Following a healthy lifestyle plays an important role in helping you maintain both your physical and mental wellbeing. Even making small changes to your lifestyle can make a big difference.

The services and resources listed on this page are here to help you if you are ready to make some positive changes.

You can also access local services available to you in your area; these are shown in the dropdowns below and are based on the areas where we provide services.

Healthy Communities Lifestyle Service

Staffordshire Healthy Communities programme is a Staffordshire County Council Commissioned Service run by Everyone Health. The service offers individual and group support to help adults lose weight and stop smoking. You can find out more about what's available and who can access the service on the Everyone Health Staffordshire website, or by phoning 0333 005 0095.

  • All pregnant women and their partners can access the Everyone Health smoking cessation service
  • All Staffordshire residents aged 18 or over can access the Everyone Health smoking cessation service
  • Weight management support is now available to all residents aged 18 or over

 

Active My Way

Active My Way is one stop shop for local information on how and where you can get active, including a searchable database of opportunities and online videos.

 

Staffordshire Connects

Staffordshire Connects is an information hub on local services and support for adult physical and mental wellbeing. You can search by place and by the type of help you are looking for.

 

Staffordshire ORCHA

ORCHA is a free tool to search for health and care apps. It provides a simple and consistent approach to rating all health apps based on their clinical effectiveness, data security, and the user experience. ORCHA is available to anyone with access to the internet and smart phone. Apps can be used alongside an existing care pathway or as a stand-alone tool to help people improve any aspect of their health and wellbeing.

 

Community Mental Health Services

Our own Community Mental Health Services have a freephone service taking mental health referrals for all the Trust's adult mental health services, including people with dementia. The service helps people get the right support, in the right place, at the right time. They can help you get support from a variety of services that can support you, from financial wellbeing support, to social care, and many more.

 

West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic

The West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic (provided by our own Inclusion Service) offers specialist addiction therapy, treatment, and recovery to people affected by gambling addiction or gambling problems across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Telford & Wrekin.

Stop Smoking Services (Stoke-on-Trent)

The Stoke-on-Trent Stop Smoking Service offers free friendly face-to-face support, together with stop smoking medicines such as chewing gum and patches (on prescription), to support smokers to quit. Trained advisors are available in a variety of settings across the City, providing weekly support to people who want to quit smoking.

Please call 0800 085 0928 or text 'stokequit' to 60777 for free help and support.

  • The service also has a specialist smoking in pregnancy service available to support pregnant women to help quit smoking.
  • The service is available to anyone who lives, works, or is registered with a GP in Stoke-on-Trent.
  • The Smokefree Families Service offers up to 12 weeks of telephone behavioural support and self-help materials to support individuals and families in Stoke-on-Trent who want to make their homes Smokefree. The service is available to any resident of Stoke-on-Trent (aged over 16) who allows smoking in their home. To access the Smokefree Homes Service contact 0800 085 0928 or text ”sfhome” to 66777.

 

Active Through Stoke

Active Through Stoke is centred around providing free or low-cost physical activity opportunities and giving participants ownership over their sessions. Perfect for all abilities, allowing you to try new ways to get active and potentially gaining some new skills along the way. There is a variety of sessions available, including: fitness classes, walking football, indoor curling, mindfulness, and lots more!

 

Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug & Alcohol Service

Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug & Alcohol Service provide a free, confidential and friendly service to adults, young people and families living across Stoke-on-Trent. Everyone should feel comfortable getting the support they need with drug or alcohol challenges. They aim to see you where you feel most comfortable and can provide advice and information, one-to-one support, assessment, and depending on your age, brief or clinical interventions.

 

Community Mental Health Services

Our own Community Mental Health Services have a freephone service taking mental health referrals for all the Trust's adult mental health services, including people with dementia. The service helps people get the right support, in the right place, at the right time. They can help you get support from a variety of services that can support you, from financial wellbeing support, to social care, and many more.

 

West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic

The West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic (provided by our own Inclusion Service) offers specialist addiction therapy, treatment, and recovery to people affected by gambling addiction or gambling problems across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Telford & Wrekin.

Shropshire Council

Guidance, resources, and information about local services that can help all Shropshire residents improve their wellbeing can be found on the Healthy Shropshire website. Their website includes a searchable directory of services that covers all aspects of wellbeing including physical activity services by Shropshire Leisure Time, and drugs and alcohol support by Shropshire Recovery Partnership.

 

Together All

Together All is an online mental health and wellbeing service and is available to the population of Shropshire for anyone aged 16 or over.

