Expert free support for anxiety, stress and emotional wellbeing in later life, from the NHS in Doncaster
Feeling a bit down in the dumps and unable to shake it off? Worrying more than usual? Free, confidential, friendly support from the NHS is just a phone call away.
There are times when all of us feel fed up, anxious, overwhelmed or just miserable. And most of us have heard the phrase ‘it’s good to talk’.
But the people behind Talking Therapies –run by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust – understand that recognising when a low mood might be more than just a blip, is only half the story. Picking up the phone to speak to someone can feel like a huge step.
Selina Khunkhuna, clinical lead at NHS RDaSH Talking Therapies, which supports people with depression and anxiety inDoncaster , said older adults – particularly over 65s, are among the most reluctant to seek help for many reasons – even believing they are ‘wasting resources’ or that there are ‘people worse off than them.’
Selina explained: “There’s a keep calm and carry on mentality, which stops them either recognising that they might be struggling or prevents them seeking help.”
Figures from Age UK estimate that 22% of men and 28% of women over the age of 65 struggle with depression, yet older adults make up only a small fraction of Talking Therapies patients.
Talking Therapies makes a difference
Talking Therapies figures show that adults aged 65 and over tend to have greater recovery rates than younger patients.
People like 74-year-old Eileen, from Doncaster, have discovered the benefits of the service.
She said: “My mood was swinging to and fro, and I had various health issues which I had seen my GP about. I hadn’t recognised that my problems, both mental and physical, were actually linked to anxiety.
“I would feel panicked about using the telephone, particularly when calling the doctors surgery. I would feel agitated and clammy. I also felt very anxious when travelling. I had lost my dear friend and had very little family left as a resource to talk with.”
When Talking Therapy was suggested Eileen was daunted. But once she took the plunge she didn’t look back, saying she felt at ease as soon as she met her clinician, Jaden Piggott.
“I was a little bit lost for words when I started my sessions, but Jaden guided me through. I knew it was all confidential, and I felt listened to, I felt heard.”
She still uses the practical techniques learned from her sessions now, and wants to help dispel the myths around mental health support.
To hear more from Eileen, click here to watch it on YouTube.
Isn’t this just part of life’s challenges?
Selina said: “It’s not something that is an inevitable part of getting older.”
Feeling fed up or overwhelmed can lead to genuine physical symptoms – and conversely having ongoing physical health issues can lead to a low mood. Either way, the confidential support offered across South Yorkshire can help.
If that ‘fed up’ feeling, or anxiety lasts more than a few weeks, then it’s definitely worth a call.
There doesn’t have to be a reason for feeling unhappy or tearful. You might find yourself worried about little things, obsessively checking things like the oven or that doors are locked, you may find yourself avoiding going out or having no interest in the people or the things you used to enjoy.
How can I speak to someone?
“It is really easy to get support. You don’t have to visit your GP first. You can just give us a call or fill in an online form. It’s free and completely confidential,” Selina explained. Someone will contact you within a week to assess the best kind of support for you.
The service can be in person at a local centre – either a health centre or community facility – or could be online on a video call. There are some group sessions offered if you prefer, but for most people it is a one-to-one conversation with a trained NHS therapist or counsellor.
For some this is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to give you ways of dealing with the thoughts, feelings and behaviours you’re experiencing. For others it may be counselling to help with the emotional side.
The service is not going to diagnose you with anything or prescribe any medication – it is listening without judgement and helping you to feel more like yourself again.
Get in touch
Doncaster residents over 16 can sign up for support themselves by completing an online self-referral form at rdash.nhs.uk/services/nhs-talking-therapies or by calling 03000 211 556.