Wellness In Winter 2021/22

While Scotland officially “moved beyond” Level 0 of its protection levels in August 2021, some protective measures remained in place, including masks and face coverings indoors and on public transport, by law (with exemptions in place), and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. People are also advised to continue to clean their hands and surfaces regularly.

Other baseline measures remain in place:

• Scottish Government will continue to use travel restrictions, as and when necessary, to restrict the spread of outbreaks and protect against the risk of importation of new variants

In December 2021, as a result of increasing numbers of the Omicron variant, Scottish Government announced additional temporary restrictions, designed to curb the spread of the variant. These measures were successfully lifted in January.

As case numbers remain high, especially across Forth Valley, people are being asked to be cautious and to limit contacts where possible, in addition to taking lateral flow tests before meeting people from other households.

In addition, as of Monday 31^st January, businesses can prepare to resume hybrid working, enabling more people to have a flexible return to working between home and the office.

Due to the continued decline in COVID-19 cases, and the progressing easing of protective measures, businesses can implement a return that offers staff more flexibility, while ensuring steps are taken to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. However, the First Minister advised that a mass return to offices is “likely to set progress back”, and recommended a more phased return. The Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, also confirmed there would be no fixed timetable for when all staff should return to offices.

Stay up to date with all COVID-19 restrictions via:

• Scottish Government’s COVID-19 page, Twitter and Facebook
• Scottish Government information on staying safe and protecting others
• NHS Inform Scotland’s COVID-19 page

Our team and partners have been in touch with community food providers throughout the Falkirk area, and pulled all their contact information into a simple 2 page document, which can be viewed or downloaded as a pdf document (linked for your convenience). The list is organised alphabetically by local area.

You can also get in touch with specific groups in your area via their contact details on our local directory, which is organised alphabetically by group name.

Please share these details with anyone and anywhere you think people may need it this winter.

We know that money worries or pressures add to the concerns of individuals and families, including isolation and the impact seen on mental health and physical health.

In order to help people in Falkirk, and help local groups and services support the people they are engaging with, we have pulled together some information and resources available to help maximise income for individuals and families, especially during COVID-19, including sources of financial assistance and debt counselling.

This new page includes information that families and individuals can access themselves as well as stakeholder and partner resources.

To read the full list, please visit the new Maximising Income page.

We’ve created a brand new page listing physical health resources and support, including everything from flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and how they are being rolled out, to pharmacy opening hours and Vitamin D access.

To read the full list, please visit the new Wellness in Winter: Health page.

• Local Pharmacies

NHS Forth Valley has contacted local pharmacies across the Falkirk area (including those in more rural or widespread areas) and confirmed their opening hours during this period, which they have published on their website, as part of their Winter Zone.

The list is organised by area and then holiday date; entries include the pharmacy’s hours that day, their address and contact details.

To access this list, please visit the NHS Forth Valley website (linked for your convenience), under the “Pharmacy Services and Opening Times” (third section).

• Mental Health Support in Falkirk

Our team has pulled together a list of the mental health services available in Falkirk, split into those providing immediate help and those who offer more general support.

The list is available to view or download as a pdf document (linked for your convenience); please share with anyone and anywhere you think people may need it this winter.

A number of our local partners and mental health groups have also created a handy leaflet with codes and links to useful apps, amongst others. The flyer is available to view or download as a pdf, or as two jpegs: page one, page two.

• ClearYourHead.scot

Scottish Government has recognised the impact the pandemic and lockdown restrictions has had on people’s mental health and wellbeing. They have created ClearYourHead.scot, a website full of resources, information and reassuring messages to support people in Scotland during this time, including how important it is to take breaks from news and social media.

There is also a Winter Tips video, with information on clearing your head and connecting with others this winter.

The most important thing to remember is that daily life has changed for all of us in Scotland, and it can feel worrying, lonely and uncertain. It’s ok to not feel yourself.

For further information, please visit the ClearYourHead website.

• Men’s Mental Health Resources

As November was men’s mental health month, See Me Scotland has been working to highlight how important it is for anyone who identifies as male or a man to be able to talk about how they feel.

Their 2020 poll found that 39% of men were worried about the reactions of others when talking about their mental health, while 30% said that not knowing who to talk to stopped them from opening up. As a result, See Me Scotland is looking at why talking about men’s mental health is important, and what they, and everyone, can do to help.

