COVID Pandemic: how we can support your mental wellbeing

We’re following the Government’s advice on social distancing and have therefore had to stop offering our groups, activities and courses face-to-face until further notice but you can still join our many online activities. We also offer mental health and emotional wellbeing support on the phone or via video call. Safe Haven, our crisis support service, remains open every day 6pm-11pm for people going through a mental health crisis.

Anyone struggling with their mental health

• If you are aged 16 and over and would like to access mental health or emotional wellbeing support, we can help! No need for an official diagnosis or to be referred to by a mental health professional. You can register yourself!
• If you’re not already using our services, you will need to complete our online registration form to receive our support. We will follow up with a phone call to check how you’re doing and discuss how we can help.
• Once you are registered with us, you can book a 30-minute telephone appointment or join one of our online wellbeing/peer support groups and activities. Scroll down for more details. 👇
• You can also phone or email the contacts listed below to ask for advice and information. 👇
• We’ve contacted all our clients to let them know we’re here. If you haven’t been contacted by us yet, it could be because we don’t have up-to-date details for you, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact details further down.👇
• Everything we offer is free of charge so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

People who are in mental health crisis

• If you’re in mental health crisis, you can visit our Safe Haven service in Epsom every day from 6pm until 11pm as long as you don’t have any COVID-19 symptoms. The service is only open to people in crisis and is located: The Larches, 44 Waterloo Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8EX
• There are other Safe Haven services located in Guildford, Woking, Redhill and Aldershot. Find out where they are by downloading our Safe Haven brochure.
• Anyone visiting any of our Safe Havens will be required to wear clean face covering. If you come without one, one can be supplied. Our staff may provide visitors a face mask if they think their face covering is inadequate.
• We’ve recently launched virtual Safe Havens for anyone in crisis who can’t leave their homes, either because of having COVID-19 symptoms, having to shield themselves or someone from their household, or just feeling too anxious to go out. Visit our Safe Haven page for more information.

Thirty-minute telephone or video call appointments

• We offer telephone or video call appointments of up to 30 minutes so you can talk more in depths about the feelings and issues you may be experiencing.
• Please note these are not counselling sessions but mental health support conversations.
• You’ll need to book in advance by calling our main office and leaving a voicemail, or calling the person you’d like to speak to directly. See numbers/emails below. 👇
• If it is urgent, we can give you the next available appointment.

To see what days/times are available, you can download our Appointments Calendar.

Online groups and activities

We’ve put together a programme of online groups and activities to support you in looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing. It includes peer support groups, arts and crafts activities, physical activities and wellbeing classes.

View our Online Support Groups and Activities Calendar to see what is available.

For a description of the activities and how to book your place, visit our Online Support Groups and Activities page.

All online activities are delivered via video conferencing platform/App, Zoom. You’ll also find step-by-step instructions of how to download and use Zoom.

Please read our Participation Guidelines before you join any of our online groups to ensure you and others have the best experience.

We’re aware that not everyone has access to the internet or is comfortable using it, so we are looking at other ways we can offer support. If you have any ideas, please let us know – we are always keen to hear your thoughts.

MFT don’t have what you’re looking for? You can also access any online group or class available on the Surrey Virtual Wellbeing Hub which lists all online activities provided by mental health organisations in Surrey designed to improve and/or maintain your wellbeing. Definitely worth a visit!

Managing your wellbeing

For further information on how to manage your wellbeing during this time, please read:

• The COVID-19 Self-Help section of our website.
• Our blog on managing your mental health during the pandemic, written by a member of our Advisory Group!
• Our Doing It My Way guide.
• Our Helpful Tips sheet.
• The Wellness Society Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook to help you build resilience in difficult times.
• First Steps, the NHS Emotional health and mental well-being Advice and support guide in Surrey.
• Our blog section where you can find lots of wellbeing tips and guided mindfulness meditations.

Contact us

Mary Frances Trust’s main office: 01372 375400. Please note that it will go straight to answerphone and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can but this might be a bit delayed.

The phone numbers listed below will be answered during working hours, Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm.  If you phone outside of these hours, please leave a voicemail and someone will respond as soon as they are able to.

John O’Malley: 07868 203512 or johnomalley@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Michael Powell: 07961 487625 or michael@maryfrancestrust.org.uk 

Parvin Ahmed: 07380 857 701 or parvin@maryfrancestrust.org.uk 

Lenny Roberts Flanders: 07929 024724 or lenny@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Anna Silver: 07432 510493 or anna@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

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