Alcohol and Mental Health In times of stress, we may find ourselves drinking more often, or more heavily. For this reason Alcohol Change UK has developed a Coronavirus Information and Advice Hub. This includes tips to help us manage our drinking, links to support, and guidance for professionals. Alcohol and mental health are closely linked. Overuse of alcohol can lead to anxiety and low mood, it can also make the symptoms of other mental health problems worse. There are positive steps we can take however, as cutting down on alcohol, or taking a break from drinking can improve our mental health. Below we’ve brought together details of resources and support services, relating to alcohol and mental health. You might find these useful if: you’re keen to look after your mental and physical health you want to understand how to keep the risks from alcohol low you’ve been drinking more than usual and want to cut down you’re worried about someone else’s drinking you’re struggling with your own drinking and need support If you are worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, it’s important to seek advice and support. You might want to talk to your GP, or you could go directly to an alcohol support service, such as one of the services listed below. If you need help right now, click I need urgent help. Support services and resources Al-Anon Al-Anon offers support to families, friends and colleagues who are affected by someone else’s drinking. Support is provided through a free, confidential helpline, which is open every day. You can find details of local Al-Anon support groups on the website.Visit Al-Anon’s website Alcoholics Anonymous This organisation offers support 24/7, to people with drinking problems. Support is provided through a free, national helpline, by email and through live chat. On the website you can find details of AA meetings in your local area.Visit Alcoholics Anonymous’ website Alcohol Change UK This site is aimed at anyone who wants to find out more about alcohol and how it affects physical and mental health. The online resources include fact sheets which can be downloaded free and interactive tools. There are also details of support services if you’re worried about your own drinking habits, or if you’re concerned about a friend or family member. If you sign up you'll get access to free digital campaign resources. These include leaflets, posters, factsheets and social media images. Printed leaflets, posters and scratch cards can also be bought from Alcohol Change UK. Visit Alcohol Change UK's website Change, Grow, Live, Pathways to Recovery Change, Grow, Live (known locally as "Pathways to Recovery") is a free, confidential treatment service for adults in Warrington. The service offers information, advice and support to people affected by drug or alcohol misuse. Through the service people can access a range of treatments, tailored to their needs. These include assessment, referral and different medical and psychological treatments. For more information call 01925 415176, out of hours call 07919 558644 Visit CGL's webpage Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust This site has a range of clear, easy to read, self-help booklets, which are based on CBT. One of the booklets focuses on alcohol. The booklets are available in a variety of formats and can be downloaded free. There is also a free app for iPhone, iPad and Android, which allows you to access the full range of self-help booklets.Visit CNTW NHS Trust's website Footsteps for Families This service helps people to cope with a family member's drug or alcohol misuse. The support Footsteps can offer includes information, telephone help, drop–in sessions, one to one appointments, home visits, courses for family members and a parent support group. Footsteps also offers counselling sessions to anyone over the age of 11. The counselling is for people who have a family member with a drug or alcohol issue; and people who have been bereaved through drug or alcohol misuse. Visit Footsteps website Mind Mind’s website has information booklets and factsheets on different aspects of mental health. One of the booklets focuses on recreational drugs and alcohol. The booklets can be read online or bought from the site, many can also be downloaded free. Mind's Infoline and website provide information on a wide range of topics including different mental health problems, where to get help and the types of support and treatment available. Visit Mind's website The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACA) This charity offers information, advice and support to anyone who is concerned about a parent's drinking. There are different pages for children, young people and other people who are concerned. The charity runs a free, confidential helpline and also offers support via email. Visit NACA's website The NHS website This site provides easy to read information on a range of different health problems. It also has information and practical ideas to help you look after yourself. The alcohol support pages cover how you might feel, staying healthy and details of support services.Visit the NHS website Rethink Mental Illness This charity offers a range of free factsheets, focusing on different areas of mental health. The factsheet Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health can be downloaded from the site. This covers how using drugs or alcohol can affect your mental health. It also explains how you can get support. Royal College of Psychiatrists This website has clear, non-medical information, on many different aspects of mental health. The information is aimed at the general public. Several pages focus on alcohol and mental health. Click the links below for more details: COVID-19: Alcohol Alcohol and depression Alcohol and older people Alcohol Apps Try Dry: The Dry January app The Try Dry app is free to download for Apple or Android. It can help you to cut down on your drinking, or to go totally alcohol-free. The app allows you to track alcohol units, calories and money that you've saved. Try Dry can also help you to understand your drinking pattern. Visit Alcohol Change UK's website ORCHA This organisation helps people find the best apps to improve their health. ORCHA reviews and rates health, wellbeing, fitness and medical apps against certain standards. The review process involves checking each apps' performance in relation to data and security, clinical assurance and user experience. A number of the apps on ORCHA's site relate to alcohol and wellbeing. The website's design means that you can easily search for apps by topic, platform and cost. Visit ORCHA's app finder pages Mental wellbeing Looking after your mental wellbeingTwo other areas of this site have information about simple things you can do to build your resilience and feel more positive. These are outlined below: The COVID-19 and mental wellbeing page includes tips for coping with the restrictions and stresses that COVID has brought.The general mental wellbeing section includes evidence-based resources to help you look after your mental wellbeing. To find this information, click here then scroll down to the heading “Looking after our mental wellbeing”
