Make sure you keep yourself and your family healthy between Christmas and New Year with these great tips
Scottish Ambulance Service: Keeping well this Winter
Tag: festive period
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Tips for having a Safer Winter
Winter fire safety advice from Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
Festive mental health with NHS 24
As we look ahead to another festive season impacted by the COVID19 pandemic, NHS 24 are encouraging people to put mental health first.
Lots of people are feeling anxious and unsure of where to turn for a bit of support so here is advice from the team behind NHS inform and the 111 service:
Clear Your Head web site
It’s natural to not feel yourself at times, and for anyone feeling that way, the Clear Your Head web site has simple tips for anyone feeling down, as well as guides on what to do to support others. clearyourhead.scot
NHSinform.scot
Anyone in Scotland with a digital device and having problems with anger or stress, having trouble sleeping, or struggling to cope with challenging situations, can find support by answering a few simple questions through this guide, nhsinform.scot/get-help-with-your-mental-wellbeing
During the summer of 2021 hundreds of visitors to NHSinform were directed to seek immediate telephone help while thousands more went on to self-directed care online using SilverCloud, a website with courses to improve mental wellbeing based on cognitive behavioural therapy.
An extensive range of mental wellbeing resources is available at
www.nhsinform.scot/mental-wellbeing
NHSinform also has a number of resources for users of British Sign Language that cover mental health issues at www.nhsinform.scot/BSL
editorial@ardrossanherald.co.uk
Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87
Answering almost 9,000 calls a month, the Breathing Space service continues to grow and evolve with the web chat service now offering online support.
Callers contact Breathing Space for a wide range of reasons, including relationship issues, stress, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. However, over the last year the service has seen an increase in issues such as bereavement, work and money worries, and loneliness.
Breathing Space’s trained advisors ensure that each call is treated with patience and respect, knowing that it can often be the first time that a caller has contacted the service or talked about a problem.
111
For those experiencing mental distress the 111 Mental Health Hub is available 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week by calling 111 and following the telephone prompts. Anyone may call. There is no upper or lower age limit.
The most common reasons for calling include thinking about suicide, anxieties, low mood, psychosis, and self-harm. Where necessary, clinical support is offered and callers may be referred to local support services, community mental health teams, or exceptionally, emergency services. This team can also help with medication issues.
More than 500 drink drug drive offences detected during annual festive campaign
Just over 500 motorists were reported for drink drug drive offences during the annual festive drink drug drive campaign.
During the festive drink and drug drive campaign, which ran between December 1st 2020 and January 3rd 2021, Police Scotland officers carried out 4013 roadside tests. Overall, 508 drivers were detected for drink/drug offences.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said “It is extremely disappointing to see that people are still willing to take the risk and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
ACC Williams continued: “The current pandemic has seen a decrease in the number of vehicles on the road, however our campaign to improve road safety has been as important as ever and was focussed and intelligence led.
“Once again this year, a number of drivers were reported to us by colleagues, friends or family members and I wish to thank everyone who had the courage to report drink or drug drivers and I ask that you continue to report concerning driving behaviour to us. This information helps our officers to act quickly to stop drivers who are under the influence before they kill or seriously injure someone.
“We will continue to take action against those who selfishly put others at risk by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is disappointing that some people are selfish and irresponsible by taking drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car – putting themselves as well as other road users and officers at risk.
“I commend those who took steps to report individuals they suspected of drink or drug-driving to the police. It can be a difficult decision to make but it is the right decision and they can take comfort from knowing that they perhaps prevented somebody being seriously injured or killed in a collision.
“The laws are in place to keep everyone on Scotland’s roads safe and it is the responsibility of all individual motorists to adhere to them. Police officers will continue to tackle those they suspect to be committing driving offences.”
Breakdown of results:
· 4013 roadside screening tests for drink and drugs carried out during the campaign
· 437 roadside drug screening tests carried out
· 508 people detected for drink/drug offences
· Of the 508 detected, 28 drivers were caught the morning after drinking
Survey reveals surprising positives for romantic relationships during Covid-19
A new survey from the British Psychological Society (BPS) has revealed today that 86% of people are looking forward to spending the Christmas period with their partner.
The results indicate a surprising bright spot amid the difficult times of the pandemic, particularly after the recent announcement about new Tier 4 restrictions and the reduction in days people are able to see their family and loved ones over the festive period.
The survey commissioned by the BPS also showed that 87% of people in a relationship said they have enjoyed the time they’ve spent with their partner since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK (March 2020), with 84% saying they have felt supported by their partner, and 79% saying they have felt emotionally connected.
