you live
Challenge 5 – Self-image
Love and romance
Attracting a suitable partner
Lowered expectations
‘Coming out’ about your mental health problem
Finding opportunities to meet a suitable partner
Having a social life if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or transvestite
Lesbian, gay and bisexual people
What if I’m transgender or transvestite?
Cultural issues around having a social life
Time alone
Useful organisations
Further reading
References
A man who felt terribly lonely went to the wise man of the village and said: "Is there anything you can give me to reduce the pain that I feel?" "Yes," he said. "There is a wonderful thing you can do. I want you to go and get me a mustard seed from a home that has no problems. Such a mustard seed can ward off all problems and feelings of isolation. When you find it, bring it to me and I will use it to relieve your pain." So the man started out and came to a big mansion. Nothing could possibly be wrong here, he thought! He knocked on the door, told them what he was looking for, and they answered, "You've come to the wrong house, we’ve got lots of problems here." And then they told him all about them. As he was listening, he thought, "I know something about problems... maybe I can help these people with theirs." So he listened to them, and this helped people. He kept on searching for his magic mustard seed. But no matter where he went, he could not find that seed. However, he found that for some reason he was no longer terribly lonely.
Studies show that feeling isolated and unable to make connections with others has a negative impact on mental health. [1], [2], [3], [4]
If you have had, or are experiencing, a mental health problem, this can affect your social life in many ways [5]. You may have had to give up your job, losing work colleagues and the money to be able to go out. You may also find it difficult to engage with people, or you may have closed yourself off from people in case they reject you because of your mental health difficulties. If you have been feeling depressed or anxious, it may have felt almost impossible to make connections with other people.
This factsheet is aimed at people who are feeling isolated, and explores ways to interact with other people in order to improve mental health and enjoy a good social life.
A social life is being able to interact with other people in a positive way that results in feelings of being connected to others and being part of society or a community; it often gives a feeling of being liked and included.
You have a social life if you have individual friends and acquaintances or groups of friends and acquaintances who engage in activities that you can share, such as enjoying a meal together, going to the cinema, having a chat or going bowling. Online socialising is also popular. Social networking sites such as Facebook enable friends and family to link up all over the world. There are hundreds of other ways to enjoy a social life. This factsheet gives many ideas, some of which may be right for you.
The need to have friends and interact with people is universal. Many people find that having friends and acquaintances enhances their wellbeing. A simple “Good morning” to a neighbour can be surprisingly uplifting. However, if you genuinely don’t desire human contact except for whatever is necessary for day-to-day life, this is all right too! You may decide to explore other ways to enhance your wellbeing through socialising; for example, if meeting people face-to-face is dissatisfying for you, social networking through the internet may be easier.
The number of friends and acquaintances that you have is not important. What matters is the pleasure they bring to your life and that you bring to theirs. With close friendships, quality is better than quantity. Many people find that having just a few friends can be really satisfying. There is also nothing wrong with having a wide range of social contacts. Friends and acquaintances can range from people you smile and say hello to in your neighbourhood, people you enjoy spending time with doing various activities, to people who know you at a deep level. It is up to you how many friends you have and what level of friendship you feel comfortable with.
If you have too few (for your liking) or no friends at the moment; it doesn’t mean that you are a bad person.
There are solutions for all of these obstacles.
Making friends in a new area
There are many places where you can meet new people. If you work, this can be an excellent place to find friends. If you don’t work, you can make new friends and acquaintances by joining a group. There are many different social groups you can join; information about groups can be found in local libraries and on the internet. Here are a few ideas:
Friendships when you have a mental health problem
After a period of mental illness you may feel differently about going out and socialising with your friends. You may be embarrassed if your medication has meant a change in your appearance or reactions. You may have put on some weight or you may feel that the way you communicate has changed. Some medication may make you feel drowsy, possibly more so at particular times of the day. You may have to avoid drinking alcohol, and you may find it difficult to admit this to your friends. Some medication can cause shaking or slurred speech, and you may worry that other people will make incorrect judgements about you. All of this can have an impact on how confident you feel about going out and seeing old friends or meeting new ones.
