Everyone wants to live long, happy, healthy lives and we want to help you along the way. You’ll find more information on health and wellbeing below.
Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we perceive that we are under threat.
It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. Click here to listen to a series of mental wellbeing audio guides to help you boost your mood.
We can help you to understand and manage your anxiety - click on the heading below to find out more.
Want to find out more about the physical effects of anxiety? Watch Alex's Mental Health story here.
We have partnered with Aspire4U, Mind and Togetherall to provide you with FREE mental health support through our Breathing Space programme. Hundreds of Orbit customers have taken advantage of this support - here’s a few quotes from them:
“I've gained more confidence in dealing with life, thanks to Breathing Space.”
“Personally, would recommend [this] to anyone else who is not feeling well. I haven’t felt this good in 15 years.”
“Really helpful to have independent non-judgemental advice.”
“The advice you gave me is better than any counsellor I’ve ever spoken to. Nobody has ever been able to put it that way before. Thank you!”
Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health. Talking through any struggles can help and can assure you that you’re not alone.
Breathing Space is a free and confidential service offering support and guidance by phone, text and online.
The service supports any of our customers experiencing difficulties with mental health issues, and aims to prevent problems occurring or getting worse, by tackling the cause rather than simply dealing with the consequences.
Our ultimate goal is to support our customers to be in control of their own lives, and to feel empowered enough to contribute to their communities. You can give consent to be referred via a member of our team, or you can self-refer.
You can register anonymously for support via our online platform, Togetherall, which is available for customers aged 16 and over with a focus on digital support.
Togetherall is designed to help you get support, take control and feel better. As well as 24/7 peer-to-peer and professional support from experienced clinicians online, it also offers courses and tools to help you manage your own wellbeing. It is a safe, anonymous service that is free to all Breathing Space customers.
For more information and an insight into Togetherall, take a look at this video:
Or take a look at the Togetherall User Guide.
You can self-refer by visiting www.togetherall.com/joinnow/orbit
We have partnered with Aspire4U, Mind and Togetherall to provide you with FREE mental health support through our Breathing Space programme. Hundreds of Orbit customers have taken advantage of this support.
Our partner organisations, Mind and Aspire4u, also offer confidential support for customers aged 18 and over by phone, text and Skype.
Mind’s experienced recovery workers provide:
If you feel that this could be beneficial to you or a close friend or family member, and you are over 18 years of age, you can:
Mind and Aspire4u will then get in touch with you.
We all know what it's like to feel stressed, but it's not easy to pin down exactly what stress means. If you are struggling to cope with life pressures, you might be stressed.
Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. When you are stressed, your body releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. While stress is a normal reaction, too much stress can be harmful.
We can help you to understand and manage your stress - click on the heading below to find out more.
If you are experiencing stress and need some support to manage it, we have partnered with Aspire4U, Mind and Togetherall to provide you with FREE mental health support through our Breathing Space programme.
Hundreds of Orbit customers have taken advantage of this offer - here’s a few quotes from them:
“I've gained more confidence in dealing with life, thanks to Breathing Space.”
“Personally, would recommend to anyone else who is not feeling well. I haven’t felt this good in 15 years.”
“Really helpful to have independent non-judgemental advice.”
“The advice you gave me is better than any counsellor I’ve ever spoken to. Nobody has ever been able to put it that way before. Thank you!”
Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health. Talking through any struggles can help and can assure you that you’re not alone.
Breathing Space is a free and confidential service offering support and guidance by phone, text and online.
The service supports any of our customers experiencing difficulties with mental health issues, and aims to prevent problems occurring or getting worse, by tackling the cause rather than simply dealing with the consequences.
Our ultimate goal is to support our customers to be in control of their own lives, and to feel empowered enough to contribute to their communities. You can give consent to be referred via a member of our team, or you can self-refer.
You can register anonymously for support via our online platform, Togetherall, which is available for customers aged 16 and over with a focus on digital support.
Togetherall is designed to help you get support, take control and feel better. As well as 24/7 peer-to-peer and professional support from experienced clinicians online, it also offers courses and tools to help you manage your own wellbeing. It is a safe, anonymous service that is free to all Breathing Space customers.
For more information and an insight into Togetherall, take a look at this video:
Or take a look at the Togetherall User Guide.
You can self-refer by visiting www.togetherall.com/joinnow/orbit
Our partner organisations, Mind and Aspire4u, also offer confidential support for customers aged 18 and over by phone, text and Skype.
