Alcohol support highlighted in East Riding to help reduce consumption
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust's 'YOURhealth' service is taking part in a national campaign
People in the East Riding are being reminded that support is out there to help reduce alcohol consumption this winter.
It is part of a national campaign to improve health and wellbeing, which Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust's 'YOURhealth' service is taking part in.
It is supporting it by speaking out about the impact that alcohol can have on our relationships, encouraging us all to talk, and be prepared to listen more, about the way your own or someone else’s drinking is affecting you and those around you, and to consider making some changes for a healthier and happier life.
It says many of us drink alcohol for a variety of ever-changing reasons, including: to relax, to socialise, to de-stress, to have fun, to relieve boredom, to deal with feelings of loneliness, and to try and cope with or avoid problems. However, drinking too much and too often can cause or exacerbate all sorts of problems with our physical and mental health, including damaging relationships with our loved ones.
It adds that for some of us, alcohol can become a central aspect of our relationships with friends, family or partners. When this happens, it can actually stop us taking action to improve our drinking habits, even when those habits aren’t working for us.
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust says alcohol can also negatively affect our relationships. It can heighten family tensions, get in the way of clear communication, and mean we are less present for each other, including our children. And if a loved one is drinking heavily, it can cause huge worry. There is also a real risk of someone’s drinking causing conflict, with alcohol being a factor in many cases of child neglect and domestic abuse.
Alcohol is strongly associated with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Over the course of the pandemic these problems have undoubtedly got worse for many of us. As we return to a more normal life, there will be new pressures too – pressures to drink, sober shaming (being made to feel not drinking is wrong), and the pressures we put on ourselves to get back to ‘normal’ socialising.
Natalie Belt, Service Manager at YOURhealth, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We know that alcohol and relationships are closely linked and that many associate alcohol with socialising. However, when one a loved one’s drinking starts to negatively impact our relationship or our own drinking habits, it can result in an undesirable impact on our life and wellbeing.
We know many people have drank more over the last 18 months due to the pandemic, perhaps over feelings of loneliness, isolation or worry, and we want to remind people that there is support out there both to help you get back on track with your drinking, and also, to reconnect with your local community.”
Free support is available throughout the East Riding to help people feel more in control and less isolated including ourselves.
To find out more about the support available and to see how much of a difference it could make to your wellbeing this winter, visit the YOURHealth website.