Going through a period of mental ill-health can be a shock to friends, and they may not know how to cope, or may feel they cannot cope with the situation. You might come out of your first period of mental ill-health with fewer friends than when you were mentally healthy. This is a shame but it’s not the end of the world. You will go on to find different friends – hopefully more supportive ones.
Before you give up on your old friends though, it might be worth trying to mend the situation. When you are feeling better and able to cope, it might be helpful to have an open conversation with some of the friends who may have disappeared when you experienced your mental health problem so that they understand more about your condition. You could get someone you trust to support you in this.
Old friends who have avoided you may genuinely care about you but may be unsure of how to deal with some of the effects of your illness. They may be glad to have an opportunity to talk about their fears around how you were and how you may have behaved when you were ill. This might enable them to feel more comfortable, supportive and open around you. You might even reach a point where you are able to look at what happened with some humour.
It is particularly important to address any problems that arose for your friend from your illness. For example, if you were suffering from paranoia, you may have falsely accused a friend of something, causing them distress. If you were feeling suicidal, they may have been afraid that anything they said might have encouraged you to attempt suicide. If you were going through a manic phase, you may have done all sorts of inappropriate things that may have shocked your friend. It is important to explain that this is part of your condition, and apologise for any upset you may have caused. You have nothing to lose: if you attempt to contact a friend to explain things and they are willing to listen and patch things up, then you have regained your friend and may even have deepened your relationship. If, however, they refuse to discuss the issues and continue to block you out of their life, then you have done your best and can do no more, and there is no point feeling bad about the situation any longer. If you meet that person then it is best to nod and smile in a friendly manner and let them go on their way. If you continue to hold a grudge against them, this will only make you feel bad.
When you do speak about your illness to old friends who have been avoiding you, the way you speak to them about what happened will be important. It will be helpful to use lots of ‘I’ statements such as “I feel sorry that our friendship has suffered because of my mental health condition, I value our friendship, can we talk about it?” or “I would really appreciate being able to talk to you about what was happening in my life last November”. It is important to avoid making accusations, such as “You abandoned me when I was really low, what kind of friend are you?” or “You’re never around when I need you!” The first set of statements is assertive; the second set of statements is aggressive, and will probably drive your friend further away. By using lots of ‘I’ statements, you are taking ownership of how you feel and not blaming the other person, which would probably make them feel defensive and angry.
Being open with supportive friends about your mental health problems and how they affect you, and what support you would like, will help the friends that stick with you to be good friends. On your part, you could ask your friends how you can make it easier for them when you are going through difficult periods. When you are feeling well you might like to let your friends know how much you appreciate their support and celebrate the good times with them. In this way you can show them that you truly value their friendship and don’t just want them to be supportive for times when you are unwell.
If you have a wide circle of friends, when you are having a hard time you won’t be putting pressure on just one or two people to support you. However, what can you do if you find yourself friendless after a period of mental ill health?
It is important that you get support for yourself so that you don’t feel isolated. It is also important that you build up support networks at a pace that you can cope with so that you don’t feel overwhelmed when you are still recovering. Take your time to think about your options and do what’s best for you. If you have a local Mind association in your area, you could contact them to find out what services they offer. Many local Mind groups provide befriending services through which volunteers provide friendship support. Other Mind associations provide groups where you can start to make contact with people again in a safe environment.
Including some physical activities in your plans, such as gardening, swimming, dancing or other exercise, would be beneficial to your physical health, help your mental health and might be a way to make new friends!
There are other mental health organisations that can provide support in getting a social life, and Mindinfoline can give you details of other mental health services in your area (see ‘Useful organisations’).
Learning to trust friends again after bad experiences
If friends have let you down in the past or, even worse, caused you harm, it is only natural to be wary of making new friends.
If you decide to stop going out and meeting new people, this could be damaging to you; you may become isolated and find it more and more difficult to make contact with other people.