Societal expectations and stereotypes around having to be strong and “manly” play a role in why men are less likely to talk about their mental health, or seek help for their mental health problems.

See Me Scotland has a series of resources, information and links to help combat this stigma, including myths around men’s mental health, and where to seek help.

For further information, please view last year’s full web article.

• Step on Stress 2022

NHS Forth Valley has announced new dates for free online “Step On Stress” sessions, taking place January – March 2022 via Teams.

The sessions are open to everyone over 16 years old who lives or works in Forth Valley, and replace the old Stress Control course.

Step On Stress runs over 3 weeks, and is pre-recorded and livestreamed. There will be a moderated Q&A function during each session, which all cover a different topic each week, and last just over an hour.

For further information, including how to take part, please visit the full article.

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Themed Wakelet Resource

Forth Valley College (FVC) has created a new resource showcasing and promoting the range of support options and resources available to students to support their mental health and wellbeing, using the Wakelet tool, a free online platform which allows users to gather online links and content into one place, split by category or topic.

The FVC mental health and wellbeing themed Wakelet is available to view online without an existing account or sign-up needed. FVC invites local third sector groups and organisations to get in touch so their support offer can be added to this resource and made easily available to students.

For further information, view the full web article.

We’ve created a page specifically featuring support available for carers in Falkirk during COVID-19, including vaccination updates and dates of information sessions.

To view the full list, please visit the dedicated Support for Carers During COVID-19 page.

Unpaid carers (including young carers and young adult carers) who are looking for support can contact the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre:

• by phone: Falkirk – 01324 611510; Clackmannanshire: 01259 226839
• by email: centre@centralcarers.co.uk
• online
• via Twitter or Facebook

If you or any member of your family need to isolate due to exposure to COVID-19, or have been advised to shield, there is support in place in Falkirk:

• Support for People helpline (Falkirk Council)
  • open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm by phone: 0808 100 3161
  • the team assists those who are most vulnerable in society as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those who need help to access food, medicines/prescriptions and other essential services. This will be prioritised for those who have no other way to access these
• Self-Isolation Support Team (Falkirk Council)
  • working alongside the existing Support for People helpline to provide support to those who need to self-isolate, with daily updates from Public Health Scotland’s Test and Protect, of people within the Falkirk Council area who have either tested positive for COVID-19, or been identified as a close contact of a positive test
  • the team contact people on the list, by phone, to check they have support in place to allow them to self-isolate correctly and to check if they are eligible for the £500 self-isolation support grant

 ‼️  Please note: advice to self-isolate due to COVID-19 does not apply if you need to escape from domestic abuse. Many pharmacies have safe spaces where you can get information about support and make calls – find pharmacies within 10 miles of Falkirk town centre offering safe spaces on the UK Says No More website. (Press the “ESC” key at any time for a quick escape from the page.)

• Domestic Abuse: Local Support

Domestic abuse, also called domestic violence or gender-based violence, includes physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse in couple relationships or between family members. Domestic violence can happen to anyone.

If your situation at home is not safe or you are worried about you or your family’s safety, you do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it’s important to tell someone and remember you’re not alone – even during the holidays.

Christmas can be a difficult time for people, with heightened emotions and a sense of disconnect from the normal schedule (including support options). While domestic abuse unfortunately happens all year round (something we have seen amplified throughout COVID-19 and various lockdowns), incidents can often rise over Christmas, made worse by the different service hours and pressures of the season.

We want to make sure everyone in an abusive situation knows where to find support this winter, and we created a new, dedicated page full of local support for anyone who needs it across the Falkirk District: Wellness in Winter: Domestic Abuse.

To talk about your situation in more detail, contact Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline (SDAFMH) at any time, 24/7/365, by phone: 0800 027 1234,  online web chat, or email: helpline@sdafmh.org.uk

In an emergency situation, if you can, please contact Police Scotland by phone immediately: 999.

• Scam Alert: Omicron PCR Phishing Emails

Police Scotland has issued a Scam Alert on Omicron variant PCR test phishing emails.

