Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life. Self-help suggestions from NHS website.
Information for people with a loss of sense of smell (anosmia) or distorted sense of smell (parosmia). Includes information about smell training and directs you to a website where you can purchase a smell training kit.
Acne Support provides expert, impartial information from consultant dermatologists on the treatment, causes and prevention of acne, as well as advice on how to access emotional support. Includes information about different treatments available (both on prescription and over the counter/through beauty clinics), how they work etc.
A presentation about sleep in people with ADHD with advice on tips, tricks and advice for parents of children with ADHD who struggle with insomnia.
Age UK is a charity that provide help for older people in numerous ways. They have a telephone friendship service for people experiencing social isolation, an advice line to help with information about benefits and finances. Their website has information about power of attorney and living wills, pensions, carers, health conditions, loneliness and remaining active. Age UK also provide help with local help at home, gardening and handyperson services, as well as social events, dementia meeting services and day cares.
Evidence has demonstrated that an anticholinergic burden of >3 increases risk of major cardiovascular events - the higher the score, the higher the risk. This website allows you to check different medications and calculate their ACB score to determine their anticholinergic burden risk. Allows you to consider this when you are considering prescribing new medications.
Impartial advice about equipment to help make daily living easier. You fill out a questionnaire that comprehensively takes you through activities you may struggle with (e.g. breaking down 'preparing drinks' into the steps involved), and then recommends aids that you may find helpful as a result.
Asthma and Lung UK is the UK's leading lung charity. Their website contains a host of information about different lung conditions including asthma, COPD, asbestos related lung conditions, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, sleep apnoea and more. They run a helpline and can provide advice on many aspects of living with a lung condition. This includes advice on how to manage a lung condition, information about specific conditions, information about medication and treatment, lifestyle advice, managing flare-ups, and information on government financial help and funding.
Louise Newson is a GP and menopause specialist and holds an Advanced Menopause Specialist certificate with FSRH and the BMS. She has created a website of information about the menopause and HRT, with resources for patients and healthcare professionals.
The balance app is designed by Dr Louise Newson (GP and menopause specialist). Allows patients to track their menopause symptoms, get access to specialist information, and join a community of like-minded people to share experiences.
British Hypertension Society - home blood pressure monitoring diary. Send to patients with home BP machines - gives all the instructions. They can then drop readings in, or send in the average reading.
British Pregnancy Advisory Service - patients can self-refer to BPAS if considering an abortion. Resources on the website give information about termination of pregnancy including medical vs surgical management. Phone number on their website to contact and arrange treatment. BPAS provide pre and post-abortion counselling and discussion.
Information leaflets about skin conditions and their treatments. This includes actinic keratosis, acne, balanitis, eczema, leg ulcers, viral warts, vulvodynia, lichen sclerosus, SCC, BCC, melanoma, hidradenitis and more. This website also has a section containing guidelines for clinicians (although they are presented as journal articles and are quite lengthy).
Information about conditions affecting the cardiovascular system, such as aneurysm, angina, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, hypertension and others. There is also information about cholesterol, blood pressure, and lifestyle advice about management. As well as helpful information leaflets, there is a free helpline run by cardiac nurses who can provide advice on diagnoses, lifestyle advice and information about medications.
Summary of evidence for medicine use in pregnancy. Useful for doctors but can also be helpful for decision making for patients. Produced by the UK teratology information service.
Calcium calculator to work out whether people with osteopenia/osteoporosis are getting enough dietary calcium. This can then guide whether calcium supplementation required.
An app that helps with the urge to self-harm. Helps you to ride the wave with different activities: comfort, distract, express yourself, release, breathe.
Suicide prevention helpline and webchat (both 5pm-midnight). No longer for men only, they support anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. They have a crisis helpline. They also support people who have been bereaved through suicide. Their website also contains information and resources about specific concerns and worries, including abuse, anger, anxiety, alcohol and drugs, bullying, depression, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, homelessness, sexuality, relationship breakdown and more.
Gov UK information leaflet about colposcopy as part of cervical screening program - what's involved, what results mean, what treatment involves and the risks.