The best approach is to invest in your friendship at a pace where you feel in control. Friendship means different things to different people. If you felt in the past that a friend should know everything there is to know about you and that you should be really close emotionally, maybe looking at friendship differently will protect you. Many people enjoy friendship at a more superficial level where they can talk and joke about a day’s events, or plan an outing together, but where they don’t need to get into serious or deep conversations about each other’s lives. These lighter sorts of friendships are much easier to step back from if and when you need to do this. Once you start to trust someone a little, you might decide to let them know more about yourself, though you don’t have to, and it is up to you how much you disclose about yourself to other people. Having a wide range of friends also means that you don’t get too close or rely too deeply on people who might let you down, leaving you feeling upset and vulnerable once more.
It is often helpful to give people the benefit of the doubt where friendship is concerned and not to worry about their motives. As long as you are enjoying contact with another person, then continue to socialise with them, but if the contact is making you unhappy, concentrate on other friends for a while and then see how the relationship is going with the friend you were having difficulties with. If the contact continues to make you unhappy then it is best to withdraw your friendship for a while or maybe indefinitely.
How do you withdraw without seeming rude? If someone is contacting you a lot, you can gradually reduce the number of times you reply until they are used to you not being around for them. If you are having difficulties withdrawing your friendship from someone, you might ask for help from a support worker (this might be a member of your community mental health team, your social worker or psychological therapist, someone from a local Mind association or another voluntary organisation or a trusted family member or friend); there’s no need to suffer in silence.
If the way you interact with people deters them from befriending you
Sometimes we can be unaware that the things we do prevent other people from befriending us. Some of those things can be:
If you think you have a problem with any of these things, there are ways to improve your prospects of having a good social life. It is hard to admit that there may be aspects of yourself that other people don’t like. It takes a lot of courage to face up to these situations and do something about them.
For a lot of people with fluctuating mental health problems these issues may occur only when mental health is poor. In these circumstances you can only do your best. When you are feeling well you could explain to your friends how you may behave when you are unwell, so that if you start to interact with them differently they will realise that this is because of your mental health condition. Make sure you don’t use this as an excuse for bad behaviour though, as people will usually see through it.
People with mental health problems can often feel angry and frustrated by a system that does little to meet their needs and instead leaves them stigmatised and labelled. Instead of getting angry or becoming a persistent complainer, why not start campaigning for better services or become a volunteer to actively change things for the better? This is a good opportunity to meet like-minded people and make new friends, and it will also keep you occupied and less likely to dwell on your own problems.
Mind values people with mental health problems, and is keen to get them involved in campaigning for better services and a better life. If you would like to help Mind’s campaigns you could join Mind's campaigns network, Mind in Action. Mind in Action is a network of groups and individuals who work together to campaign locally and nationally for a better deal for people with mental health problems. Members are supported to speak out, publicise and take action and are involved in a range of activities such as lobbying MPs and service providers, publicising Mind campaigns, working with local press and media, and generating pressure for change in their locality. Members do as much or as little as they want to do. Every contribution helps Mind’s shared mission to change things for the better. You can get more information about Mind in Action and how to join from Mind on 020 8215 2424 or at www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues
Improving the way you interact with people
If you are too demanding or clingy with people, constantly complain about your situation or insist that your view of the world is the correct one, you may struggle to make friends. If you identify with any of these descriptions, you could talk to a support worker at your local Mind association, your mental health professional or a close friend. You might decide to ask for counselling or another talking treatment such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which can help you to look at the barriers to getting a good social life and how you can change your thinking and behaviour so that you are more likely to achieve what you need. Mind has produced booklets Making sense of counselling and Making sense of cognitive behaviour therapy. There are also a lot of self-help books that can help you to look and improve at how you interact with people. Visit your local bookshop or see Mind’s publications catalogue.
Getting drunk or high on drugs
If you have a problem with alcohol or drugs and find it difficult to stop using these, you need to get expert advice and help. There are a wide range of services dedicated to helping people with drug and alcohol problems – telephone helplines, advice and information services, needle exchanges, prescribing services, in-patient detoxification, structured counselling and rehabilitative treatment (day care and residential). Further information about services for alcohol and drug dependency is given in Mind’s booklet Understanding addiction and dependency and via Mindinfoline (see ‘Useful organisations).
