A new mental health support resource pack has been produced by the local NHS for Leicester residents who are facing extended self-isolating or shielding periods due to coronavirus.

The pack includes self-care advice and sources of emotional wellbeing support available to those affected by the government’s recent advice for vulnerable people to continue to shield until 17 August if they live within Leicester City.

Due to levels of coronavirus, the government advice is that if you live within Leicester City and are clinically extremely vulnerable, you should continue to shield. If you are affected by this announcement you will have received a letter and possibly a text from the NHS about the new advice on shielding.

The new downloadable leaflet is also useful for people who are self-isolating or anyone who feels vulnerable or anxious as a result of the pandemic.  It includes advice on eating well, staying hydrated, keeping busy, taking care of your environment and connecting with others. The leaflet is also being translated for non-English speaking members of our community into: Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Romanian and Polish.

It also provides details of helplines, websites and text messaging support services for people with emotional wellbeing needs, including Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s 24-hour Central Access Point 0116 295 3060 which provides urgent mental health advice and support for people of all ages, and the free 24-hour Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland mental health crisis line for adults,0808 800 3302 which is provided for LPT by Turning Point.

Avinash Hiremath, medical director at LPT said:

“We know that the extension of shielding could potentially cause anxiety and negatively impact the mental health of vulnerable people in our community who have as of now been shielding for four months. Our message to those people and anyone else who feels vulnerable or isolated is that help is there if you need it and please don’t hesitate to reach out. ”

More information about local shielding guidance can be found on the council websites:

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NOTES TO EDITORS

  • Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We have a budget in excess of £275 million and employ approximately 5,500 staff. For more information visit: leicspart.nhs.uk. Our registered charity is called Raising Health (charity number 1057361). The charity fundraises to support excellent care initiatives, equipment and innovations which go above and beyond core NHS provision to enhance the experience of our patients, service users and staff. See www.raisinghealth.org.uk

For further information contact: Kartik Bhalla, External Communications Officer,  Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Email: Kartik.Bhalla@leicspart.nhs.uk and communications@leicspart.nhs.uk