Mind and Aspire4u's experienced recovery workers provide:
If you feel that this could be beneficial to you or a close friend or family member, and you are over 18 years of age, you can:
Sometimes you can feel as though life is completely out of control. If you're the sort of person who likes to be in control and worries about getting things done, this can make you feel very tense and frustrated. Worry and unhappiness can also cause stress. Maybe you're worried about other things, like the way you're living, money troubles or relationship issues.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
We all have times when our mood is low, and we're feeling sad or miserable about life. Usually these feelings pass in due course. But if the feelings are interfering with your everyday life and don’t go away after a couple of weeks, it could be a sign that you are experiencing depression. Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time, and affects your everyday life.
In its mildest form, depression can mean just being in low spirits. It doesn't stop you leading your normal life but makes everything harder to do and seem less worthwhile.
If you're troubled by your moods, take the first step towards dealing with it by understanding what’s happening. Moods are the backdrop to how we lead our lives - they govern almost everything we do. Click here to listen to a series of mental wellbeing audio guides to help you boost your mood. You can listen to them privately, in your own time, to help you through feelings such as anxiety or a low mood. If you're not sure how you're feeling, there is also a mood self-assessment quiz you can complete.
There's also various free online tools available to help adults, children and young people to self-manage their wellbeing, such as Dimensions.
If you feel you need professional independent mental health support, we have partnered with Mind and Togetherall to provide you with FREE mental health support through our Breathing Space programme.
Hundreds of Orbit customers have taken advantage of this offer - here’s a few quotes from them:
“I've gained more confidence in dealing with life, thanks to Breathing Space.”
“Personally, would recommend to anyone else who is not feeling well. I haven’t felt this good in 15 years.”
“Really helpful to have independent non-judgemental advice.”
“The advice you gave me is better than any counsellor I’ve ever spoken to. Nobody has ever been able to put it that way before. Thank you!”
Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health. Talking through any struggles can help and can assure you that you’re not alone.
Breathing Space is a free and confidential service offering support and guidance by phone, text and online.
The service supports any of our customers experiencing difficulties with mental health issues, and aims to prevent problems occurring or getting worse, by tackling the cause rather than simply dealing with the consequences.
Our ultimate goal is to support our customers to be in control of their own lives, and to feel empowered enough to contribute to their communities. You can give consent to be referred via a member of our team, or you can self-refer.
You can register anonymously for support via our online platform, Togetherall, which is available for customers aged 16 and over with a focus on digital support.
Togetherall is designed to help you get support, take control and feel better. As well as 24/7 peer-to-peer and professional support from experienced clinicians online, it also offers courses and tools to help you manage your own wellbeing. It is a safe, anonymous service that is free to all Breathing Space customers.
For more information and an insight into Togetherall, take a look at this video:
Or take a look at the Togetherall User Guide.
You can self-refer by visiting www.togetherall.com/joinnow/orbit
Our partner organisations, Mind and Aspire4u, also offer confidential support for customers aged 18 and over by phone, text and Skype.
Mind and Aspire4u's experienced recovery workers provide:
If you feel that this could be beneficial to you or a close friend or family member, and you are over 18 years of age, you can:
Negative and distorted thinking patterns can become habit that's hard to kick. We may not even be aware that we have them. But by recognising some of the common mind traps, and learning to challenge your thinking, you can develop a more realistic take on things.
We can all fall into negative thought patterns, but particularly if you're suffering anxiety, stress, depression or low self-esteem. To find support near you, visit the NHS website.
If you are experiencing negative thoughts and need some support to manage them, we have partnered with Mind and Togetherall to provide you with FREE mental health support through our Breathing Space programme.
Hundreds of Orbit customers have taken advantage of this offer - here’s a few quotes from them:
“I've gained more confidence in dealing with life, thanks to Breathing Space.”
“Personally, would recommend to anyone else who is not feeling well. I haven’t felt this good in 15 years.”
“Really helpful to have independent non-judgemental advice.”
“The advice you gave me is better than any counsellor I’ve ever spoken to. Nobody has ever been able to put it that way before. Thank you!”
Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health. Talking through any struggles can help and can assure you that you’re not alone.
Breathing Space is a free and confidential service offering support and guidance by phone, text and online.
The service supports any of our customers experiencing difficulties with mental health issues, and aims to prevent problems occurring or getting worse, by tackling the cause rather than simply dealing with the consequences.