Citizens Advice is a charity that offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. They are independent and impartial, giving advice on They also have a consumer rights helpline, provide pension guidance, and support witnesses going through court proceedings. They provide advice on work, debts, finances, benefits, housing, the legal system, immigration, and more.
Information to help weigh up the pros and cons of different contraceptive methods.
Bereavement support and counselling. They have a helpline, an online chat service, and local support groups. They can arrange 1:1 support, counselling and also support for children experiencing grief or bereavement.
Specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. The nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, life-changing support and advice to anyone affected by dementia. There is a free helpline and you can also book virtual-online appointments with the nursing team to ask for advice and go through any questions that you may have.
Written by the British Association of Dermatologists, this is a handbook and guide about common dermatological conditions. This includes acne, prescribing isotretinoin, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, scabies, fungal skin infections, skin cancer, bcc, scc, melanoma, emollient and steroid prescribing. It is mainly aimed at dermatology registrars but a lot of the information is helpful in general practice too.
Diabetes UK a leading charity. Their website provides information about all aspects of diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) including information about the prevention of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, lifestyle advice, living with diabetes, information about treatments and the condition itself. They run a dedicated helpline with advisors who have an extensive knowledge of diabetes. They can provide information about the condition, take the time to talk things through and explore emotional, social, psychological or practical difficulties. There are also local support groups that patients can get involved in, and an online support community too.
Information leaflet from Patient UK about advice during pregnancy. Includes information on food and drink to avoid, vitamins and supplements, smoking. alcohol, sex, drugs, working, and more. Useful when trying to conceive or during first pregnancy call.
Diet information sheet for the management of raised triglycerides.
Alternative ways to use the COCP, including tricycling or continuous pill taking. Information leaflet advising on these methods vs standard 3 week on 1 week off method.
Eczema Care Online will help you to keep your skin healthy and live well with eczema. The website has been developed by people with eczema and a team of health experts using the most up-to-date research evidence. Includes information for parents about caring for children with eczema - including info about treatments, itching, bathing, showering and washing clothes.
Eczema Care Online will help you to keep your skin healthy and live well with eczema. The website has been developed by people with eczema and a team of health experts using the most up-to-date research evidence. Includes information about treatments, diet, allergy, cosmetics, itching, and how to manage impact on life/school/work.
EMC contains information about medicines licensed for use in the UK. All documents have been checked and approved by either the UK or European government agencies which license medicines. Contains summary of product characteristics (SPC) and patient information leaflets (PIL). SPCs contain useful information about prescribing, dosage, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, prescribing in specific circumstances, pregnancy, breastfeeding, hepatic and renal impairment. Contains side effects (listed by frequency).
Guys and Thomas' information leaflet on how to use emollients - gives advice on application and cautions for use.
Designed for in-hospital ENT SHOs, this website can provide helpful overviews of acute ENT conditions. While it has a secondary care focus, it can still provide a useful guide for GPs in the assessment of conditions such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, otitis externa, periorbital cellulitis, tonsillitis and more.
Information about bladder and bowel issues in children. Includes bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation, soiling, witholding, toilet / potty training, giggle incontinence. Fact sheets and advice for parents and carers. Child-accessible information.
This fact sheet provides some practical strategies for dealing with the troubling behaviour problems and communication difficulties often encountered when caring for a person with dementia.
A charity that supports people affected by smell and taste disorders across the world. They provide direct support, advice and a signpost to potential diagnosis and treatment to people affected by such conditions.
Family planning association (FPA) information booklets. Written for patients, also helpful for doctors. Leaflets about contraceptive methods, emergency contraception, STIs, postnatal health, and abortion.
Information sheet for parents of children who are fussy eaters. Practical tips, and insights into the different sensory components of eating to try to break down and investigate the cause of the issue.
A leaflet created by OUH advising on a method of topical steroid use for eczema to reduce likelihood of recurrent flares. Details how to use steroids during a flare, and then how to use as 'weekend treatment' to keep control. N.B. Leaflet is written aimed at parents of children with eczema, but this method is also useful in adults.
