January can be a difficult time for many of us with the festivities over and the realities of life sinking back in.  

As the cost of living continues to rise, it is important to look after your mental health as well as making practical decisions about your finances. You shouldn't feel embarrassed to talk about mental health or to ask for help when you need it, there is a wide range of support available. 

Read on to find out about looking after your mental health, financial support, and tips and advice for saving energy and reducing your bills. You can also visit our cost of living support page for more information. 

Beat the Blue Monday blues 

Today is what is known as ‘Blue Monday’ widely regarded as the most depressing day of the year, with post-Christmas blues, cold dark nights and the arrival of bills, for many of us before January’s payday. But you don’t have to be blue! 

There’s also lots of support and advice available if you are struggling, visit our website to find out more about mental health support. 

London is celebrating its second Great Mental Health Day on 27 January. The idea for this day is to get Londoners talking about mental health, destigmatise asking for help and to raise awareness of the support available.

There are lots of interesting free events happening on the day throughout the borough from guided walks around Gillespie and Cally parks to a mindfulness session at the Ecology Centre. You can read the IslingtonLife blog for details of mental health events happening on the day as well as weekly activities throughout the year.

It’s time to talk about mental health 

Opening up about the struggles we face can be difficult and perhaps even more so with mental health issues. Good mental wellbeing is fundamental to our physical health, our relationships, our sense of purpose, our ability to get through the normal stress of day-to-day life and to be able to cope when things change.  

That is why it’s so important to talk about mental health and encourage others to do the same. Thursday 2 February is Mind’s Time to Talk Day which is the nation's biggest conversation around mental health.

Supporting children's mental health 

As adults, we understand the challenges we are facing with the rising cost of bills. We know that children pick up on a lot of things and are likely to be being affected by the strain too. It is therefore more important than ever to check in with young people and children and provide a space for them to speak openly about their thoughts and feelings and help them look after their mental wellbeing. 

Children’s Mental Health week (6-12 February) is a great opportunity to start a conversation and connect with young people. Visit the website to find out how you can get involved. 

Helping others can improve your mental health 

Helping other people is a great way to boost your mood and now more than ever it is important to help each other. Over the past year, reliance on food banks has increased, but donations of food haven’t. If you are able to donate food via your local supermarket or food bank your donation will be appreciated. If you could give your time by volunteering that’s also a great help. Your support will make a real difference.  

Struggling to pay your rent?  

If you are finding it difficult to pay your rent, help is available. Don’t risk losing your home, please seek help straightway. If you are a council tenant, get in touch with one of our friendly advisors by calling 020 7527 5300. They will offer support and guidance and talk you through your options. If you are renting your home from a social or private landlord, get in touch with the Islington Law Centre.

Visit the debt-free bus for free money advice 

London’s cost of living advice bus will be touring Islington next week, offering free help and support to those who need it. 

Free ‘face-to-face' expert advice will be available from the Debt Buster bus from 10am to 4pm on:  

• Monday 23 January at Caxton House Community Centre, N19 3RQ  
• Wednesday 25 January at Mildmay Community Centre, N16 8NA 
• Thursday 26 January at Andover Estate Community Centre, N7 7RN 
• Friday 27 January at Andover Estate Community Centre, N7 7RN   

We’re cutting council tax by 95% for lowest income households 

Council tax bills will be cut by 95% for an estimated 18,000 low-income, working-age households in Islington next year. Our Council Tax Support Scheme is one of the most supportive in the country and is an important part of our safety net to support low-income households, particularly as the cost of living crisis deepens.

Sign up with the Priority Services Register if you are eligible  

The Priority Services Register is a free support service that makes sure extra help is available to people in vulnerable situations. This can include ensuring electricity is still running in the event of a blackout. 

You are eligible if you: 

• have reached state pension age 
• are disabled or have a long-term medical condition 
• are recovering from an injury 
• have a hearing or sight condition 
• have a mental health condition 
• are pregnant or have young children 

Call 0808 223 1133 or visit the Ofgem website to see if you or someone you know is eligible and find out how to register. 

Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers worth £400 

Do you have an electricity pre-payment meter? Check your post to see if you have been receiving monthly Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) vouchers of up to £67 between October 2022 and March 2023. 

These vouchers are issued monthly and only last for three months before they expire, so make sure to claim them in order to receive them. If you have not received the months vouchers by the end of that month, you can contact your energy company. 

Anyone on a credit meter will have received the EBSS money automatically on their electricity bill or in some cases, directly into their bank accounts. You can visit the Government website to find out more. 

Reduce your energy consumption and save money 

With costs rising, here are a few tips and tools to help cut costs or keep them to a minimum. Even if you're feeling financially OK at the moment, small habits can help to save money in the future. 

• Switching appliances off standby when not in use could save you up to £65 a year.
• Visit one of the many warm community spaces open across the borough during the day to save on your energy bills.
• Make use of your local library. Did you know that all of Islington's libraries are free to join and have free public computers, Wi-Fi and internet access. 
• Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need, which can save you up to £15 a year.
• Save up to £71 a year by air-drying your laundry rather than tumble drying it, particularly if the weather is warm or windy. 
• Turn taps off when brushing teeth, shaving or washing your face. Running taps waste more than six litres a minute and can save you up to £71 a year. 

If you need energy advice or have energy related queries, contact the Seasonal Health Intervention Network (SHINE) team via email or call 0300 555 0195. 

Change your boiler settings and reduce your gas bill 

The social change charity Nesta is campaigning to help people save cash by changing a single setting on their combi boiler. The average household could currently save around £112 per year on their heating bill by lowering their boiler flow temperature.

You can find out more or join the campaign by visiting the website.