Our ultimate goal is to support our customers to be in control of their own lives, and to feel empowered enough to contribute to their communities. You can give consent to be referred via a member of our team, or you can self-refer.
You can register anonymously for support via our online platform, Togetherall, which is available for customers aged 16 and over with a focus on digital support.
Togetherall is designed to help you get support, take control and feel better. As well as 24/7 peer-to-peer and professional support from experienced clinicians online, it also offers courses and tools to help you manage your own wellbeing. It is a safe, anonymous service that is free to all Breathing Space customers.
For more information and an insight into Togetherall, take a look at this video:
Or take a look at the Togetherall User Guide.
You can self-refer by visiting www.togetherall.com/joinnow/orbit
Our partner organisations, Mind and Aspire4u, also offer confidential support for customers aged 18 and over by phone, text and Skype.
Mind and Aspire4u's experienced recovery workers provide:
If you feel that this could be beneficial to you or a close friend or family member, and you are over 18 years of age, you can:
Click here to listen to a series of mental wellbeing audio guides to help you boost your mood. You can listen to them privately, in your own time, to help you through feelings such as anxiety or a low mood. If you're not sure how you're feeling, there is also a mood self-assessment quiz you can complete.
Whether it's the loss of someone or something important to you - it can be one of the most overwhelming and painful things you can experience. You can find more information and support on the National Bereavement Service website.
There are healthy ways to deal with some of the emotions you may be feeling. When you've suffered a loss - for example the death of someone close to you, the end of a relationship or the loss of a job - you need to acknowledge the pain you’re feeling and allow yourself to grieve. If you try to ignore your feelings or bottle them up, they won’t go away. They may even become worse and trigger other emotional health problems, such anxiety and depression.
Maybe you're worried about other things, like the way you're living, money troubles or relationship issues.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Support from others is one of the most important factors in healthy grieving. Sharing your grief will make it easier to bear; being isolated can make it unbearable. It’s not weak to need support. You can find more information and support on the National Bereavement Service website.
Maybe you're worried about other things, like the way you're living, money troubles or relationship issues.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Citizens Advice has lots of information on a variety of topics including moving in with a partner, getting married, children and young people, making a will and ending a relationship.
If you’re aware of your child having a problem at school, or you’ve been having problems with your child’s school that can’t be resolved through informal discussion, you can find information and advice here on the steps to take to resolve the situation.
If you feel that your relationship is draining you and want to find out more about why, how it affects you and how to deal with it, including support options, click here.
If you're having problems in your family life, there are lots of ways that organisations can help you.
You might be a parent worried about your child's behaviour or how a divorce may impact on your family. You might be part of step-family and need help adjusting, or you may be arguing with parents or siblings and need support communicating with each other. Click here for some useful advice and guidance.
We can help you get out and meet new people or keep in touch with your family and friends.
Our Super Surfer grant can help you get online and stay in contact with loved ones. You can apply here.
If you’d like to get involved with a local club or learn a new activity and meet new people, our Kick-Starting grant can help you get out and about. You can apply here, and our team will get in touch to find out how we can help, and let you know what’s available in your local area.
You can also do our postcode search to see for yourself what’s on nearby.
There are also a number of national befriending organisations to help with meeting new people. To find one in your area, visit Befriending Networks.
If you still need help, simply contact us – we can help put you in touch with the right people.
Our Super Surfer grant can help you get online and stay in contact with loved ones.
We can even teach you how to make video calls so you can talk to and see your family. For more information, visit myDigital.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
You can do our postcode search to see for yourself what’s on nearby.
There are also a number of national befriending organisations to help with meeting new people. To find one in your area, visit Befriending Networks.
If you still need help, simply contact us – we can help put you in touch with the right people.
Want some practical tips to help manage feelings of loneliness and find places you can go for support? Click here for some tips and suggestions.
Our Super Surfer grant can help you get online and stay in contact with loved ones. You can apply here.
If you’d like to get involved with a local club or learn a new activity and meet new people, our Kick-Starting grant can help you get out and about. You can apply here, and our team will get in touch to find out how we can help, and let you know what’s available in your local area.
You can also do our postcode search to see for yourself what’s on nearby.
There are also a number of national befriending organisations to help with meeting new people. To find one in your area, visit Befriending Networks.
If you still need help, simply contact us – we can help put you in touch with the right people.
There are lots of things to consider improving – or giving up – in order to have a healthier lifestyle.
If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented! Activity doesn’t need to be particularly intense for you to feel good.
