Domestic abuse service – IN AN EMERGENCY, CALL THE POLICE ON 999. IF YOU CAN’T SPEAK, LISTEN TO THE QUESTION AND THEN TAP OR COUGH TO ANSWER. PRESS 55 TO SIGNAL AN EMERGENCY.
Somerset County Council’s domestic abuse service has supported a record number of young people seeking support during 2022/23.
Proportionately young people experience the highest rates of domestic abuse of any age group. For many, experiences of domestic abuse begin in their childhood home. It is estimated that 1 in 5 children are exposed to domestic abuse. This means that for many young people, their experience of domestic abuse does not begin in their own relationships, but in the childhood home when witnessing adult relatives in abusive relationships.
Young people experiencing relationships that cause them to feel scared, controlled or who are being harmed can find local, non-judgemental help and support by contacting SIDAS on 0800 69 49 999 or online at www.somersetsurvivors.org.uk.
Young people in abusive relationships often experience partners who:
· Constantly check their phone and/or emails without permission
· Put them down in front of others or to their face
· Try to stop them seeing family and friends
· Have mood swings and explosive temper
· Are Possessive or is extremely jealous
· Makes false accusations
· Asks them to take part in ‘sexting’
· Makes them have sex without consent
· Makes them watch pornography or films them having sex
· Tells them what they can/can’t wear, where they can/can’t go
· Physically hurts them in any way
· Tells them they will hurt themselves/someone else if they don’t do something
Any relationship that does not make someone feel good is an unhealthy relationship.
For young people demonstrating harmful behaviour, and for those they are harming, help and support is available – visit www.somersetsurvivors.org.uk or call 0800 69 49 999 to know more.
Healthy Somerset: A new website has been launched by Public Health to help people in Somerset lead a healthier life www.healthysomerset.co.uk –features health and wellbeing resources tailored to all age ranges – making it even easier for users to find the information and support they are looking for.
Take the Pressure Off: Over half of all strokes and heart attacks in Somerset are caused by high blood pressure. The “Take the Pressure Off” campaign is designed to encourage residents, particularly those aged 40+, to regularly check their blood pressure and take necessary steps towards managing their health. Residents are also encouraged to borrow a free blood pressure monitor from their library to test their own blood pressure in the comfort of their home, or visit their local pharmacy for a quick and easy check.
Volunteer to be an Independent Visitor or Advocate for children in Somerset – What is an Independent Visitor?
Independent Visitors are volunteers who befriend and spend time with a child or young person who is in the care of the Local Authority. By law all local authorities have to provide an Independent Visitor service. More information can be found Route1 information
WHO CARES FOR CARERS??? Carers A5 Poster 2022
SOMERSET HEALTH AND WELLBEING ADVISORY NETWORK UPDATE
· Somerset Mindline’s helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is for anyone of any age in Somerset who is experiencing mental distress or wanting emotional support. Call 01823 276 892 or 0800 138 1692.
· The Somerset Suicide Bereavement Support Service is available for anyone who has been bereaved or affected by suicide. Call 0300 330 5463.
· The Farming Community Network is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times. Visit www.fcn.org.uk, or call 01934 712128.
· The Samaritans are available to listen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call free on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.
SOMERSET SIGHT (Posted June 2022)- Somerset Sight is a local charity that has been supporting sight impaired people across Somerset for over a hundred years and in 2019 proudly won the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. One of our services is the Volunteer Visiting Service whereby volunteers are matched locally with a sight impaired person for regular visits for company and support and to alleviate their loneliness and isolation. Volunteers help with a variety of tasks such as reading, correspondence, or making appointments, going out for a drive or just a cup of tea and a chat. Many volunteers get great satisfaction and enjoyment from their voluntary work, many friendships are formed and the people they support very much look forward to their visits, some telling us that it is the highlight of their week. Now that we have come out of lockdown, we have many lonely people on our books who would welcome a volunteer visitor, but unfortunately we don’t have enough volunteers to match everyone.
For more information – SOMERSET SIGHT POSTER
- MINDLINE now has a live Live Web Chat is available every day from 8pm-11pm or email
support@openmentalhealth.org.uk for further advice and support. - Open Mental health have launched their website. Here is a link. Please share, add to directories and circulate Somerset’s Mental Health Alliance – Open Mental Health.
- At the heart of our approach to suicide prevention is the belief that suicide is everybody’s business and we all can have a part to play in suicide prevention. After the last two years we know there has been a rising concern regarding suicide and we hope these courses will help build competence and confidence in addressing these concerns. Please follow the link here for full details Every Life Matters – Somerset Events | Eventbrite. New course dates for June onwards will be going up soon so please keep checking the site.
- The national website Every Mind Matters is continually updating and adding new sections. There is an excellent section on coronavirus and wellbeing. Please share, add to websites and encourage people to use as a self-care option.
- R;pple is a new free interactive tool designed to present a visual prompt when a person searches for harmful keywords or phrases relating to the topic of self-harm or suicides. It will intercept and provide the person with ideas for help and support. Please have a look at the website and download the tool. Somerset Library service have installed onto all public facing computers. R;pple Suicide Prevention (ripplesuicideprevention.com)