Body odour
If you experience depression, sometimes just getting out of bed is an extreme effort, and having to wash and take care of your personal hygiene may seem impossible.
To people who shower or bathe, clean their teeth and wear clean clothes daily, advice to do these things may seem rather insulting. However, if you don’t observe these basic rules of hygiene, other people are likely to find it difficult to be around you. The smell of body odour, unwashed clothes and bad breath are particularly unpleasant, as is the stale smell of tobacco smoke, which can linger in clothing.
The problem is easy to remedy as long as you have access to washing facilities and money for soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and can wash and dry your clothes. Don’t forget that bed clothes also need regular washing.
If you find personal hygiene difficult because of your mental health problem, you may be eligible for some support from Social Services. You may be able to get disability living allowance (DLA) and/or direct payments for someone to help you with this when you are feeling low. Information on this type of support can be found on the DirectGov website (www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011731) or get advice from your local Social Services office.
Borrowing money
Continually asking your friends to lend you money can really annoy them. If you’re doing this regularly, you need to look at why you are running short of funds. Many local Mind associations run sessions on budgeting. You can also get useful tips from the money section on Mind’s website, and Mind has produced a booklet, Money and mental health issues: looking after your personal finances.
If you do need to borrow money, make sure you pay it back as soon as you can, and try not to do it too often. If you are spending your money on drink, gambling or drugs and want help with this, there are organisations that can help – see Mind’s booklet Understanding addiction and dependency. If you carry on borrowing money without paying it back, you may well lose your friends and people are likely to avoid you. Because money is such an emotive issue for most people, lending money can also cause problems and is usually best avoided. A simple, “I’m sorry but I can’t lend you any money” when someone asks should be sufficient.
Angry or violent behaviour
If you lose your temper frequently, this will have a negative effect on people around you. Courses on anger management are available in many areas. Contact Mindinfoline for information about courses. Alternatively, CBT can help with anger management. The BBC and Bupa have useful sections on managing anger on their websites: www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/coping_angermanagement1.shtml
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/managing_anger.html
Mind has produced some helpful booklets on managing anger: How to deal with anger and How to restrain your violent impulses.
It can sometimes feel that you need lots of money to have a good social life, but this needn’t be the case. Here are some ideas for sharing time with friends that don’t need more than a few pounds – and some of them are free:
If you find mixing with people difficult, the lack of social skills may feel like an enormous mountain in your quest to make new friends. You may have always felt awkward and shy, or perhaps your mental health problems have put obstacles in the way of your achieving a better social life. Never fear, however, because social skills are fairly easy and can be learned.
An important tip to remember is that most people love talking about themselves! This means that you don’t have to be clever or particularly extrovert to attract friends. Just be yourself. If you notice someone that you know who seems friendly and you’d like to become friends with them, try asking them an easy question about themselves, for example:
Be aware that asking personal questions can upset people, especially in mental health settings. For example, questions about people’s family, or what they did at Christmas or other holidays might be painful for them. It might be better not to ask about these things until you know someone a little better.
Hopefully a simple question will lead to a pleasant conversation. Next time you meet that person, make sure that you speak to them again. Eventually you may feel able to ask them to share a social event with you. Here are some more ideas about how you could bring this into a conversation.
If you don’t get an enthusiastic reply, either to your attempt at starting a conversation or to your invitation to more of a friendship, the main thing is not to take it personally. Remember:
If all this seems too difficult for you, then get some support. CBT or counselling approaches such as Human Givens therapy may help. For more information see Mind’s booklet Understanding talking treatments.
If you are extrovert, be wary of taking over conversations and talking a lot about yourself. Give the other person plenty of time to speak. Remember that a conversation is a bit like a game of tennis, where one person speaks and the other person listens; then the other person speaks and the first person listens. Remember to listen to what the person is telling you and don’t occupy yourself with thinking about what you’re going to say or you’ll miss what they’re telling you. Relax and have fun.