Together All offers a range of activities that allow you to work through what's troubling you:

  • Community: Forums where people help people. Share your thoughts and join a Talkabout alongside fellow members to share and discuss what's on your mind, gain support and advice. There are also Drawings tools to enable the creative expression of difficult emotions. The support of others experiencing similar issues is proven as a highly effective intervention tool.
  • Courses: In addition to the community, members have access to a wealth of resources and self-help courses covering all mental health and lifestyle topics from Coping with Grief and Loss, to Problem Solving, Health Anxiety and How to stop Procrastinating.
  • Resources: Access to a library of articles which can help you understand more about how you are feeling, learn new skills, improve your wellbeing, as well as self-assessments, widely used in healthcare settings, to understand more about yourself and to track your progress, as well as online journaling and action trackers to personalize your journey.

Joining the service is easy, we call this self-referral, providing no barriers to access. You don't have to make it known that you need access to support, you simply visit the website and register using your postcode.

 

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Talking Therapies

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Talking Therapies is an NHS service of specialists trained to offer effective talking therapies and support. It aims to improve health and wellbeing by offering a range of help, advice, life skills courses, supported self-help, other groups, and individual therapies for everyone aged 16 and over.

They deliver a choice of therapies in a variety of ways including email, virtually, telephone, face to face, individual and group interventions to suit your lifestyle. They can assist with conditions such as low self-esteem, difficulty in relationships, stress, worry, anxiety, low mood, obsessions and compulsions, panic, phobic, trauma, and anger problems.

 

Shropshire Health Coaches

Shropshire Health Coaches can support people to develop a personalised action plan to make lifestyle changes to improve diet, become more physically active, and to stop smoking. Support includes signposting and referring to local services. Support with other concerns such as anxiety, isolation, and finances can also be provided. You can self-refer into the service by calling 01743 255055 or email simon.brown@shropshire.gov.uk.

 

Elevate strength and balance classes

Elevate classes are aimed at people aged 60 and over who feel a bit unsteady on their feet, have lost strength, or confidence, and may feel a bit off balance, or at risk of a fall. Many of the exercises provided in these classes can be achieved seated or standing so a range of abilities can take part. The classes are designed to be safe, beneficial and most of all enjoyable!

 

NHS Education for Diabetes

The NHS Education for Diabetes programme is a structured education course delivered by specialist nurses for adults who have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Whether you have been diagnosed for a long time, or have just had a recent diagnosis, then these courses are for you. All the courses are free and details about their sessions can be found on their website.

 

Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free behaviour change programme delivered by Living Well Taking Control. The programme looks at the factors that are increasing your risk of Type 2 Diabetes and helps you to develop a plan to make healthy lifestyle changes that will reduce or remove your risk of diabetes.

 

Staffordshire Connects

The Family Hub Cooking Hub have created a range of recipes for cooking for a family on a budget. There are a range of recipes for main meals, lunch, snacks, and desserts and all recipes are free and easy to follow.

 

Fit4All

Fit4All's mission is to raise awareness of the causes of falls, and the importance of exercise to help reduce the risk of falling. Also, educating people at risk of falling, their families, and carers in the correct procedure to follow if someone falls. In turn to help to reduce the long term effects of a fall. These classes are free and designed to improve your postural stability through a 20 week falls exercise programme.

Telford & Wrekin Healthy Lifestyles Team

If you live or work in Telford & Wrekin, the Healthy Lifestyles Team are here to support you. Healthy Lifestyles Advisors and Practitioners provide a free and confidential service to motivate, encourage and support people to make changes to improve their health and wellbeing. They work with you to identify and help you achieve small changes that can make a big difference.

They are here to help:

  • lower your blood pressure
  • lower your cholesterol
  • reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
  • manage your weight
  • be more active
  • improve your wellbeing
  • quit smoking

You can contact the Healthy Lifestyles Team by email healthylifestyles@telford.gov.uk or telephone 01952 382582.

 

Live Well Telford

Live Well Telford is an all age online community directory where you can search for local services, advice and information.

 

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Talking Therapies

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Talking Therapies is an NHS service of specialists trained to offer effective talking therapies and support. It aims to improve health and wellbeing by offering a range of help, advice, life skills courses, supported self-help, other groups, and individual therapies for everyone aged 16 and over.

They deliver a choice of therapies in a variety of ways including email, virtually, telephone, face to face, individual and group interventions to suit your lifestyle. They can assist with conditions such as low self-esteem, difficulty in relationships, stress, worry, anxiety, low mood, obsessions and compulsions, panic, phobic, trauma, and anger problems.

