 Looking after your Mental Health this Christmas
The festive season can be a time of joy, but for many, it can also feel overwhelming or isolating. If Christmas feels challenging, you’re not alone. It’s important to prioritise your mental health and reach out for support when you need it.
Why mental health matters during the holidays Christmas often brings extra pressures—financial worries, family expectations, or feelings of loneliness. These can impact your wellbeing, so taking steps to care for yourself is essential. Simple things like setting realistic expectations, taking breaks, and staying connected with supportive people can make a big difference.
Support is available If you’re struggling, there are services ready to help:
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NHS 111 Mental Health Triage Team 24/7 mental health support for all ages across Hampshire. Visit https://111.nhs.uk or call 111.
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Portsmouth Mental Health Hub A dedicated phoneline for anyone aged 16+ who’s unsure where to turn. You can call for yourself, a loved one, or someone you work with. 📞 0300 123 6621 💬 Chat online: https://www.mentalhealthinportsmouth.co.uk Opening times: • Monday to Friday: 8am – 6pm • Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day
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24/7 Mental Health Support • Samaritans: Call 116 123 (free, confidential, 24/7) • NHS 111: Dial 111 or go online for health and mental health advice • Shout Crisis Text Line: Text SHOUT to 85258 for immediate support
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Adult Social Care (including Safeguarding): 📞 023 9268 0810 (available out-of-hours)
If you need emergency help immediately, call 999.
Remember: Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Whether you need someone to talk to or professional guidance, support is just a call or click away.
Your Break, Your Way – Update
Thank you for sharing your ideas and helping us shape carers’ services that truly reflect your needs. Here’s how your feedback is making a real difference:
Our Journey So Far
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Stage One: We listened to what matters most to you about our current services.
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Stage Two: Guided by your views, we explored new ways to enhance our offer and make the best use of our resources.
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Stage Three: We’re now developing and trialling new approaches - working closely with carers and community organisations every step of the way.
What You Told Us – What We Did
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You wanted more variety in Carers Breaks: We’ve teamed up with Portsmouth City College, BH Live, and the British Red Cross to offer a wider range of activities and information sessions.
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You asked for better communication: We are supporting a carer-led Facebook group for parent carers (special thanks to Helen!) and have held our first co-production meeting to improve our website and online communications.
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You wanted a simpler booking process: We’re collaborating with our Digital Customer Experience team and will invite carers to help shape this next year.
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You needed more flexible respite options: We’re improving agreements with care agencies and working with services like The Royal Albert Day Centre and Shared Lives to develop new alternatives.
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You’re trialling new community break options: Carers are providing feedback on initiatives like the Porchester Dementia Hub.
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You wanted better value from the Carers Break Fund Card: Carers are now trialling Click Learning with Flourish Rewards and Carefree hotel breaks to get the best value breaks for carers.
Thank you for your ideas and support - together, we’re making a real difference!
What’s Next?
From January to March next year, we’ll review your feedback and experiences from the trials to choose the best ways to enhance our Carers Breaks offer - so you can enjoy “Your Break, Your Way”.
If you would like to share your recommendations for any local activities of services which you have enjoyed when you have a break from caring, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Gina on 02392 851864 or by email at gina.mula@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
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