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Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Good Practice Award for Partnerships

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Physical Wellbeing

Mental health can be defined as:

‘A state of physical, social and mental well being’ (Mentality, 2004)

Mind and body are inseparable and our physical health is very important for our overall sense of wellbeing. Our mental health can be affected by our physical health and vice versa and this is why it is vital that we take a holistic approach to recovery.

There are many ways we can all promote and protect our physical and mental health:

Diet

Eating regular and balanced meals is important for physical health. Eating well need not be too expensive. Information about healthy eating can be found at 'Weight Wise'. This site provides information and practical advice about how to monitor what you eat and how to eat healthily.

Also check out recent research linking food and mood at this site.

This document - Healthy Eating and Depression - is also a valuable source of information about diet and its effects on mental health.

Exercise

Exercising regularly has a huge impact on physical health. Not many people know however, that exercise can also benefit your mental health:

• Exercise boosts the release of endorphins in your brain promoting feelings of well being and reducing stress
• The effect of exercise on our mood is instant
• Exercise is fun and provides a diversion from negative thinking
• Exercise provides an important source of social contact and is an easy way to meet new friends
• Exercise can promote a good nights sleep
• Exercising can be free!

The Mental Health Foundation also produces this helpful guide.

In addition, complementary therapies also have ideas which some might wish to investigate.

In both Cambridge and Peterborough there are a range of opportunities for physical activity.

Cambridge  |  Peterborough  |  Huntingdon

There are many aspects of physical wellbeing that are general to the whole of Cambridgeshire.

Alcohol

Drink Sense
We operate a walk-in service where you can call in and see us without making an appointment. Please contact the office to find out when this service is available. We are currently unable to accept referrals via e-mail, or to enter into a dialogue on e-mail.

Smoking

If you are interested in stopping smoking there is expert help locally at
Camquit - the Cambridgeshire Stop Smoking Service. They are at The Mill House, Brookfield 's Hospital, 351 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3DF, (0800 018 4304 option 3); The Oak Tree Centre, Oak Drive, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 7HN (0800 018 4304 Option 4) and Unit 16 E Space North, 181 Wisbech Road, Littleport, Cambs, CB6 1RA (0800 018 4304 Option 2) and also we have an extended hours service on 0800 018 4304 Option 1.

Drugs

Talk To Frank
Website: www.talktofrank.com
Telephone : 0800 77 66 00 (24hrs)
Textphone: 0800 917 8765
Offers advice and information about drugs. You can call 24 hrs a day, every day - calls from landlines are free and will not show up on your phone bill.

Addaction
Mill House
Brookfields Hospital Site
351 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 3DF
Telephone: 01223 723020
Email: a.whitton@addaction.org.uk
Website: www.addaction.org.uk
The service offers a range of support services for adults with substance misuse issues, including advice and information, needle exchange, open access services (including complementary therapies), prescribing services, group work, counselling support and one-to-one dedicated key work support.

Sleep

When we are worried, stressed or even elated our sleep can be affected. Being deprived of sleep can have a negative impact on our wellbeing and hence our ability to function in everyday life.

MIND - promoting rest and sleep

Health Checks

If you are a service user of Cambridge & Peterborough Foundation NHS Trust then you will receive a Physical Health Assessment on admission or will be supported in accessing suitable health checks via your GP or other primary care or community based services. The Trust promote the use of the Rethink Physical Health Check, a tool designed to help you identify any physical health needs that you might have, see the following link.

The Trust promote the use of the Rethink Physical Health Check, a tool designed to help you identify any physical health needs that you might have, see the following links - Rethink document and CPMHT Guidelines.

If you are a mental health practitioner and need guidance on supporting people with their physical health needs see the following link.

Medication
Medication can be a vital part of treatment for many people with mental health problems. If taken regularly medication can work well, often in conjunction with other therapies, to help people live the kinds of lives that they want to lead. Unfortunately many medicines for mental health problems have side effects that can affect people’s lives and so it is important that people are fully informed and educated about their medication so that they can manage their own medicines and find the ones that are best for them.

Find more information here in this document, from Fulbourn Hospital Pharmacy Department, provides some questions you might want to ask to make sure that you are fully informed about your medication.

The following website - Choice and Medication - offering information about medications used in the mental health setting to help people make informed decisions about treatment. Launched in 2008 the website is the result of a successful collaboration between the United Kingdom Psychiatric Pharmacy Group (UKPPG), the Pharmaceutical Schizophrenia Initiative (PSI) and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE).

For further information on psychiatric medication click on the following links:

Coming Off Psychiatric Meds
Department of Health Publications

Other Helpful Links

Mental Health Foundation

MIND - Food and Mood

MIND - Physical Activity

Last revised 16 June 2009

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