 

Fit4All

Fit4All's mission is to raise awareness of the causes of falls, and the importance of exercise to help reduce the risk of falling. Also, educating people at risk of falling, their families, and carers in the correct procedure to follow if someone falls. In turn to help to reduce the long term effects of a fall. These classes are free and designed to improve your postural stability through a 20 week falls exercise programme.

 

Community Mental Health Services

Our own Community Mental Health Services have a freephone service taking mental health referrals for all the Trust's adult mental health services, including people with dementia. The service helps people get the right support, in the right place, at the right time. They can help you get support from a variety of services that can support you, from financial wellbeing support, to social care, and many more.

 

West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic

The West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic (provided by our own Inclusion Service) offers specialist addiction therapy, treatment, and recovery to people affected by gambling addiction or gambling problems across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Telford & Wrekin.

Hampshire Healthy Families

Hampshire Healthy Families provides information resources, advice and signposting to services for all aspect of family health and wellbeing including health visiting services, immunisations and local activities for children and young people.

Smoke Free Hampshire

There is a comprehensive smoking cessation service available through Smoke Free Hampshire. Visit the website for further details. You can self-refer on this service by clicking here, call our Quitline on 01264 563039 or text Quit to 66777.

Health professionals, please continue to refer patients through the website.

Primary Care Network Social Prescribers and Health & Wellbeing Coaches

Local Primary Care Networks (PCN) are developing an extended workforce to provide a wider range of services to keep their communities well, and improve the support and management of patients across the local health system. As part of this work some PCNs are recruiting Health and Wellbeing Coaches to support people achieve positive changes in their lifestyle and improve how they manage health conditions. Health coaches will work alongside Social Prescribers and Community Connectors who can help patients access other local services and support they need. Patients and service users will need to enquire with their GP if this service is available to them as coverage varies across each area.

 

Better Health

Better Health is a national NHS campaign that aims to support people to improve their lifestyles and live well. Better Health provides tips, tools, support, and encouragement every step of the way, to help people make small but manageable changes to their lifestyle. The website provides access to a range of apps and information that anyone can access.

 

Self Help

Being more active is good for your body and good for your mind. It can help to improve your health in many ways including losing weight, easing any joint or back pain, manage stress, improve sleep, and increase energy levels.

 

Videos

 

Websites

 

Consider your own activity

Your Activity Levels

If you are in work:

  • Do you spend most of your time sitting at a desk?
  • Does your work require you to stand for long periods of time (e.g. shop assistant, hairdresser, security guard, childminder, etc...)? 
  • Does your work require physical effort including handling of heavy objects and use of tools (e.g. plumber, electrician, carpenter, cleaner, hospital nurse, gardener, postal delivery workers etc...)?
  • Does your work involve vigorous physical activity including handling of very heavy objects (e.g. scaffolder, construction worker, refuse collector, etc...)

How often do you engage in the following forms of physical exercise:

  • swimming, jogging, aerobics, football, tennis, gym workout etc.
  • cycling (including cycling to work and during leisure time)
  • walking (including walking to work, shopping, for pleasure)
  • housework or childcare
  • gardening or DIY
Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

You may find it helpful to check your BMI, this helps to identify if you are a healthy weight for your height. You will need to know your height and weight measurements for this. If you are not sure what your height or weight is visit your local pharmacy and ask if they can check this for you. You can calculate your BMI by using the online NHS BMI calculator.

If your BMI indicates that you are overweight or obese please consider joining the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme.

The online tool gives suggestions about what you might consider if your BMI is outside the normal healthy range. We suggest you discuss this with your GP before taking any action.

Ask yourself these questions
  1. How would you benefit from being more active? Think of 2 to 3 benefits e.g. it will help to reduce my blood pressure.
  2. How will you aim to increase your physical activity levels?
  3. If you need support, who are the people that you can talk to e.g. family, friends, colleagues, neighbours.
  4. What are the main difficulties that you are facing?
  5. Are there any solutions that can help?

Cutting back on alcohol can be an effective way to improve your health, boost your energy, lose weight, and save money. Reducing the amount you drink each week, even by small amounts can make a big difference.

 

Videos

 

Websites

 

Consider your own drinking

Online calculators
Ask yourself these questions

  1. How would you benefit from drinking less alcohol (list 2-3 benefits)? e.g. it will improve my relationship with family and friends

  2. How are you going to start drinking less alcohol?

  3. If you need support, who are the people that you can ask (e.g. family, friends, colleagues, neighbours)

  4. What are the main difficulties that you are facing?

  5. Are there any solutions that can help?

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of keeping healthy. Eating a variety of foods in the right proportions ensures that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to function well.

