April marks Stress Awareness Month, an important date in the Touchstone Calendar!

Stress can impact us all in different ways – and we all need different things to help us through it. Whatever level or kind of stress you’re experiencing, whether you’re looking for a group to help boost your mood or same-day support for when you’re struggling to cope, Touchstone is here for you. All of our support is tailored to meet your needs and we have lots of different options you can consider. Read on to find out more about the support we offer around helping you to cope with stress:*

* All support services listed below accept self-referrals – if you think the service could support you, please get in touch using the details below.

  1. Wellbeing Groups

Joining a wellbeing group can be a really helpful way to boost your mood and reduce stress. Touchstone offers wellbeing groups through a range of our services, including:

Being You Leeds – Our Being You Leeds team runs a range of groups and activities, from crafting to journaling, snooker to singing. The groups are designed to help you explore relaxing new hobbies, connect with other local people, and take care of your wellbeing.

Our Being You Leeds team also offer training and volunteering opportunities to help communities better understand their mental health and break down stigma surrounding it.

Find out more about their groups and other opportunities here: https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/being-you-leeds/.

Better Together – Our Better Together team works within the heart of Lincoln Green to support the local community. They provide community groups and activities to help address health inequalities, reduce isolation, and improve physical health and wellbeing.

All Touchstone’s Better Together activities are developed with our Service Users, listening to what they want, where and when.

Find out more about their groups on our website: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/community-development/better-together/. 

  1. Nature Walks

Being outdoors is proven to help boost our mood and help ease stress. There are lots of ways you can get outside into nature, including by joining local walking groups.

Touchstone is part of the city-wide Walk It, Ride It project, which runs walking groups across Leeds. The groups are designed to help you connect with other local people and explore new places in mindful ways. You don’t have to be an expert walker to get involved. Our walks are designed to be comfortable and accessible for people from all walks of life!

Find out more about the project and how you can get involved here: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/active-travel-projects/.

You can also contact our project lead Joe to find out more by:

  1. Workshops and Classes to help you better understand and cope with Stress and Low Mood

Sometimes we could all do with a little extra support to understand our mental health and learn some key tools to help reduce our stress levels.

Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS) runs helpful, free workshops and classes to help you understand and cope with stress, and other common mental health and wellbeing issues.  Here are just some of the classes the service offers:

Find out more about the classes on offer and sign up here: https://leedsmentalwellbeingservice.co.uk/group-classes/.

  1. Opportunities to connect with peers in your community

Stress can get worse when we feel isolated or alone. At Touchstone, our services offer a range of support and groups designed to connect you with others who may have shared backgrounds and experiences.

Here are just some of our specialist support services that can help you connect with peers and feel less alone during times of stress:

  • Our Sikh Elders Service supports elders in the community aged 55+ to get active, connect with others, and stay well. They run a range of activities, groups and trips to support Sikh Elders across Leeds.
  • Our BME Dementia Service offers support for people from BME communities with dementia, Alzheimer’s or memory loss, and their carers. They run a range of groups and activities, including a peer support group for carers, as well as awareness-raising sessions in communities across Leeds.
  • Our Men’s Health Unlocked service supports men with their mental health and wellbeing through a wide range of tailored activities, support, and awareness-raising sessions across Leeds.
  1. Get same day support if you are experiencing high levels of stress.

We can all have times of high stress when everything feels like too much. If you are struggling to cope, our Here For You team are here every night of the week with same-day support in a safe, confidential, and free space. They have safe spaces across Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Find out more about their opening hours and how you can refer yourself for support on our website: touchstonesupport.org.uk/here-for-you/.

If you need support with your mental health this Stress Awareness Month – or any time of the year – please remember you are never alone and there is always support out there. To find out more about our support, please visit: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/.