The Coronavirus pandemic is a worrying time for us all. It’s all too easy in uncertain times to neglect our health, especially when it’s necessary to reduce your social contact and time spent outdoors.
We’ve produced guidance to help you look after yourself and your loved ones:
You’ll find information on:
- mental health & wellbeing
- financial wellbeing
- keeping active
- stop smoking
- drug & alcohol use
- bereavement
- and much more.
A good time to give up smoking!
Smokers are 14 times more likely than non-smokers to suffer from a serious respiratory problem such as Coronavirus. So there’s never been a better time to give up!
The council’s health trainers are continuing to offer behavioural support to smokers (including pregnant smokers) via telephone sessions and people will still receive stop smoking medication.
To make a referral for yourself or someone else, please complete our online form.
It’s also important to keep an eye on your alcohol consumption. Routines have changed for many of us, and you may feel you’re struggling to cope.
Alcohol awareness
Alcohol can have a negative impact on various aspects of your life. These include sleep, mental health, weight, sex, health, parenting and so much more.
Now is a good time to be more conscious of how much you’re drinking. If you’re worried you may be drinking too much, why not complete this quick quiz.
See here for information on local support that’s available to help you avoid drinking to excess.
Healthy lifestyles
The council’s healthy lifestyles team offers support for anyone wanting to make changes in the following areas:
- Getting active
- Stopping smoking
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Eating more healthily
- Improving general wellbeing.
To get support from the team, please fill in the online support form, send an email to healthylifestyles@brighton-hove.gov.uk or phone 01273 294 589.
You can also follow their Twitter and Facebook pages to join in with their online challenges and activities.
If you, or someone you know needs support to get essential supplies like food or medication and you don't have family, friends or a support/care worker to help you, go to our Coronavirus get help page and fill in the form with details of the help you need.
If you have no way of getting online and no one to help you, please call 01273 293 117 and press option 2.
Please only call if you have no other option, leaving the phone lines free for those who really need it.
Councillor Clare Moonan is chair of the city's Health and Wellbeing Board.