This page provides details of websites that you may find useful. Some of them are well known like NHS Direct, The Samaritans and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). In this and future quarterly magazines we will give a few more details on what some of the other website’s are all about.
In this magazine we will look at:

www.firstsigns.org.uk First Signs is the user-led voluntary organisation, founded by Wedge in 2002, to raise awareness about self-injury and give support to those who rely on self-injury as a coping mechanism. We provide a safe, friendly support forum, ideas for distraction techniques and healthier alternatives; as well as practical advice such as how to ask for help. Our services extend to guidance for friends, family, teachers and carers, including fact sheets to download. There is also a specific Professional Section with a variety of resources and articles. Beyond our website there is a vibrant online community, regularly updated blog and mobile site for when you are on the move.

www.nopanic.org.uk - No Panic is a totally voluntary charity, whose aims are to aid the relief and the rehabilitation of those people suffering Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsory Disorders, other related Anxiety Disorders, including Tranquilliser Withdrawal, and to provide support to sufferers and their families and or cares. They do this by offering daytime & night time help lines manned by trained volunteers, help provide personal phone-friends and pen-pals. They provide written recovery programmes and so much more.

www.downyourdrink.org.uk– This site is designed to help you work out whether you are drinking too much, and if so what you can do about it. Most of us drink. Some of us drink more regularly than others. But how often is too often? And how much is too much? The fact is alcohol affects us in different ways. What is manageable for some people can be a problem for others. Drinking regularly may not mean you have a serious problem. It may only take a small change to make a big difference.

www.livinglifetothefull.com– This site has been written by a Psychiatrist who has many years experience using the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approach, also using these skills in everyday life. CBT is an evidence based and structured form of psychotherapy that aims to alter unhelpful thinking that occur during times of distress. The Living Life to the Full course is a life skills course that aims to provide access to high quality, practical and user-friendly training in life skills. The course covers: Understanding why we feel like we do. Helpful & Unhelpful behaviours. Using Medication effectively. Changing Unhelpful thoughts. Healthy Living and many more.