The YouGov survey of 2,100 adults in the UK, undertaken prior to Saturday’s announcement on new Covid-19 restrictions over the festive period, reveals a surprisingly positive snapshot into relationships during the Covid-19 pandemic, and indicates that despite the unique challenges relationships have faced, many couples have been able to weather the storm together.
Perhaps less surprisingly, the results show that single people looking for a relationship during the pandemic have struggled, with 79% saying they hadn’t found it easy to meet new people since lockdown started, and 90% saying they had experienced loneliness.
The survey also found that, among those in a relationship, more than one quarter (27%) said they have experienced feelings of loneliness in their relationship with their partner since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK, and just over half (53%) said they had felt sexually connected with their partner.
The BPS has published new guidance to help those in relationships and single people to cope with the effects of lockdowns and restrictions on personal, intimate and sexual relationships, including tips and advice for people who are in a relationship, or actively seeking new connections.
Dr Sarah Rutter, BPS chartered clinical psychologist and lead author of the guidance said: “It’s genuinely heart-warming to see how connected and supported by their partners people have felt as they’ve faced the challenges of the pandemic together.
“During times of difficulty, it’s not uncommon to learn new things about ourselves or a partner, or see hidden strengths come to the fore. The pandemic may have presented us with an opportunity to slow down and take the time to think about the relationships that are most important to us.
“At this time of year it’s common for us to see advice about how to ‘survive’ the festive period as a couple and navigate the occasional tensions of family get-togethers. This year the difference couldn’t be more stark, with intimate relationships really coming to the forefront of our personal support networks.
“Equally, there’s no doubt that it’s also been a very challenging time for people who are single and looking for new connections, whose love life may have felt ‘on hold’ since March. The new restrictions introduced yesterday will undoubtedly hit single people who are looking for a new relationship very hard.
“It’s hugely important to recognise that these survey results don’t give us the full picture and there is no doubt that some will have struggled with their relationships, particularly during a time of such change and stress. The festive period can be a strain on relationships in any year, and Christmas 2020 could be particularly challenging, with restrictions placing unique demands upon us.”
The findings of this survey offer a small snapshot of the UK’s relationship experiences since the start of the UK lockdown and victims of domestic abuse may have been suffering in silence.
It’s vital that people experiencing domestic abuse urgently receive the support they need.
If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. Alternatively, contact the helplines below:
Domestic abuse helplines
| Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge0808 200 0247www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk | Galop (for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people)0800 999 5428www.galop.org.uk |
| Live Fear Free helpline (Wales)0808 80 10 800www.livefearfree.gov.wales | Men’s Advice Line0808 801 0327www.mensadviceline.org.uk |
| Rape Crisis (England and Wales)0808 802 9999www.rapecrisis.org.uk | Respect phoneline0808 802 4040www.respectphoneline.org.uk |
| Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline0800 027 1234www.sdafmh.org.uk | Scottish Women’s Aid0131 226 6606www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk |
| Women’s Aid Federation (Northern Ireland)0800 917 1414www.womensaidni.org |
Hospital and care home visiting update
Keeping residents and patients safe over Christmas and New Year period.
Visiting arrangements for hospitals and care homes in Scotland will remain in place over the Christmas and New Year period, it has been confirmed.
For the general public, there will be UK-wide easing of restrictions on travel and gathering between 23 – 27 December.
However, in a joint-letter to NHS Boards, the interim Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and National Clinical Director clarified this would not apply to hospitals over the Christmas period, given the increased vulnerability of hospital patients compared to the general population.
Christmas and New Year guidance has also been published for the adult care home sector, recommending that indoor visiting should continue to be supported where it is safe to do so, as well as setting out specific safeguards that care homes can put in place to safely support festive activities.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “While most people will see a limited relaxation of existing restrictions over the holiday period, hospital and care home visiting guidance will remain in place to protect patients and residents.
“However, we are encouraging Boards and care homes to continue to apply this guidance with flexibility and compassion, given how important the Christmas and New Year period is for many families, to ensure no-one is unnecessarily isolated over the Christmas period. Essential visits should also continue regardless of local restrictions, as they have throughout the pandemic.
“In care homes this will be facilitated by testing of designated visitors, which will be rolled out to all care homes from Monday onwards. Testing is not required for visiting but it does add an additional layer of protection, and we will make PCR testing available for any care homes unable to make use of lateral flow tests before Christmas.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital visiting guidance
Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult care homes guidance
Visiting in care homes is subject to care homes being free of any COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days, actively participating in the care home testing programme and having visiting risk assessments approved by the local Director of Public Health.