Freethorpe: a Mindful Village
As part of the district-wide Mindful Towns and Villages initiative, Freethorpe has achieved Mindful Village status.
Local volunteers have completed mental health awareness training so that they can:
have supportive conversations about mental wellbeing;
recognise when someone may be struggling; and
signpost people to appropriate services.
As one of Freethorpe’s Community Wellbeing Champions, I can offer a listening ear and help neighbours and others connected with the village find suitable support.
The initiative aims to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage a safe, open and supportive community. By noticing possible signs that someone is struggling and starting a compassionate conversation, we may be able to help them access support earlier.
Wellbeing Champions provide informal support and signposting; they are not a clinical or emergency service.
Community Connectors and the Help Hub
Community Connectors work from many GP surgeries across Broadland and South Norfolk. They provide social prescribing: practical, non-medical support for social, emotional or everyday difficulties that may be affecting someone’s health and wellbeing.
They may be able to help with:
money worries, debt and benefits;
housing and household support;
domestic abuse;
loneliness and community connections;
physical and mental wellbeing;
support for refugees and carers;
bereavement; and
employment and training.
If you, or someone you know in the Freethorpe community, may benefit from support, you can:
with the person’s consent, complete the form on their behalf;
ask your GP surgery whether you can be referred to a Community Connector; or
contact me as a Freethorpe Community Wellbeing Champion:
Melanie Hoggett
Telephone: 07810 547169
Email: melanie@mjbcounselling.com
Emergency and crisis support
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or you do not think you can keep yourself or them safe, call 999 or go to A&E.
For urgent support:
NHS 111: Call 111 and select the mental health option to speak to the 24-hour urgent mental health helpline.
GP: If the situation is urgent but there is no immediate danger, contact your GP surgery and ask for an urgent appointment.
Samaritans: Call 116 123 free, at any time, day or night. Visit Samaritans.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust: Get help in a crisis.
Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential, 24-hour text support. Visit Shout.
Childline: If you are under 19, call 0800 1111 free. The call will not appear on your phone bill. Visit Childline.
NHS Talking Therapies
You can self-refer for free NHS support for problems such as anxiety and depression without first speaking to a GP.
