Autism & Aspergers Union is a local social group for adults that meet up on a weekly basis at the Millennium Centre in St Helens. The group aims to help people make friends and have discussions around how to live independently and how to secure employment. They also run skills and training programmes on a regular basis.
Autism Initiatives UK is a national charity that run community & independent living, outreach support, social groups and day opportunities. Their head office is in Liverpool and services are available throughout Merseyside.
The National Autistic Society has an online services directory and a help-line (0808 800 4104) that can provide general information and support about living with autism and Asperger’s. They have an online forum to make friends with peers, and the nearest local branch is located in Warrington.
MeCycle is a regional initiative that offers work placements to volunteers who have autism.
Other useful resources include Autism Independent UK and the Asperger’s Syndrome Foundation, whose websites contains information and answers to frequently asked questions.
For parents/Carers of people with autism/Asperger’s please see the relevant FAQ below.
Sahir House is a multi-cultural support and information centre offering a wide range of services to individuals and families living with, or affected by, HIV on Merseyside. Their main base is in Liverpool, however they run a monthly support group called ‘Positive Peers’ for the for local HIV community to meet up to gain support, information and guidance. Sahir House are also able to provide information, counselling, complementary therapies and members can book appointments to see professionals (e.g. HIV Social Workers or Community Nurses). Their helpline (0151 237 3990) offers confidential, impartial advice and assistance relating to HIV.
St Helens Council’s Adult Health and Social Care service can provide counselling and emotional support, financial advice and practical assistance for anyone regardless of gender, sexuality, lifestyle or origin in the borough. Further information about the Council’s support for adults with AIDs/HIV can be found on their website or by calling the Contact Centre on 01744 676 600.
The Terrence Higgins Trust is the largest HIV and sexual health charity in the UK. They run a support and information service called THT Direct, available by phone (0808 802 1221), e-mail ([email protected]) or post.
The LIFE charity supports pregnant mothers and families (both women and men) through difficult times, offering them the help that they need to turn their lives around. Their base in St Helens on North John Street can offer free, confidential information, counselling and support for women contemplating abortion, suffering after pregnancy loss or struggling to cope after abortion. LIFE can also provide financial and practical help and support before and after birth, and help obtaining baby clothing and equipment. You can also talk to someone in confidence via LIFE’s national helpline (0800 915 4600).
bpas operate a consultation centre in the GUM Clinic at St Helens Hospital, offering non-directive and impartial counselling for unplanned pregnancy and abortion treatment. They also have a 24 hour national helpline (0845 730 4030) that offers advice and assistance to females and males.
Pregnancy testing is available at LIFE, Community Sexual Health Clinics, TAZ and through your GP, and further information about pregnancy can also be found through Get It On.
The City Health Care Partnership run a Smokefree St Helens service if you are looking for help and advice on how to quit or cut down on your smoking. They have trained members of staff that use tried and tested ways to help you change your smoking habits e.g. through nicotine therapy.
You can access the Smokefree St Helens service by going along to one of their drop-in sessions, by visiting your GP, talking to your pharmacist or contacting the team on 01744 586247 or [email protected]. If you smoke tobacco or use an e-cig and want help to quit, just call into the St Helens Smokefree HUB in the Hardshaw Shopping Centre Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am until 5pm Wed 9am until 1pm or Sat 10am until 2pm. Staff are there to offer friendly advice about what they can offer and to sign up for the free treatment plan. No appointment is needed.
www.readytostopsmoking.co.uk
Self-help books and CDs are available to help with smoking cessation through the ‘Books on Prescription’ service available at your local library.
Further information, advice and tools to help you reduce smoking can be found at NHS Smokefree (or helpline 0800 022 4332) and Action on Smoking and Health.
Some local pharmacies (e.g. Lloyds) offer their own stop smoking service.
The Health Improvement Team offer a variety of weight management services and have something for every interest and level. They run a 10 week free programme called Fresh Start; sessions last an hour and a half, and consist of education, gentle exercise and cooking demonstrations. You can also work with a Lifestyle Advisor, who will help you to develop a long-term personal exercise programme (you need to be referred by your GP to access the Lifestyle Advisor service).
Self-help books and CDs are available to help with weight management through the ‘Books on Prescription’ service available at your local library.
Change 4 Life is a national NHS campaign to get children, families and adults eating healthier and participating in more activities. Their website is full of information and suggestions on how to eat well, move more and live longer.
See also: Weight Concern, Active Fat, NHS Live Well pages and The British Nutrition Foundation.
If you are concerned that you might be drinking too much alcohol you can self-refer yourself to make an appointment with Addaction, or you can also have an outreach assessment within your GP surgery. Addaction can provide you with an individual assessment and then suggest appropriate ways for you to cut down on your alcohol consumption or signpost to you other appropriate services.
Self-help books and CDs are available to help with alcohol reduction through the ‘Books on Prescription’ service available at your local library.
DrinkAware is a useful website that provides information, tips and advice about drinking alcohol responsibly. They have an ‘alcohol unit calculator’ and free downloadable materials to help you keep track of how much alcohol you consume.
Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure – for example this could be built up through home life, work, school/college or in relationships.
It may be difficult to change or remove the cause of stress, but there are resources available to help you manage stress better – see Every Mind Matters by Public Health England in partnership with the NHS. (more…)
The best way to avoid heart problems in the future is to improve your lifestyle now. Risk factors for coronary heart disease include:
- Lack of physical activity
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Unhealthy eating & obesity
- High cholesterol
- Stress
- Diabetes
- Family history
- High blood pressure
The Health Improvement Team have a wide range of programmes to help improve your physical health, including weight management programmes, quit smoking programmes and information/classes around healthy eating.
Please also refer to some of the related frequently asked questions below.
Heart disease is a significant problem in St Helens, however you do not need to feel isolated if you have recently been diagnosed or are receiving treatment/rehabilitation – there are services and people available to help.
There are two local support groups in St Helens that both meet up at the Unison Social Club to provide information, education and emotional support:
St Helens Healthy Heart Support Group
St Helens Heartbeat Cardiac Support Group
Your GP, local Cardiac Nurse and the Cardiology departments at St Helens and Whiston hospitals can also give you on-going information and support in living with heart problems. This includes a Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme consisting of physical exercise, relaxation and education.
Heart disease is the biggest killer in St Helens and has clear links to lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, poor diet and a lack of physical exercise. In fact, coronary heart disease accounts for 25% of all male deaths and 18% of all female deaths in Merseyside.
If you are worried about your heart/blood pressure, the best place to go for further information and preliminary tests would be your GP.
Healthy Heart is a local NHS website that helps you explore ways in which you can increase your chances of living a longer and healthier life and avoiding problems that heart disease brings.
Heart of Mersey is England’s largest regional cardiovascular health charity working across Merseyside and Cheshire (and beyond) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related conditions such as cancer, diabetes and stroke. They can provide a range of information about heart conditions and how to look after your heart.
The British Heart Foundation is a national charity that helps all people affected by heart disease. They can provide information and advice through their website and Heart Helpline (0300 330 3311) about symptoms, tests, treatment and recovery, and they also have Bereavement Support Officers to help people who have suffered a loss through heart disease. ‘Heart Matters’ is a free service from the BHF that provides a welcome pack, useful information, regular magazine and access to an online support community.
Further information about heart disease can also be found at NHS Choices, Heart UK (Cholesterol), Heart Research UK, British Cardiovascular Society and National Heart Forum.