 

Videos

 

Websites

 

Consider your own diet

Drinks

What kind of choice would you normally make?

  • Sugary drinks
  • Diet drinks
  • Water
  • Tea or coffee with no added sugar

We should be drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, between 6 to 8 cups or glasses per day. Although water is the healthiest option lower-fat milks, lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks and tea and coffee all count toward your fluid intake too. Alcoholic beverages do not count toward fluid intake. If you are not drinking enough fluid throughout the day, or you would like to make water your main drink, think about ways you could achieve this.

 

Starchy foods

If you were eating potatoes with a meal, what choice would you normally make?

  • Chips
  • Boiled potatoes
  • Roast potatoes
  • Jacket potatoes

The amount of oils and spreads added to starchy foods such as potatoes, pasta, and bread can make your meal high in fat. Think about alternative choices you could make.

 

Breakfast

What breakfast would you usually pick?

  • Sugary cereal
  • Plain porridge
  • Plain cereal e.g. cornflakes
  • Wholegrain cereal

Plain porridge and wholegrain breakfast cereals are the healthier options. They are a good source of fibre which means they are good for your digestive system, and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

 

Cheese and dairy products

What sort of cheese would you usually eat?

  • Hard cheese
  • Cottage cheese
  • Lower fat hard cheese
  • Low fat vegan cheese

Hard cheeses are high in saturated fat and if eaten in high amounts can lead to high cholesterol which increases your risk of heart disease.

 

Red meat

If you had to pick one, which one would you usually pick?

  • Burger
  • Fish
  • Ham
  • Lean meat or substitute meat

Eating a lot of red meat and processed meat increases your risk of bowel cancer. Red meat such as beef, lamb, and processed meats such as sausages, bacon, ham and corned beef should be limited to no more than 70g per day. Try to have a meat-free day each week and switch to lean cuts of meat and fish, aiming for at least 2 portions of fish a week, including 1 oily fish like salmon, mackerel, or sardines.

 

Fruit and vegetables

How many servings of fruit and vegetables do you eat a day?

  • 0
  • 1 to 2
  • 3 to 4
  • 5 or more

Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre. Eating 5 portions per day can protect against diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Consider how you might increase your intake of fruit and vegetables.

 

Snacks

Which snacks would you normally choose to eat?

  • Fruit
  • Chocolates and sweets
  • Crisps
  • Cakes
  • Biscuits
  • Teacakes
  • Unsalted nuts
  • Toast with low fat spread
  • None of these

Snacks such as chocolate, cakes, crisps, and biscuits are high in added sugar, fat and salt. These foods are not needed in the diet and if included we should not eat them very often.

We all have times when our mood is low and we feel sad, fed up, or stressed. But sometimes these feelings last for weeks, or feel like they are happening all the time, and can interfere with our daily lives. You may also find it helpful to write down your thoughts and feelings.

Advice and information is available on our Urgent Help page.

 

Videos

The following videos are all produced for the NHS Better Health campaign:

There is also a Playlist containing all the videos.

 

Websites

Services we provide:

 

Steps to improve your own mental health

Which of the videos or websites above did you find helpful? Why did you find them helpful? You might consider reasons like:

  • I have a very busy lifestyle and I don't find time to stop and look after myself
  • I've learnt some problem solving skills that I can use that do not take much time out of the day

 

Complete these short online wellbeing questionnaires. How helpful has this been? Which bit was most helpful? Is there anything that wasn't helpful?

 

Ask yourself these questions
  1. What small changes can you think of that will have a positive impact? e.g. I could distract myself by watching a favourite TV programme or going for a walk
  2. If you need support, who are the people that you can talk to? e.g. family, friends, colleagues, neighbours
  3. What are the main difficulties that you are facing?
  4. Are there any solutions that can help?

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. It reduces your risk of heart and lung disease, boosts your mental health, and saves you money.

 

Videos

 

Online Resources

 

Consider your own smoking habits

Check your smoking habits and your nicotine dependence level by completing this online Fagerstrom Test.

 

Ask yourself these questions
  1. How would you benefit from quitting smoking (list 2-3 benefits)? e.g. save money
  2. How many cigarettes will you aim to reduce per day or per week?
  3. If you need support, who are the people that you can talk to? e.g. family, friends, colleagues, neighbours
  4. What are the main difficulties that you are facing?
  5. Are there any solutions that can help?
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