You may feel that where you live is making it difficult for you to have a social life, particularly if you live in an isolated rural location or a big city.
Rural issues
If you live in the middle of the country and people are scarce, it’s a good idea to take advantage of every opportunity for meeting people. If you visit the nearest town, take extra time to visit the library where you’ll find details of groups that meet in your area. Internet access is also useful. You can find out about groups specifically set up to reduce isolation in rural areas, such as Young Farmers’ clubs (for people aged between 10 and 26) and the Women’s Institute – both have groups nationwide (see ‘Useful organisations’).
Big city issues
A big city can feel unfriendly, and loneliness is an issue for many people living in urban areas. This can make socialising difficult, particularly if you have mental health problems. To overcome this, look out for groups you can join, or attend your local Mind association and practise making friends (see the ‘Social skills’ section).
A good way to create a safe and manageable feel to living in a city is to regularly use local facilities such as libraries, shops and cafés wherever possible, so that people get to know you. This will help you to make contact with people in your area and to feel more connected to the local community.
Socialising online
Social networking websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace have become extremely popular over the last few years, as they enable people to keep in touch with friends in different areas. You need internet access to use these websites. If you don’t have this at home, you can usually use the internet free of charge at your local library (you may have to book a session).
There are pros and cons around socialising online. While it might feel easier if you have difficulties with face-to-face interactions in social settings, and it can be a good way of feeling included, it can encourage you to stay home rather than broadening your horizons in the outside world.
If you are happy to stick with online socialising and find it meets all your social needs then there is no need for concern, but if it leaves you feeling dissatisfied then you might like to consider other ways of interacting, such as those highlighted in this factsheet.
Feeling good about yourself usually makes it easier to form and maintain relationships and friendships. Being a mental health service user does not have a high status in our society, and users often struggle to have a positive self-image. This is being challenged, however, and is slowly changing. In fact, some jobs within the mental health arena insist that the post holder has personal experience of mental distress.
You can turn being a mental health service user into a positive experience by becoming an expert service user volunteer or paid consultant on voluntary and community committees and groups such as mental health trusts, primary care trusts, local health boards and voluntary organisations. Your local Mind association may be looking for trustees, and you could make a valuable contribution to the running of the services.
If you want to improve your self-image, there are many things you can do. Talking treatments, such as CBT, can work well. Alternative therapies such as aromatherapy, Reiki and reflexology can also have a positive effect on wellbeing. Many organisations such as your local Mind association, local colleges and local authorities run self-esteem courses, and there are many self-help books on this subject.
Regular physical activity – which can be something as simple as taking a walk everyday – has also been shown to improve people’s mental health and self-image [6], [7], [8], as has helping others, e.g. through volunteering. [9]
Many people want love and romance in their lives. This aspect of life can be extremely rewarding if it goes well, but if a romantic relationship stops working, it can also be extremely painful. This powerful and sometimes confusing mix means that within relationships there is the likelihood of at least some confusion and distress, but also the possibility of fulfilment and joy. This is true for everybody. However, if you have mental health problems, you may have additional issues to face if you decide that you’d like to start dating and ultimately have a rewarding romantic relationship. These can include:
If you have a pattern of attracting partners who don’t value you, take time to think about the sort of person you would like to be with and how you would like them to treat you, as well as what you can offer to the relationship. Imagine how it would feel to have a person like this in your life. You cannot change someone to fit your ideal, so if a potential partner doesn’t make you feel happy, it may be better to move on and find someone else who is more suitable.
Many mental health service users go through a process of lowering their expectations as a way of coping with their experiences. Some people with mental health problems may give up on the possibility of relationships, or accept difficult or unrewarding relationships as part of this process. If you think this pattern of behaviour applies to you, you can explore this within talking therapies.
Books about self-esteem are available from bookstores and can be extremely helpful.
Knowing when within a relationship to disclose the fact that you have (or have previously had) a mental health problem can be worrying, and can prevent people from starting a relationship.
