Advice and Information

Free 60 minute bookable support sessions with a specialist autism advisor with
lived experience. Person centred, online support sessions, providing
information and guidance for pre and post diagnosed autistic adults
and their families living in the Black Country.

To see the available dates and times and for booking
information please visit: www. autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/
For more information please contact Sue: E:suemorris@autismwestmidlands.org.uk

With NHS staff holding industrial action this winter, common questions and answers.

Which workers have backed industrial action?
Up to 100,000 nurse members of the RCN;
Up to 20,000 ambulance members of GMB, Unison and Unite;
4,000-plus members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; and
Junior hospital doctor members of the British Medical Association are also being balloted in January.

When will strike action take place?
6 and 20 March: Ambulance strike by GMB at same 7 trusts as in February.

This useful information flyer that identifies support, information or advice.

Please note the directory was published prior to COVID-19. Some contact details may have changed.

People are doing everything that they can to manage the cost of living crisis. People have cut back on their food shops, turned their heating off to sit in the cold and have even started to work from home to reduce the amount of money that they are spending on their petrol each week.

However, constantly having to battle against things that are out of your control is always going to take a toll on your mental health, and suffering from mental health issues at this time won’t be making things any easier.

Unfortunately, over 1.5 million people across England are currently suffering from debt and mental health issues due to the cost of living [1]. We are actually already seeing the outcomes of this, with a recent study carried out from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy discovering that 66% of all current working therapists have said that their client’s mental health has started to decline with the current cost of living [2].

As we all know, a decline in public mental health has consequences that affect the rest of society, with more people abusing alcohol and other substances when they feel depressed or anxious. [3]

The infographic/ PDF to download highlights some additional facts and figures surrounding the cost of living crisis and how this links to poor mental health.

References [1] https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/money-and-mental-health-facts/ [2] https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/2022/8-september-cost-of-living-crisis-survey-shows-impact-on-mental-health/ [3] See alcoholism rehabilitation article.

There are a number of things you can do to help including getting your winter vaccinations and using the NHS 111 service first for any urgent medical need. The below links take you to the relevant advice and information to support you during the winter.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that scarlet fever cases continue to remain higher than we would typically see at this time of year.

Suicide is preventable – If you or someone you know is having suicidal
thoughts, we can all help those at risk. In the UK in 2019, 6524 people took their own lives. Men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide. Women are more likely to report suicidal thoughts. Click on the link to download a useful information leaflet.

Find out the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, what to do if you think you have it and who is eligible for a vaccine.

If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need.

Confused about Long Covid? Find out the common symptoms and how to get support.

Do you know about your rights to language support in NHS settings?