NHS Lanarkshire’s psychological services have designed and developed a website, ‘Lanarkshire Mind Matters’ – http://www.lanarkshiremindmatters.scot.nhs.uk – which aims to help improve wellbeing and make a positive difference to people’s lives, during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
The site provides a range of information on how we can all look after our mental health in these challenging times. There is specific guidance about coping with Covid-19 anxiety, plus a full online computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) module entitled ‘Space from Covid-19’ which can be accessed straight away by self-referral. Other self-referral CBT modules include:
- Space for resilience;
- Space for sleep;
- Space from stress.
The website provides links to self-help for problems including anxiety, depression and panic, as well as free online courses and information about how to maintain mental and physical wellbeing.
Clinical psychologist Dr Simon Stuart, who has led the development of Lanarkshire Mind Matters, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on what all services are able to offer people. Even something as simple as visiting a health centre has become more challenging.
“NHS Lanarkshire’s psychological services were already exploring ways of improving access to resources. The pandemic has brought home how important this is.
“None of this is about replacing what we already do, rather, it is about adding to it. The plan is to keep developing the website as a way of providing high-quality information and self-help whenever people need it.”
Dr Gary Tanner, director of psychological services for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We are committed to developing a range of digital services and Lanarkshire Mind Matters is a key aspect of this.
“We have been developing a range of new resources, one of which is ‘Calm Distress’, an online programme to help people managing stress and anxiety”.
Visit Lanarkshire Mind Matters and click on the Covid-19 banner on the home page for more information about Covid-specific coping. You can go directly to the SilverCloud online therapy page at: https://www.lanarkshiremindmatters.scot.nhs.uk/silvercloud-online-therapy/.
