People in the Midlands are being encouraged to look after their health and wellbeing during Self Care Week, using an NHS winter checklist.

Self Care Week takes place from 17 – 23 November. The campaign is designed to inspire and empower people to take charge of their own physical health and mental wellbeing.

This winter the NHS is here to help people stay healthy with a winter checklist, which includes getting vaccinated, keeping warm and looking after your mental health.

Winter conditions can be bad for people’s health, especially for people aged 65 or older, and people with long-term conditions such as heart or kidney disease, COPD (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), asthma or diabetes.

All those who are at greater risk from the COVID-19 and flu viruses should take the extra protection offered by vaccination this winter.

Patients may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine if they have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment.

The flu vaccine helps protect people from being seriously ill with flu.

Keeping warm over the winter months can also help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.

Homes should be heated to a comfortable temperature and help is available to save energy in homes.

If people start to feel unwell, they should stay in, stay warm and seek advice from a pharmacy for medication.

Through the Pharmacy First service pharmacists can offer consultations and treatments, including antibiotics if necessary, for many illnesses and minor conditions.

Winter can also affect mental health with the shorter days and cold weather, but help is available through NHS Talking Therapies.

NHS Talking Therapies, or psychological therapies, are effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners.

Patients across the Midlands can access talking therapies for free on the NHS. Patients can refer themselves directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP, or a GP can refer them.

Patients can find their local NHS Talking Therapy service by using an online platform on the NHS website.

Jo Kelly a Talking Therapies patient from Solihull said: “With Talking Therapies I have the tools to cope and feel able to handle whatever comes my way.

“Talking Therapies has been fantastic and I’d 100% recommend the service to anyone who is struggling. If it helped me, it could help so many others.”

Giles Tinsley, Programme Director for Mental Health at NHS England in the Midlands, said: “Winter is a difficult time for many.  Darker nights and a drop in temperature can affect how people feel. If you find the colder months hard, seek help through Talking Therapies.”

Help is available in person, by video tele-conferencing, over the phone or as an online course.

Find more advice on how to stay well in winter, get the care you need and practical ways to lift your mood with Every Mind Matters.