We promote positive mental health practices

Sandwell Business Ambassadors promote positive mental health. We want people in every Sandwell workplace to feel comfortable talking about anxiety, stress or depression.

So we encourage everyone to share experiences and strategies for boosting personal and collective wellbeing.

And that’s why we’ve gathered positive mental health resources here. Please do tell us if you have something else we should add.

Urgent support

The Black Country Emotional Support Helpline number is 0808 802 2288. The line is open on Monday to Friday from 6pm to 1am. Also on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 1am. To access it, you must be aged sixteen plus and living in (or registered with a GP in) Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton.

For people aged under sixteen, the online mental wellbeing community Kooth provides free, safe anonymous support.

Black Country Women’s Aid supports survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. If you need help, call 0121 553 0090 or visit the website. The organisation can also deliver training on the issues surrounding domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, rape and sexual violence, forced marriage, honour-based violence, FGM, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation.

HELLO
In December 2022, Sandwell Council’s public health team launched a new interactive text messaging service to signpost residents to health and wellbeing support. To start a conversation, just text HELLO and your town name (Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury or West Bromwich) to 07700 154 122. An artificial intelligence system will then signpost you to sources of help.

Papyrus
For confidential suicide prevention advice for young people, contact HOPELINEUK on freephone 0800 068 4141 (9am – midnight all year round). Or text message 07860 039 967 or visit the website.

Sandwell Healthy Minds offers psychological therapy services for people aged over sixteen who are experiencing common mental health problems such as low mood, depression, anxiety and stress. You can call 0303 033 9903 between 8am and 5pm, from Monday to Friday.

To talk about anything you’re going through, the Samaritans line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The number is 116 123 – and it’s free to phone.

Sandwell Suicide Prevention Strategy
In 2023, Sandwell Suicide Prevention Partnership launched a suicide prevention strategy and action plan. It aims for zero suicides in Sandwell by 2030. You can find out more about the strategy on the Healthy Sandwell website, as well as contribute your own ideas.

Workplace support

Pioneered by the West Midlands Combined Authority, Thrive At Work is a free accreditation programme that supports employee health and wellbeing. You could try working through the five easy steps at Foundation level. Or  contact WMCA’s Thrive At Work team via thriveatwork@wmca.org.uk.

The Hospitality Partnership, run by Sandwell Business Ambassador Jan Denning, supports people in the tourism and hospitality sector. Contact Jan via us if you’d like to learn more.

ACAS is the UK’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. It has resources for supporting employees experiencing mental health difficulties.

Embrace Resilience offers online tools to help you improve the mental health of your workforce and their families. This includes a learning portal and free courses in areas such as resilience.

Tough Enough to Care offers free mental health training to anyone living or working in Sandwell, as well as organisations based in the borough. The 90-minute sessions can be delivered at your place of work and aim to equip attendees with tools to promote help-seeking behaviour, prevent suicide and maintain good emotional wellbeing. Email Info@toughenoughtocare.org for more information, or to book a session.

Personal support

Sandwell Council‘s Public Health team manages a website called Healthy Sandwell. It covers all aspects of mental and physical health, from losing weight to sexual health. Also it has a comprehensive section on mental health.

Cranstoun Sandwell provides free and confidential advice and support to adults in Sandwell who would like to talk about alcohol or drugs. The website includes drug and alcohol self assessment tools to help you assess your use, or you can call on 0121 553 1333.

Sandwell Family Life supports young people and families to get the best from life. Its website has contact details for many support services – including counselling and meditation, English language and immigration support, after-school clubs and recreation activities, relationship help, money management and job hunting. Also, the section on health and emotional wellbeing acts as a directory for support services in the area.

Every Mind Matters from the NHS offers articles and wellbeing tips – including ways to support other people.

Everyone Health
For local support to stop smoking, visit the Everyone Health website, or call 0333 005 0095.

Kaleidoscope Plus Group
Kaleidoscope Plus Group is a leading national mental health and wellbeing charity that champions change and promotes positive mental health and wellbeing. It offers three key services:
* Talk2Us – a helpline and messenger support service which is free to use for anyone in the UK
* Shout 85258 – a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope and in crisis
* A ‘self help toolbox‘ of resources for managing situations such as anger and frustration, anxiety, low mood and depression, getting a good night’s sleep, feeling suicidal, challenging unhelpful thoughts, stress management and embracing joy and happiness.

Sandwell Healthy Minds
This organisation offers psychological therapy services for people experiencing common mental health problems such as low mood, depression, anxiety and stress. If you are 16 or over, live in Sandwell or are registered with a Sandwell GP, call 0303 033 9903 (8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or visit the website.

Sandwell Warm Spaces
Evidence shows that isolation and loneliness are closely connected with depression, anxiety and increased risk of heart disease or stroke. Sandwell’s Warm Spaces initiative provides a safe place over winter for people to keep warm, connect with others over a hot drink, charge their phones and get advice and support. Visit the Warm Spaces webpage to find out more.

Tough Enough to Care is a free mental health peer-to-peer support group for men. It runs on Wednesdays at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery, from 7-9pm. Come and have a sit down, a cuppa, a biscuit and a chat.  Tough Enough to Care is also running free mental health awareness sessions for Sandwell businesses, clubs, groups and organisations. You can email groups@toughenoughtocare.org for information.

Bereavement support

Cruse Bereavement Care
If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or bereavement, you can call Cruse for free on 0808 808 1677 (Monday & Friday 9.30am – 5pm, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 9.30am – 8pm, Weekends 10am – 2pm) or visit the website.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) has a helpline – call 0300 111 5065 (Monday and Tuesday 9am – 5pm) or visit the website.

Five quick mood boosters you can try right now

1. Leave your screen for a while and have a walk. Even running up and down the stairs can be helpful.
2. Do some breathing exercises. Here are a few that take less than ten minutes.
3. Sit back and listen to music. If you’re not sure where to start, try the Mindful Mix from BBC Sounds.
4. Connect with nature. Notice the sky, birdsong, a flower. Even small moments of interaction with nature have been shown to be beneficial to our mental wellbeing.
5. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to anchor yourself back in the moment.

And here are 50 ways to take a break, courtesy of Karen Horneffer-Ginter. (You can print out your own copy from here.)