Physical activity is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your health and wellbeing – even gentle exercise. Sport England has plenty of ideas to get moving, wherever you are.
If you want to shed a few extra pounds, the NHS has lots of information and advice to help.
Unfortunately, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s bad for you. If you are not a smoker but use cannabis, you may still use tobacco to smoke with the cannabis. This is also bad for you.
The NHS outlines some practical, quick and simple steps you can take to successfully quit smoking.
You can still enjoy healthy, tasty food without spending too much money. You can find more information on healthy cooking and food shopping via the NHS website.
Get information on where and how you can find support for addiction and dependency. Click here for information that includes support options for addictions to drugs, alcohol, sex, tobacco and gambling.
If you drink more than the recommended daily limits of alcohol your health can suffer. You could end up with liver problems, reduced fertility, or high blood pressure and increase your risk of heart attack and certain cancers.
If you are concerned that you or someone you care about has a problem, support is out there. You can find some useful links and phone numbers here.
Free online chat service for anyone who is looking for information or advice about their own, or someone else’s, drinking. Our trained advisors are on hand to give you confidential advice. Chat with an advisor now.
Free, confidential helpline for anyone who is concerned about their drinking, or someone else's: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm)
UK-wide treatment agency, helping individuals, families and communities to manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.
AA supports the recovery and continued sobriety of individuals. Meetings are available online and in person. Call the helpline on 0800 917 7650, or email help@aamail.org.
Diabetes UK is a great website for information, advice and guidance. You can also join their community forum to meet a community of people with diabetes, family members, friends, supporters and carers, offering their own support and first hand knowledge.
The Diabetes UK Forum is demonstrated in research to be the most actively used social medium for people with diabetes. Click here to find out more.
Problems with sleep can affect how you feel physically and mentally, and how you feel can also affect how you sleep. Certain medications can also affect your sleep, causing you to sleep too much or not enough.
There is an NHS self-help guide that is available for Sleeping Problems.
You can find out more about your health condition through the NHS’s A-Z of advice and support.
Although most NHS treatment is free, you could still be charged for certain services or medications. Click here to find out what you might be charged for and whether you might be eligible for help towards costs.
The Mind website is full of information to help you understand more about your mental health. Click here to read a good starter page which has information for young people on understanding mental health, and mental health problems. You can then browse the rest of the website for other useful information.
Domestic abuse, also known as domestic violence, is a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour that often escalates over time.
It is more common than people think and can affect absolutely anyone in any type of relationship.
If you are worried about your own personal safety, or the safety of another family member, you can call the National Domestic Abuse helpline free, any time of the day for help and advice, on 0808 2000 247 or visit their website.
For more information, advice and support services, click here. You can also download our leaflet ‘Domestic Abuse – a Guide to Support Available’.
The Bright Sky app provides support and information for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or anyone concerned about a friend or family member. The app can also be used by employers and service providers.
If you are in an emergency situation or feel like there’s a risk of violence to you or someone else, don’t hesitate to dial 999 and ask for the Police.
Human trafficking is the trade of people for exploitation and commercial gain. Millions of people around the world are trapped in modern slavery. It is a crime happening in our communities, takeaways, hotels, car washes, nail bars and private homes.
You can find out more about modern slavery by visiting:
• www.modernslavery.co.uk
• www.victimsupport.org.uk
• www.unseenuk.org
• www.salvationarmy.org.uk
If you suspect human trafficking/ slavery, call the police. Call 999 if it’s an emergency, or 101 if it’s not urgent.
If you’d prefer to stay anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
If you don’t want to call the police, you can talk to the charity Unseen anonymously. The Modern Slavery Helpline is independent and confidential, available on 08000 121 700, staffed by a specialist team.
Potential victims, statutory agency staff, and businesses can access unique help, support, and advocacy to help people out of exploitative situations, or file a report here.
Moving house is one of life’s more taxing events, and may leave you feeling overwhelmed. So here are a few tips on how to manage the stress of moving.
1. Know The Symptoms Of Stress
When you are moving home it’s important that you know and acknowledge the symptoms of stress so you’ll know when to stop and take a breather. Link to stress.
2. Take a breather throughout the day by doing the following:
3. Declutter
Before you begin packing, it’s best if you declutter your possessions so you’ll know how much you’ll have to transport to your new home. Allow yourself plenty of time and start as early as possible.
4. Make a packing plan
When you’ve cleared away everything you no longer need, the best thing to do is to start packing up the rooms you use the least. Packing up those rooms and using them to store boxes of stuff will disrupt your life the least, and allow you to get as much done as possible.
