Here at TOG Mind we are adapting and working hard to ensure we can keep as much support available as possible during this difficult time.
Whilst we continue to work with our staff and volunteers to ensure this, we have produced a short but thorough resource and support pack to help anyone with their overall wellbeing.
It’s packed full of useful information and links for both local and national information. We hope you find it useful and please do share across your network.
If the above element won't show, click here to view the resource poster.
Accessing our support has changed a little since we are not able to see children, young people and their families face-to-face at this time. The Hive,Take 5 and Families In Mind staff are working hard to make sure that a version of the ‘drop in’ and family assessments are still available to those who may need help and support now more than ever.
All ’drop ins’ and family assessments will now be telephone appointments, but that will be the only difference. Practitioners will ensure that the same level of support and confidentiality is upheld, and will ensure that the same quality of service is delivered.
To access a telephone ‘drop in’ for The Hive (Tameside) - Call: 0161 330 9223 - Email: thehive [at] togmind.org
To access a telephone ‘drop in’ for Take5 (Oldham) - Call: 0161 330 9223 - Email: take5 [at] togmind.org
To access a family assessment for Families In Mind - Call:0161 330 9223 - Email: office [at] togmind.org
The type of support we are currently offering:
- Telephone Emotional Wellbeing Check
- Telephone Initial Assessment ‘drop in’- including further referrals or signposting
- Telephone or Online Early Intervention Support (facilitated Self-Help Model)
- Telephone or Online Counselling
(Current providing support through telephone and are looking to develop towards web-based support to begin in the coming weeks)
We are currently operating on the following days and times:
- Monday– Thursday 11am-8pm
- Friday 10am-5pm
You can discuss the best time for your appointment with your worker.
View the poster:
As we are sure you are all aware, everyone is currently facing uncertainty, linked to the international outbreak of the Corona Virus (COVID-19).
Our Senior Leadership Team are closely monitoring all updates and recommendations. Based on current advice, we are aiming to maintain a ‘business as usual’ approach but as the situation is evolving, we will communicate any further updates. We are committed to looking after the wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and of course all those accessing our support and services.
To minimise the risks, reduce large gatherings and to manage capacity within our teams, we have made the following decisions relating to our service provisions effective immediately.
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All open access drop in/assessment sessions for children and young people will stop.
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Booked appointments will continue and can be arranged by contacting us on: 0161 330 9223 or via: office [at] togmind.org.
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The majority of our group training / workshops / courses will be cancelled / postponed. Attendees will be notified.
We will be making contact with all those accessing our 1-1 services prior to appointments to ensure it is appropriate to attend.
If you are accessing our services and are concerned about attending your appointments due to any risk of infection, please do contact us through 0161 330 9223 and discuss your concerns as we may be able to offer support through telephone if face to face appointments are not an option at the time. We appreciate this is a difficult time for everyone and supporting our local communities through this is the priority for us. We will continue to review our services and will be looking at plans to maintain the support we provide through alternative means as further guidance is released.
For guidance around COVID-19 and some ideas and suggestions to support your mental wellbeing over these coming weeks, you may find the following useful:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
Get outdoors and grow with TOG Mind’s eco therapy.
Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind are launching exciting seasonal activities to help people improve wellbeing and connect with others. Tameside residents will be able to grow fruit and vegetables in a supportive and friendly weekly group on a community garden space in Hyde.
Rebecca Stambridge, Wellbeing Projects Manager said: “Our sessions are inspired by the 5 ways to wellbeing and we are passionate about the benefits that eco therapy can bring. There is strong evidence that spending just 2 hours each week in nature can bring real benefits to wellbeing so its great for people struggling with their mental health. Connecting with others and learning new skills is also proven to improve mood and the activities will naturally help you slow down and notice more. Great for managing stress!”.
The eco therapy sessions are part of a wider “connect in the community” project which includes canal boat trips, walks and talks and other creative wellbeing sessions. Its funded by the community safety department of Tameside Borough Council to increase community cohesion. If you are interested in talking part please call 0161 330 9223.
Would you like to improve your wellbeing and connect with others? Come along to our new Connect in the Community service to try a range of wellbeing activities in a supportive and friendly group. Meet new people and try something new!
If you're interested in learning more about this service and taking part, then please get in touch on 0161 330 9223.
Our Children and Young People's services are going through a lot of exciting changes at the moment! One of big changes is that our service is now called Take 5!
Another important change is that we're temporarily moving to a new building to host our services. If you wish to access our Oldham services from Monday 9th March then please visit us at:
Falcon Business Centre, 10 Victoria Street, Chadderton, Oldham. OL9 0HB.
Some of our Adult services will also be here for the time being prior to the exciting grand opening of our new offices, counselling, and training rooms based in the centre of Oldham!
Please see our poster for more information.
A Stalybridge school has been recognised for its work supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its pupils, staff and parents. Silver Springs Academy received the nationally recognised AcSEED award at a special assembly by Tameside, Oldham and Glossop (TOG) Mind.
The school was supported in its work towards the accreditation by Tameside Council’s Population Health team and TOG Mind. To achieve the accreditation staff at Silver Springs fine-tuned their approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing which has been established over the years. This includes working in partnership with Intraquest so the organisation can provide a play therapist and professional supervision. Intraquest has also supported the school by providing staff with training in attachment theory, self-harm, therapeutic play and other sessions.
Silver Springs has designated ‘talking points’ where children can talk through their problems, calm down and speak with a member of staff. The school’s tiered approach to mental health support includes school-wide advice, sessions for groups and therapy sessions for individual students. Working in such a way means that it is essential that staff are equally well supported. The school is planning to create a wellbeing centre where they can extend the work they do with both children and families. Along with the principals of the other schools in the Great Academies Education Trust, Silver Springs is working on a trust-wide staff wellbeing policy.
D Mason, principal of Silver Springs Academy, said:
“We believed that in applying for the award it would help us identify strengths we can build on as well as any areas for further improvement. The benefits to children are huge as they receive the right support at the right time, for which parents are always grateful."
Cllr Eleanor Wills, Tameside Council Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Population Health, said:
“It’s fantastic to see that thanks to their mental health and wellbeing support, the children’s relationships with their teachers and peers has really benefitted. Their parents or carers will be seeing this at home in terms of their child’s behaviour and self-esteem. In receiving the AcSEED award Silver Springs Academy is showing its commitment to supporting its pupils, teachers and parents.”
Silver Springs Academy website.
Here's the latest edition of the TOG Mind Wellbeing Column!
This edition is for the months of February and March 2020!
This edition talks about many of the opportunities we have going on at the moment, such as the Buddy Project, our Winter Wellbeing Project, and our weekly Wellbeing Sessions!
If your browser is unable to display the above file, please click here.
Do you find it difficult over these cold winter months? Would you benefit from some extra support or signposting?
Visit our Topaz Café to get rapid access to mental health support and a FREE hot drink and a snack as part of our winter wellbeing project.
View our leaflet for this project below:
Time to Talk Day launched in 2007 and takes place on the first Thursday in February each year to get as many people as possible to talk about mental health.
Talking about mental health normalises it and makes it easier for people to ask for help. The stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health is broken down the more we talk openly about it, this in turn can make it easier for those struggling in silence to open up and feel confident about themselves. Time to Change
Be Well Tameside will also be here on the day offering free health checks from 2pm.
View our poster below for the full details:
