Edinburgh’s elected members are encouraging residents to explore resources to protect their wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis.
Council Leader, Adam McVey, said:
“Across the city, everyone is experiencing an extraordinary situation that we’ve never faced before. As we work through these challenging times, it can be helpful to think about some simple strategies to support your mental and physical wellbeing.
“Today we’re launching ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ where we’ll share tips and guidance on different wellbeing themes with our own colleagues and with the City too, through our social media channels. There are fantastic resources available, and we hope you can find advice that’s right for you. Please take extra care of yourself during these uncertain times and look out for others if you can.”
Depute Leader, Cammy Day, added:
“We understand that this may be a worrying time and you might find staying at home and having limited contact frustrating. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things which can help, and we don’t want anyone to suffer alone. Do take a look at our advice if you’re struggling and follow the links to helpful websites. Remember, your mental health matters and we collectively need to support the wellbeing of our whole City. Support is just a phone call or virtual conversation away.”
Below, we share some top tips to support your wellbeing, and we’ll constantly be updating our wellbeing web page with the latest advice.
Create a wellbeing plan
We’ve created a Personal Wellbeing Plan and we’re encouraging all of our colleagues to adapt it to suit their own needs. We have many frontline workers and others who may benefit from it, and we want to do everything we can to thank and encourage them.
You can create your own plan too, by downloading this template. It’s an easy way to take a note of what’s most helpful for you, and covers:
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Keeping physically healthy
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Reducing things that drain your energy
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Building activities you enjoy into each day
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Creating a support network
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Using coping strategies in the heat of the moment.
Put your health first
At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour, which can make you feel worse.
Simple things you can do to stay mentally and physically active during this time include:
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Looking for ideas for exercises to do at home on the NHS Lothian website
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Checking out the latest advice on calming your mind at clearyourhead.scot
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Trying to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water and exercise regularly
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Trying to spend time with the windows open to let in fresh air, arranging space to sit and see a nice view (if possible) and get some natural sunlight. Get out into a garden or sit on your doorstep if you can, keeping a distance of at least 2 metres (6 feet) from others.
Support young people with their wellbeing
Children will have heard of the outbreak and may have questions. It’s important they hear the key messages from someone they trust, such as yourself. Here are some tips to help you help young people:
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Listen to your child's concerns and make sure you acknowledge their worries
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Focus on answering your child’s questions with facts where you can
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It’s ok to say that you don’t know the answer to questions but that you can try to find out for them
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Remember children learn from your response so try to stay calm when you’re answering
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Try and give practical guidance when you can, for example how to wash hands
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Try these tips from Parent Club about talking to your children about Coronavirus and visit Young Scot, which has lots of information on what’s happening and the simple steps you can take.
Help for older people
Feeling lonely? You’re not alone. Please consider calling a helpline if your wellbeing is impacted by social isolation:
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Age Scotland has a free helpline for a friendly chat or advice on 0800 12 44 222 (Mon - Fri, 9an - 5pm)
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Silverline offers a free confidential helpline providing information friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call anytime on 0800 4 70 80 90.
Age UK also has lots of advice including staying well and what to do if you’re feeling anxious about coronavirus.
Ask for advice about money worries
If you’re worried about finances, our Advice Shop team can talk to you about all sorts of topics including debt, benefits, foodbanks and gas and electricity costs.
Please leave a voicemail on 0131 200 2360 or email advice.shop@edinburgh.gov.uk, and they’ll call or email you back within one working day.
The Money Advice Service also has free and impartial advice on a range of financial issues, including pensions.
Seek professional help if your mental health is suffering
There are lots of organisations who can advise you and signpost you to other services. Don’t suffer alone and seek help now if you’re struggling to cope:
Get the facts
Avoiding speculation and only looking up information from reputable sources such as NHS Scotland, Government sites and your local trusted news sources can help you to focus on the advice being given and avoid confusion. We’ll always update our website with the latest Council service updates at our Coronavirus websection. It might help to manage your own media intake too. It’s important to keep informed but if you find the news is causing you distress then you could limit how much you read, watch or listen to each day.
Stay connected
Social media can be a great way to feel connected to your community but if it’s making you feel anxious, limit your time online. Try to keep in touch with your friends and family directly, through phone calls, video calls and messages.
Connect with nature too, if it is safe to do so. Get out for your daily exercise if you can, and choose to explore your local neighbourhood. Enjoy exercising in the park or a greenspace for fresh air and exercise once a day, following the rules for going outdoors. If you can’t go outside, because you have symptoms or you’re vulnerable, consider a virtual escape into the great outdoors. You can even dive in and explore some of Scotland’s remarkable marine life with a virtual dive, see the Northern Lights at night or take a trip around Edinburgh Castle.
Do things you enjoy
If you feel better when you’re keeping busy, stick to things which give you joy like cooking, reading, online learning and watching films. Our libraries have lots of online resources and there are some great online classes happening with The Welcoming. Remember that you need time to rest and relax too. Don’t feel guilty about that.
Share your coping strategies
We’re all learning as we go and want to support each other. Take every day at a time and where you can, help others too.
We’d love to see and hear how you’re balancing your wellbeing and checking in on your friends, families, colleagues or neighbours, so please do share your strategies as they might help others. Tag the Council in any social media posts you share or use the hashtags #WellbeingWednesday and #AllTogetherEdinburgh.