Winter Wellbeing campaign
With the cold winter nights now drawing in and as we enter another national lockdown, we are encouraging everyone to take a number of steps to stay well over the winter period.
We know that the coming weeks will be a difficult time for many of us in our town. Winter can increase isolation, loneliness and causes financial hardship for many people worried about paying increased heating bills.
This year we face the extra challenges presented by Covid-19 – from how and when do we access medical care – to how can we help ourselves to mentally cope, care for others and still feel connected to others.
The latest data from ONS on the impact of Covid-19 on life and wellbeing, suggests people feel significantly less happy and more anxious than before the pandemic. One of the reasons why it is so important for us to focus on ways to combat isolation, stress and anxiety.
Working closely alongside our partners in the local NHS, Royal Berkshire Hospital and partners in the voluntary sector, we are calling on people to look after themselves and look out for others – we’ll be providing advice on how to spot and support people who may be struggling and where you can go for help and support – for example, if you know an elderly neighbour is finding it hard to keep their house warm, or a friend is finding it hard to cope with the stress of a second lockdown.
Over the next seven weeks, we will focus on a number of wellbeing topics – starting with important messages around flu vaccinations, when you should call 999/111 and where to seek medical help and advice.
The campaign will be underpinned by the principles of the ‘5 ways to Wellbeing’ connect with other people; be physically active; learn new skills; give to others and pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness).
You can also follow this campaign on our social media channels @ReadingCouncil Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and by signing up to our newsletters.
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