Feeling Anxious? | News and events

This Mental Health Awareness Week, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System, The SUN Network and others have worked together to produce two bite-sized animated films to help support people suffering with anxiety.

The two films, one aimed at adults, the other at younger people will explain briefly what anxiety is and provide a short breathing exercise to calm people who are having anxious feelings.

A recent Mental Health Foundation poll found that one in ten (10%) of UK adults felt hopeless about financial circumstances, more than one-third (34%) feeling anxious, and almost three in ten (29%) felt stressed in the past month.

Dr Becky Jones, Local GP and Clinical Lead for CAMHS and Paediatrics for NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, part of the Integrated Care System said, “Most people feel anxious or scared at some point in their lives. It’s a natural reaction, that can cause unhelpful feelings when we don’t need them.

“A simple breathing exercise as shown in these films, can sometimes help to distract you from your feelings, and prevent them changing into panic and anxiety.

“That’s why I am encouraging local people to share these films across their social media channels to help people learn the skills they need to feel calmer when having anxious feelings.”

Gemma Barron, CEO of local charity Lifecraft that provide Lifeline - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s Mental Health Helpline, said “Over the past year the number of calls to our helpline has more than doubled, with an average of 15% of calls from people suffering with anxiety. Anxiety and panic attacks can affect people’s lives in a really negative way. Breathing techniques, like in these films are a great way to help focus your mind away from anxious feelings. 

“It may also help to talk to someone anonymously over the phone – our trained staff and volunteers are on hand to offer support.  Our helpline is free across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and open from 11am – 11pm every day on 0808 808 2121”

The videos can be found on Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s Keep-Your-Head.com website and click on ‘Quick Meditations.’ The Keep-Your-Head.Com website is also a great place to find advice and signposting to mental health and wellbeing support available nationally and across the county.