Why it's important to remember you're not alone during coronavirus lockdown

Every day we are bombarded by grim death figures, each day seemingly taking more lives than the last.

The freedoms we are so used to having are being restricted unlike anything the vast majority of us have ever experienced.

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We are told not to visit friends and family, to leave our homes only when absolutely necessary and are allowed to exercise outside just once a day.

Quite frankly the new world we have suddenly found ourselves in is a frightening and lonely place.

But you must remember, we, the people of St Helens and its many communities are in this together.

“This is an anxious time for everybody right now,” said Cllr Anthony Burns, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for public health, leisure and libraries.

“While many of us are cut off from face-to-face human contact, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone and help and support is out there if you’re struggling with your mental health or just want someone to talk to.

“Self-isolating can lead to boredom, frustration and loneliness which obviously have a negative impact on our mental health.

“To help combat this, a number of our services – including libraries and leisure – have found ways to keep residents’ mental health and physical health intact over the coming weeks, such as digital reading material and free daily workout videos on social media, which I’d encourage residents to try out.”

Cllr Anthony Burns, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for public health, leisure and libraries

Suicide and mental health has been a particular focus in St Helens for quite some time.

In 2018, St Helens made headlines for all the wrong reasons when it was revealed to have the highest suicide rate in England and Wales.

Most of the people who took their lives that year were men and the vast majority were unemployed.

Since then, the number of suicides and the rate have reduced but it is imperative that support is there for anyone struggling to adapt to the scary, often isolating new world they find themselves in.

The council’s ‘OK to Ask’ campaign, which was launched last year with the aim of breaking down the stigma of talking about suicide, will continue to run throughout the pandemic.

The core message of the campaign is to call on the community to ask someone going through a difficult period in their lives, “are you thinking about suicide?”.

“We should all feel as comfortable talking about our mental health as we would about our physical health,” Cllr Burns said.

“Being open and honest about how we feel encourages us all to check in with ourselves and make us think about how we are dealing with the demands of life – no matter how difficult a situation we find ourselves in – as well as encouraging others to do the same.

“As part of our OK to Ask campaign, Offload – an award-winning project run by Rugby League Cares – is posting daily hints and tips on staying mentally strong, as well as at least one live online mental fitness session a week, and messages from player around staying mentally fit and healthy during this challenging time.

“Check them out by following @Offload_RL on Twitter.

“We will get through this – and we’ll do it together.

"We are there for you.”

The OK TO ASK website has been developed in conjunction with people affected by suicide and is being constantly developed.

It recently drew praise from Tami Garvey-Jones, superintendent for St Helens, who said the OK TO ASK campaign is an “excellent tool” that she has shared internally with staff at Merseyside Police.

For more information about the OK TO ASK campaign, visit oktoaskcampaign.co.uk/

Where else can I turn to help during the coronavirus pandemic?

The Samaritans have promised to continue providing their free 24-hour helpline service during the coronavirus pandemic.

To speak to a volunteer, call 116 123 free from any phone.

The Samaritans has also compiled a wealth of information, resources and tips about how to cope during the coronavirus outbreak.

To find out more click here.

Childline are also continuing to run its helpline, although it is no longer operating overnight.

When you call Childline on 0800 1111 you’ll get through to a counsellor who will listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.

You can have a 1-2-1 counsellor chat online or email once you have registered an account.

For more information, click here.