5. Labelling boxes
Label the box with the room you intend it to go into in your new home, and bullet point a few of the items in there so you know what it includes
6. Pack a bag of essentials
With everything else you need to think of, it’s highly likely you’ll misplace important items like toiletries in the first few days of arriving. Packing a clearly labelled bag of essentials and setting it aside will help to tackle moving stress.
7. Ask for help
Let everyone in your support network know when you are moving. Perhaps you can ask a good friend to be available on the day.
8. Be Positive
You can do this by paying attention to all the positive things you can do once you arrive at your new home. These could include meeting new people, looking for some fun activities to do in your new area, making new friends, and many more. All you have to do is focus your attention on these matters, keep the positivity alive, and you’re good to go.
9. Avoid negative self talk
Thoughts like ‘I’m so disorganised’ or ‘This is so stressful’ will only get you worked up. Remember that you’re doing the best you can and no one is perfect.
10. Get a keepsake
Even though you are bringing tons of your belongings with you when you move, remember to bring some memorabilia to remember your old life. It can be a picture of your garden or local green space , your favourite room, local shop. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, it’s a way to make the stress of moving more bearable.
We hope these tips help keep you calm throughout the moving process. Remember, health comes first - everything else is replaceable.
Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we perceive that we are under threat.
It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.
Maybe you're worried about other things, like the way you're living, money troubles or relationship issues.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
For more information about your new home, click here. You will find tips on looking after your home, your safety at home, looking after yourself, your family and your community.
Losing your job can feel like your world is collapsing around you, and the first step is to understand your reactions.
Shock, denial, panic, fear, rejection, anger - even relief - these are just some of the emotions that may hit you. Your self-esteem can also take a battering, leading to feelings of shame and worthlessness. Then when the reality of your loss hits home feelings of emptiness and despair can take over.
It’s important to recognise that many of these feelings are natural reactions to loss. In fact people who’ve lost their jobs often go through a similar grieving process to losing someone they love.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
For more information about earning a salary or finding a job, visit myWork.
Whether you’ve been laid off, downsized, forced to take early retirement, or seen contract work dry up, losing your employment is one of life’s most stressful experiences. Aside from the obvious financial anguish it can cause, the stress of losing a job can also take a heavy toll on your mood, relationships, and overall mental and emotional health. For more help and support if you're feeling stressed, click the 'How can Orbit help me to understand and manage my stress?' drop down here.
It’s important to recognise that many of these feelings are natural reactions to loss. In fact people who’ve lost their jobs often go through a similar grieving process to losing someone they love.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
Allow yourself to grieve - grief is a natural response to loss, and that includes the loss of a job. As well as the loss of income, being out of work also comes with other major losses, some of which may be just as difficult to face. It’s important to recognise that many of these feelings are natural reactions to loss. In fact people who’ve lost their jobs often go through a similar grieving process to losing someone they love.
For more help and support if you're feeling stressed, click the 'How can Orbit help me to understand and manage my stress?' drop down here.
Click here for more information about managing your money, or finding a new job.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
Having a new baby can mean there are a whole host of new pressures on your relationship. Relate, the UK's largest provider of relationship support, can help you adapt to the changes. Click here to find out more.
10% of new dads experience paternal postpartum depression - for mental health support resources if you've just become a father, click here.
Maybe you're worried about other things, like the way you're living, money troubles or relationship issues.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Coping with the demands of a new baby and everything else that's going on around you can be stressful. The NHS website has lots of information, advice and guidance.
Maybe you're worried about other things, like the way you're living, money troubles or relationship issues.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Looking after a baby can be really tiring, especially in the first few months after the birth, when your child is likely to wake several times during the night.
The NHS website has information, advice and guidance including where to get help if needed.
Poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. And worrying about money can make your mental health worse. It can start to feel like a vicious cycle. For more information about managing your money and getting support, click here.
For more help and support if you're feeling stressed, click the 'How can Orbit help me to understand and manage my stress?' drop down here.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Debt can be a considerable burden, made worse by dealing with it alone. For more information about managing your money and getting support, click here.
Another issue of debt anxiety is that is can often affect the quality of your sleep. To find out more about sleeping problems, click the 'How can I get a good nights sleep?' drop down here.
For more help and support if you're feeling stressed, click the 'How can Orbit help me to understand and manage my stress?' drop down here.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Help is available for anyone dealing with problem debt and the anxiety it can cause. For more information about managing your money and getting support, click here.
