A difficult month?
For some people, the festive period can cause a number of stress factors, such as alcohol overindulgence, disrupted sleep patterns, increased debt and family conflicts.
Negative effects of the previous year can often be experienced more acutely during January, which for some people, can be a difficult month.
Sometimes we need to ask for help and support. Remember, it’s never a sign of weakness to recognise when you might be struggling and to ask for any available help and support.
First Class Support is a 24/7, completely confidential and independent helpline for colleagues. If you need someone to speak to, please call 0345 266 5060 to receive the following support:
- Mental health support – speak with a trained professional who can help with work-related or personal issues in a non-judgmental and confidential environment.
- Legal signposting - legal information and signposting is available via telephone with a legal expert (for up to 20 minutes) on a wide range of issues such as, family/divorce, neighbour disputes, criminal, consumer, motor and injury.
- Practical help – debt advice, understanding government benefits, resolving accommodation issues and receiving guidance on accessing elder and childcare, cancer and disability support is available.
- Manager coaching – receive coaching to help support others going through change; traumatic situations; or resolve conflicts.
- Physical health – improve your lifestyle with support designed to increase physical health, fitness and nutrition. Information can also be provided for our wellbeing website. Feeling First Class (see below for more information).
The Feeling First Class portal (code FFC1 to register) has helpful support content for your mental and physical health as well as the mental health e-Learning 'Because Healthy Minds Matter'.
Visit www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk or download the app from iTunes or the Google Play store. For more information, go to www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk.
For urgent support in a crisis: call the Samaritans on 116 123 (open 24/7) or in the case of a suicide or other emergency situation, ring 999, or 9999 from a Royal Mail landline.
If you’re worried that someone is at immediate risk of taking their own life, you should stay with that person and take one of the following steps:
- Encourage them to call the First Class Support helpline (open 24/7) or the Samaritans on 116 123 (open 24/7)
- Contact their GP for an emergency appointment or the out of hours support service
- Call their community mental health team (CMHT) if they have one.
Ring 999 (9999 from a Royal Mail landline), NHS direct (111) or go to the nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.
Further support
Our in-house charity, the Rowland Hill Fund offers financial aid to colleagues, pensioners and their families in times of need. Call 0345 600 4586 or visit www.rowlandhillfund.org.
Through My Bundle's Financial Wellbeing option, Neyber, you can access debt consolidation loans and financial education. Log into My Bundle through PSP or visit www.myroyalmail.com/benefits.
Stepchange offers expert, tailored advice and practical solutions to problem debt. Contact the UK's leading debt charity on 0800 138 1111 or visit www.stepchange.org.
Shout, the mental health text service is a free, nationwide, 24/7, text based service. Text Shout to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained crisis volunteer.