It is up to you when – and if – you decide to tell a potential partner that you have mental health issues. Only you can gauge when you are comfortable enough with someone to be able to discuss this. If the person genuinely cares for you, they will try and understand (though they may need some guidance from you). If they find the news too difficult and reject you, then remember that they were probably not the right person anyway. Some people may need time to think about what this means, so you may need to give them some space – they may turn out to be extremely supportive in the long run.
Opportunities to find a partner are all around, although it might not always seem that way. You might join an online dating site where you can email potential partners before meeting up. It’s always best to meet up briefly in a public place such as a coffee shop to start with, in case you don’t like the person; read the safety tips on the site you join.
Other ways to meet potential partners include the groups you join to meet friends, walking the dog, in the supermarket or at work. In these settings you can get to know people as friends first before you decide to become romantically involved.
In many parts of the country it is difficult to find a, lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) scene to join. Gay clubs for men and women are often found only in major cities. You may not have the confidence to go to clubs on your own, or they may not be to your liking. The internet is a good way to find out if there is a social scene for LGB people in your area, and to make contact with other LGB people. If you type ‘social scene for gay/lesbian/bisexual people’ into your web browser, all sorts of networking opportunities will usually be listed. And if you can find like-minded people through your internet searches, this will enable you to link up with them for social events, though you may want to travel away from your local area to feel comfortable.
Coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or transvestite in your local area may feel difficult, and you may worry that you will be the object of ridicule or abuse.
Mind has produced a factsheet Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals and mental health, which provides support and information, and contact details for useful organisations.
Being transgender or transvestite, whether you have come out or not, can feel very isolating. However, millions of people are in the same position. The Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) estimates that about 1 in 4,000 of the British population is receiving medical help for gender dysphoria (when people feel they may belong to the wrong gender). Boys with gender dysphoria outnumber girls by about 5 to 1. So how do you go about finding people in similar circumstances to socialise with?
The TransgenderZone (see ‘Useful organisations’) is a website that provides support for anyone who feels that they do not strictly identify with their birth gender, which includes transvestite people. It provides a bulletin board and a wide range of resources, including a list of links and venues in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland that are positive about transgender issues.
You don’t have to limit your socialising to people with similar issues. Go to the ‘social skills’ section of this factsheet for how to make friends with all sorts of people.
Once you get to know people and trust them, you may feel that you can tell them about your circumstances, although of course this depends on how comfortable you feel about this.
Mind has produced a booklet Understanding gender dysphoria that you may find useful. It includes links to useful organisations. Some useful organisations are also given at the end of this factsheet (see ‘Useful organisations’).
Your culture may be extremely important to you, and even if it isn’t, you may find that it influences how you socialise.
Religious groups such as church and chapel groups, prayer groups and other groups for worship can provide good social opportunities. However, if you feel a lot of pressure to conform, or find such groups too restrictive in other ways and this makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably best to seek friendships and social opportunities elsewhere.
Religious considerations may need to be taken into account in building a social life more generally. For example, your religion may forbid alcohol, in which case you might not want to go into a bar or a public house. If your friends are planning a pub-based evening, you could go along and drink soft drinks, but you may still feel out of place. Are your friends aware of your difficulties with going into a pub? If you feel able to speak up, you could suggest an alternative venue. Or you might decide to forego this occasion, but join them when you feel more able.
If you plan to go out for a meal and require vegetarian or halal food, or if you cannot have alcohol, check with the restaurant before you book that they have these options and that no alcohol is used in the food. If they cannot meet your needs, look around for a different restaurant that can.
In some cultures, certain social activities are not permitted outside of marriage, such as dancing with members of the opposite sex. This may then impact on going to events such as clubs, discos or parties.
If you are in a minority ethnic group in your area you may feel out of place or isolated at certain social events. Some people make inappropriate comments which can be distressing. It may feel more comfortable to make friends with one or more people individually before going to an event so that you aren’t alone and can then enjoy the event without feeling isolated or vulnerable.
Time alone can be a chance to recharge your batteries, relax or do whatever you want to do. It can give you space to think, look forward and plan. If you find time alone particularly painful, it might be useful to have some counselling to find out how to make time alone more positive.
