2023- NEW YEAR, NEW START- A HEALTHIER YOU!

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Improve your physical health and mental wellbeing in 2023.  Please see below for how we can help support you together with some helpful information for parents & carers.

This page is filled with lots of information which we hope you’ll find helpful for a healthy 2023. The links listed below will take you directly to the information if you don’t want to read this whole page.

Do you have great plans for a healthier lifestyle in 2023?

Have you managed to make any changes? If you have – well done!

There have been lots of ongoing challenges over the last year. There is a link between stress, poor sleep, low mood and leading a healthy physical lifestyle. If you are struggling to stick to your plan or don’t know where to start – we are here to help.

Please always feel free to book an appointment to discuss further with a Nurse or GP.

  • Get to a healthier weight

One in four adults have a weight which puts them into the obese range, increasing risks of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. It also can cause psychological problems. If we know that you are in this category, watch out for texts offering new services that we can refer you to for support.

You don’t have to manage this on your own. Depending on various health criteria, you might be eligible for us to refer you to a few different free programmes. Please email [email protected], ideally with a recent weight or book a Nurse or GP appointment if you’d like us to help kick start your 2023 weight loss journey.

If you are eligible, we might also send a separate text message asking you to confirm or  decline a referral.

More about obesity

How to lose weight

Advice about different diets (even if you are not diabetic)

  • Become more active

Exercise is the miracle cure we’ve always had but for too long we’ve neglected to take our recommended dose.

Whatever your age, there’s strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life, improving mood, sleep quality and energy.

It can lower the risk of developing many long-term conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes and some cancers.

Exercise benefits

Chart of recommendations

Free local support available

Get paid to get active

  • Give up smoking

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you will ever do for your health.   When you stop, you give your lungs the chance to repair and you will be able to breathe easier. There are lots of other benefits too – and they start almost immediately.

It’s never too late to quit. Click on the links below for free support and to start your smoke free 2023 journey.

NHS Quit Smoking

Hounslow Support

  • Drink less

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, both men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week. As well as causing serious health problems, long-term alcohol misuse can lead to social problems for some people.

Dependent drinking usually affects a person’s quality of life and relationships, but they may not always find it easy to see or accept this.

Its not too late to join “dry January”.

What is a unit?

How and why to drink less

Local support is available

ARC – a local service that helps people break a cycle of addiction to substances such as heroin, cocaine, and new psychoactive substance as well as long -term alcohol addiction.

  • Stressed or anxious – ways to improve your emotional wellbeing

Too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.

Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period of time can also lead to a feeling of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, often called burnout.

Every Mind Matters

Relaxation tips

Guides, tools and activities

Good thinking

IAPT – for resources and self referral for a range of different therapies.

  •  Mental Health Awareness events. IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING  – MANAGING YOUR MOOD  EVENTS Monday, 16th & Friday, 20th January.

You are invited to attend a mental health awareness event with lived experience discussions as part of the Hounslow Social Prescribing Service Outreach events.

Interesting facts

  • 1 in 4 people experience mental health issues each year
  • 75% of mental illness (excluding dementia) starts before age 18

Come join the Hounslow Social Prescribing Team for discussions on how to manage and improve your mood. This event will allow you to gain a greater insight into your own mental health, and what support is on offer from GP services and other organisations within the community. You will also get the opportunity to share your experience.

Dates of event :  Monday 16th and Friday 20th January 2023

Time : 11:15am and 1:45pm

Venue: Can Mezzanine, (Conference Room AB), Top floor Treaty Centre, 44 Hounslow High Streeet.

To book your place, call or text the  Social Prescribing Service between 3:30pm- 4:30pm Monday – Friday:

Anais: 0791 2274 624; Patricia: 0771 6992 862; Gosia: 07549 021 080; Danuta: 07394 400 597; Anjam: 07549 019 789 Or email: [email protected]

  • Improve your sleep

Many effects of a lack of sleep, such as feeling grumpy and not working at your best are well known. But did you know that sleep deprivation can also have profound consequences on your physical health?

It’s now clear that a solid night’s sleep is essential for a long and healthy life.

Take a sleep quiz.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THAT YOU CAN NOW GET FREE SUPPORT FROM – “SLEEPSTATION”.  To register for real person support with sleepststation click on the box that says “Check if I can get NHS Access” and type ” Willow Practice” – HERE.

Sleepio is helpful app if you don’t want to register with the sleepstation programe.

For other reasons for feeling tired and other tips.

Benefits of taking a nap

  • Improve your social situation, get support with finances, social isolation or motivation to improve  your general wellbeing
Need a Helping Hand?

Making and then keeping to changes is difficult. HELP is available to support you through your journey, whatever you need help with.

You can call ONE YOU HOUNSLOW to speak to a friendly health advisor to find the support that’s right for you – 020 8973 3530 Available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

OneYou can help with all of the issues listed above but can also help connect more by finding out about local social activities , groups and organisations.

You can also ask a GP or Nurse to review you to our “Social Prescriber Link Workers“, who can help you unpick complex issues affecting your health. We often know what to do but there are many barriers to start getting your life back on track. They help connect people with non-medical support, such as charities or community groups to improve their wellbeing and tackle social isolation. They can also help you sort financial, employment or housing problems.

AND FINALLY

  • Links for parents worried about sick children

It’s been a worrying time with first Covid and then Strep recently.

We are always here if you are worried, but you might find these links useful to save for a time that it’s needed.

Lots of parent leaflets for different conditions and website full of information – HERE.
When should I worry
How to manage coughs & colds.
How to manage high temperatures.

Maintaining good health isn’t about luck – but we hope you can make any changes necessary and please remember that we are available to help you to achieve these.

Arrange an appointment with the Practice Nurse or GP to further discuss any of above.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2023.

Team Willow.

PS: We hope you have found this helpful – please feel free to let us know if you have any helpful changes  or additions. If you did find it helpful, we do love getting a nice google review.