For more help and support if you're feeling anxious, click the 'How can Orbit help me understand and manage my anxiety?' drop down here.
Alternatively, click here to find out more about our Breathing Space mental health support programme.
We can help you. Our skilled and friendly team know life can throw up the unexpected and are here to help. We can put you in touch with the right people at the right time. We are ready when you are, don't miss out - click here to contact us and one of our team will be in touch.
Sometimes we may need extra support when it comes to our mental health. We have a wide range of free support services exclusively for Orbit residents. We are here for you. We have mental health and wellbeing partners who can provide you with immediate free access every day of the year. The service is moderated by healthcare professionals around the clock and includes access to a range of online courses, tools, trackers and self-help resources. Find some useful links below.
Togetherall is an online mental health and wellbeing service that provides immediate free access every day of the year. The service is moderated by Healthcare professionals around the clock and includes access to a range of online courses, tools, trackers and self-help resources.
Access is easy, simply go to www.togetherall.com/joinnow/orbit to register for free on your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. You will also get access to Togetherall’s free bite size “let’s talk” sessions:
Breathing Space aims to prevent problems occurring or worsening, tackling the causes rather than dealing with the consequences. supporting individuals to be in control of their lives and feel empowered to contribute to their community and society.
Breathing Space offers:
A self-reflective case study
Over the years I have faced many struggles, always setting myself ambitious goals and struggling to achieve them. Whilst working towards my goals doing an undergraduate degree I fell pregnant in my final year of university. This was a stressful time which caused health issues, difficult choices but, somehow, I managed to have my child and obtain my degree. Alongside studying and childbirth, I experienced domestic and financial abuse, causing further mental health decline, debt, depression, anxiety and poor wellbeing. I felt so low and trapped that I could not see a way out of my situation. I felt as though all my ambitions had come to a halt and lost all hope.
After CBT for numerous issues, I found the courage to take back control of my life and remove myself and my child out of the toxic abusive situation. This decision meant potentially making my situation worse before it got better. I struggled financially making as many changes as possible to heal and to recover. I got help from my GP with a referral to a counselling waiting list and Orbit referred me to Breathing Space.
Breathing Space has been such a support in helping me to organise and re-build my life and my plans. Restoring hope that my life is not over, and my ambitions can be achieved by working step by step, Breathing Space has been working with me week by week and it is highly appreciated, it has changed my perspective, I have now started to achieve and work towards many of the goals I have.
Breathing Space referred me to Money Matters where I was appointed an employee called James, his support enabled me to sort out benefits and my financial situation enabling me to live happier with less of a financial struggle. He helped me to set up a debt plan where I am now able to be debt free in 12 months. James referred me to Women’s Fund and Pay Plan who were able to give me further help and a grant.
I was also referred to Amanda at Orbit Better Days where I was able to undergo courses to help me gain work skills and experiences in my employment gap further assisting me to achieve my goals in getting back to work. These courses where great refresher and I was able to produce some good applications, CVs, and interview and job searching skills.
Although all these referrals and employees were such a support to me, they would not have been possible without the assistance of the Breathing Space support worker. They have given me so many life tips on working, ambitions, career, motherhood, voluntary work and work experience, wills, and legal assistance.
I thank you deeply and my progress would not have been the same without the Breathing Space programme. There is still progress to be made and work to be done however, the overall mental state of mine has improved.
At the time of my first contact with Andy Burke (support worker from Breathing Space) I was in a dark place emotionally. As a result of loosing my brother, sister, both parents and two daughters, I just couldn’t see a way forward.
I’d lost my business as a result of the most recent daughter passing away from cancer and therefore my income too. I was at rock bottom. I had lost my desire. I had no vision, no goals and I had simply lost my way.
The day I spoke to Andy over the phone we seemed to connect and there seemed to be something about his character that I found very reassuring. When speaking to Andy I didn’t feel judged or condemned, he just seemed willing to accept me as I was and we could start rebuilding from there.
Over the weeks I actually began to look forward to speaking with him. The comments he made were basic common sense however, without his guidance I do not feel I would have improved. I am grateful to Orbit for putting me on to Breathing space and Mind but most of all I am extremely grateful to Andy Burke for his skill and seemingly limitless compassion. I will always be grateful for Andy because he took all of the pieces of my broken life and together we put them back together.
Every successful company needs an Andy Burke.
