Staying healthy with money worries

We know that when finances are tight, it can become more difficult to look after your health - whether that's because of having less choice over what food you eat, less access or time to exercise, not being able to heat your home effectively, or because of health implications. 

Looking after our health is a priority despite all of these restrictions; there is support and services for both physical and mental good health in our district, as well as advice and links for preventative health care for our residents. 

Easy Read Support 

This Easy Read PDF offers advice and support for mental health and worries with the cost of living. The document includes links for help with doctors and mental health support.   

Access to leisure centres and pools   

Exercise and the benefits it has on our physical and mental wellbeing is well documented. Many leisure facilities around the district offer discounts and concessionary memberships for eligible residents. 

The leisure centres are independent and offer their own pricing and discount structures, view their websites or contact your local centre for more details. 

Healthy You  

We fund and partner with Healthy You (external link), which offers a number of different health services to residents in East Cambridgeshire. 

These include programmes to stop smoking, boost your physical activity, eat more healthily, manage weight, prevent falls, and reduce alcohol consumption. 

Many of these programmes are free or heavily subsidised to bring down costs. If you are worried about your health, please contact the team. 

Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (external link) are free led-walks in your local area, visit the website to find your nearest walk. 

Look after your physical health  

When you have other concerns on your mind, it is sometimes easy to forget to look after your physical health. During the winter months it is important to ensure you do whatever you can to protect yourself. This includes getting your Covid-19 booster and flu vaccine, if you are eligible. 

For more information on Covid-19 boosters and seasonal vaccines please visit the Vaccinators on Tour (external link) webpage. 

Support if you are in distress 

You can contact Samaritans (external link) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to talk about anything that is upsetting you. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or download the Samaritans self-help app.  

If you are a student, you can look on the Nightline website (external link) to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.  

The NHS can help you find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline (external link)  

Visit the NHS Every Mind Matters (external link) website, answer 5 simple questions to get your personalised mental health action plan, with tips and advice to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

You can text SHOUT to 85258 for free from all major UK mobile networks. This confidential, 24/7 text messaging mental health support is run by Mental Health Innovations (external link) charity.  

You'll be connected to a volunteer for an anonymous conversation by text message. 

Call the Mind (external link) national mental health charity information line on 0300 123 3393. 

CALM (external link) (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is a charity that supports men under 45-years-old with mental health issue. You can call them on 0800 58 58 58.