If you know that you have some time alone coming up and you feel worried about coping with it, you could try making a date with yourself to do things you enjoy – things that take up your concentration are often good if you find you feel anxious or worried when alone. These could include reading a good book, visiting a tourist attraction, shopping for something you need, having a facial, a massage, or a long hot bath, or cooking yourself something from a more complicated recipe than you would usually use. Another helpful activity can be to make a list of all the exciting things you want to, or could do, on your own – ticking these off can be very satisfying.
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
web: www.bkwsu.org
The Brahma Kumaris is a non-religious spiritual organisation that provides free courses on self-esteem, positive thinking, overcoming anger and meditation. It has many centres all over the world. All talks and courses are offered free of charge.
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
tel: 0161 797 4484
web: www.babcp.com
Can provide details of accredited CBT therapists. Full directory of psychotherapists available online.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
tel: 01455 883 300
web: www.bacp.co.uk
Provides online search facility for accredited counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK
Mindinfoline
Mind. PO Box 277, Manchester, M60 3XN.
tel: 0845 766 0163
email info@mind.org.uk
Deaf or speech impaired enquirers can use the same phone number (add the prefix 18001 if using BT Textdirect).
National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC)
web: www.nfyfc.org.uk
The NFYFC is a nationwide body of young farmers’ clubs for people aged between 10 and 26, providing members with opportunities to develop new skills, work with the local community and enjoy a social life.
Rethink
General enquiries: 0845 456 0455
advice line: 0207 840 3188; 10am–1pm Mon–Fri
email: info@rethink.org, advice@rethink.org
web: www.rethink.org
Provides help and support for people with severe mental illness and their families/carers, including befriending services and advice about money.
Volunteering England
Regents Wharf
8 All Saints Street
London N1 9RL
tel: 0845 305 6979
email: volunteering@volunteeringengland.org
web: www.volunteering.org.uk/
Volunteering England is committed to supporting, enabling and celebrating volunteering in all its diversity. Their offices are normally open from 9am to 5pm during weekdays, excluding public holidays.
WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action)
tel: 0800 2888 329
text : 07797 805 628
email: help@wcva.org.uk
web: www.wcva.org.uk/
WCVA is the voice of the voluntary sector in Wales. They represent and campaign for voluntary organisations, volunteers and communities.
The Women’s Institute (WI)
tel: 020 7371 9300 (England); 029 2022 1712 (Wales)
web: www.thewi.org.uk
The WI is a nationwide organisation for women of all ages, offering friendship and the opportunities to learn new skills and/or campaign on issues that matter to members.
Booklets
The following booklets are available to purchase from the bookshop, from Mind Publications on 0844 448 4448 or via publications@mind.org.uk).
Factsheets
[1] Wolf, S. (1992), Predictors of myocardial infarction over a span of 30 years in Roseto, Pennsylvania. Integrative Physiological and Behavioural Science, vol 27, 3, 246–257.
[2] Hafen, B.Q., Karren, K.J., Frandsen, K.J. and Smith, N.L. (1996) Mind/Body Health: the health effects of attitudes, emotions and relationships. Allyn & Bacon, Boston.
[3] Durkheim, E. (1951) Suicide. Free Press, New York.
[4] Mind. Not alone? Isolation and mental distress. London: Mind, 2004.
[5] Mind. Not alone? Isolation and mental distress. London: Mind, 2004.
[6] Landers, D.M., The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health. Accessed 14/12/09
[7] Hamer, M., Stamatakis, E., Steptoe, A. (2008), Dose response relationship between physical activity and mental health: The Scottish Health Survey, British Journal of Sports Medicine doi:10.1136/bjsm.2008.046243 Accessed 14/12/09
[8] Mental Health Foundation. (2005), Up and running: exercise therapy and the treatment of mild or moderate depression in primary care. London: Mental Health Foundation.
[9] Casiday, R., Kinsman, E., Bambra, C., (2008), Volunteering & Health what impact does it really have? Volunteering England, London.
This factsheet was written by Amanda Parker in 2009.