The fake email encourages the recipient to click a link to a fake site, to apply for a free Omicron testing kit from the NHS. Once the recipient opens the link, the fake site asks for the recipient to upload their personal data, and in some cases asks for a small fee to be paid.

The NHS will never ask for money to send COVID-19 testing kits.

For full information on the scam, please view the web article.

• “Rethink Your Drink” 2021 Safety Campaign

NHS Forth Valley and their partners are running their festive alcohol safety campaign, “Rethink Your Drink”, throughout December again this year.

The campaign’s advice includes not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week (spread over at least 3 days), not mixing alcohol with medication, and drinking plenty of water. It also recommends trying to have days without alcohol, and highlights how important it is to recognise when you tend to drink more.

For pregnant people, zero alcohol is the safest option.

For further information, including support and advice on alcohol during COVID-19, and on recovery during the festive period, visit the full web article.

• Keeping Safe Online Checklist

In conjunction with Police Scotland, Get Safe Online have produced an Online Safety Checklist to keep people and families safe over the festive season.

The checklist offers a range of safety points, including online shopping, scams, protecting children, and video calls, amongst others.

To view or download the checklist, or for further information, please view the full article.

• Fraud and Financial Crime

 ‼️  All reports of fraud and any other financial crime should be reported to Police Scotland by phone: 101.  ‼️ 

After the impacts of winter storms like Arwen and Barra in December 2021, and with weather warnings for areas of Scotland (including Forth Valley) ahead of Storms Dudley and Eunice in February 2022, Ready Scotland has activated a new marketing campaign with information on staying safe during extreme weather. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the forecast wind and encourages the public to take sensible precautions, particularly around their own personal safety, prior to and during severe weather events.

They have also updated their website with advice and information on how to prepare for, and deal with, Scotland’s winter weather, which can help keep yourself, your family and your neighbours safe and well:

• Storms and Winds
• Cold, Snow and Ice
• Rain and Flooding
• Hot Weather

The Ready Scotland COVID-19 page has also been updated.

Weather Warning: Storm Franklin

In the early hours of Monday 21st February, the Met Office tweeted that Storm Franklin (the third named storm in 7 days) was moving across Scotland (with a Yellow Warning in place across the southern areas); while both they and SEPA confirmed that the afternoon would be brighter and drier, the Met Office also stated that week would be unsettled, with more wind and rain. Additionally, towards midnight on Monday, far western areas were due to see even more rain.

Flood warnings and alerts are in place across Scotland, and the Met Office has also tweeted tips on staying safe while driving in this weather, as did Traffic Scotland.

Further information on Storm Franklin, and its expected impact, is available via the Met Office website.

Further Information

Anyone travelling by car at all during the winter months should make sure they are prepared for a breakdown; the AA has an online checklist on how to build your own winter survival kit for your car. They have also provided tips on driving safely in snow and ice, which may be especially useful for those living in the more rural areas of Falkirk, and other winter driving advice.

The winter survival checklist split into two sections: Winter Car Essentials and Winter Car Emergency Kit.

Winter Car Essentials

1. ice scraper and de-icer (if you don’t remove snow and ice properly, you risk 3 points on your licence and a £100 fine)
2. torch and spare batteries
3. a fully charged mobile phone
4. an in-car phone charger or power pack
5. sat-nav or a printed route for an unfamiliar journey
6. a road atlas
7. sunglasses
8. first aid kit
9. empty fuel can

Winter Car Emergency Kit

1. warm clothes and waterproofs
2. sturdy footwear
3. a flask of hot drink
4. snacks
5. hi-vis jacket
6. warning triangles
7. jump leads
8. shovel

For further information (including where to access these items), please visit the AA website.

Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) Forth Valley, Strathcarron Hospice, and FoodTrain have recently launched a new Winter Pressures project, in order to help support NHS Forth Valley through the winter.

The project is supported by Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), and Clackmannanshire and Stirling HSCP; its person-centred focus aims to put control and choice in the hands of the patient, tailoring support to the individual and their needs.

They are looking for volunteers to join them this winter, helping vulnerable people to get home safely, and with support, after a hospital stay.

For further information, including how to get involved, please view the full web article.

They are also looking to hear from any knitting groups who would be willing to create and donate hats, scarves and gloves for both men and women, in various sizes, to support people during hospital admissions and discharges within Forth Valley Royal Hospital.