Gingerbread is a charity providing support and advice to single parents, so that they have the tools to support their children and themselves. This includes information about benefits, bereavement, child care, child maintenance, contact arrangements, cost of living, housing, parental responsibility and more. They also have a supportive online community where people can meet other single parents and support each other. They have an advice helpline as well as online information.
National charity raising awareness and providing information about digestive diseases. A good website for information about various GI disorders, in particular including IBS. They have fact sheets for different GI conditions and symptoms.
Information leaflet produced by Medicines for Children. Provides advice for parents on how to teach their children to swallow tablets.
A website tool designed to aid with interaction checking for patients who are on medications for HIV.
Asthma UK website, videos and instructions about how to use different inhalers with and without spacers. The Asthma and Lung UK website more broadly has a lot of information about different lung conditions, and a helpline with trained staff who are able to provide advice about management of different lung conditions.
Listen to Specialist NHS Gastroenterology Dietitians giving the most up-to-date and accurate advice on first-line dietary treatment for adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, including information on dairy, lactose, gluten and the low FODMAP diet and whether allergy testing is useful in IBS treatment.
A charity for victims and survivors of honour based abuse in the UK. Honour based abuse can take many forms, including child marriage, virginity testing, enforced abortion, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, as well as physical, sexual and economic abuse and coercive control. For some communities, the concept of ‘honour’ is prized above the safety and wellbeing of individuals. To compromise a family’s ‘honour’ is to bring dishonour and shame – which can have severe consequences. This is sometimes used to justify emotional abuse, physical abuse, disownment and in some cases even murder. Honour Based Abuse is more prevalent within communities from South Asia, the Middle East, and North and East Africa. Reports come from Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Orthodox Jewish and occasionally traveller communities. It is not determined by gender – both perpetrators and victims can be male or female.
Visual summary of primary and secondary prevention lipid management NICE guidelines.
Resources for patients to help towards better self-management of their long term pain. Offers knowledge, tools and resources to help patients become clearer about their needs, manage or cope with their pain well and be more effective in their use of health care. There are also resources for doctors to support patients living with chronic pain.
Medicines for Children provides practical and reassuring advice to empower parents/carers to give medicines correctly and with confidence to their children. Leaflets are written by practising health professionals, who provide practical advice that complements information in the British National Formulary for Children. The website is partnered with WellChild, Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacist Group (NPPG) and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
*Needs a login* - free subscription for a certain number of views per month. Table of different brands of HRT, detailing what each one contains, form of HRT (e.g. sequential vs continuous combined), and how to take. Useful particularly when starting HRT, deciding between patches etc.
Moodgym is like an interactive self-help book which helps you to learn and practise skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. Moodgym provides training in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), and consists of five interactive modules which are completed in order. These include information, interactive exercises, workbooks to record thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and quizzes with personalised feedback.
Provides health professionals with accessible, evidence based, condition specific information to help give advice on physical activity at all stages of children, young peoples and adults treatment pathways. The "share benefits" section of each conversation gives condition specific benefits of exercise which may help motivate patients to improve their fitness.
The National Breastfeeding Helpline offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent, evidence based breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it. 9:30am-9:30pm daily. 0300 100 0212
Created by the Dementia Change Action Network, Next Steps provides information for people who have been referred for a memory assessment. It gives information about what to expect at a memory assessment. It also provides tools and resources to help people begin thinking about how they can continue doing what matters to them, and connects people to available sources of support.
Help for NHS front-line staff. Phoneline or text support, access to counselling, bereavement support, directory of other resources.
Information leaflets and self-help guides for mental health conditions.
"This decision aid can help patients if they are thinking about taking a statin. It is for people who do not already have heart disease and have not had a stroke." As well as discussing what statins are and their possible side effects, it demonstrates potential statin benefit according to QRISK. To get the most out of this decision aid you should inform the patient of their QRISK score.
Self-help leaflets for mental health conditions.
NHS service for mental health and wellbeing support for veterans, service leavers and reservists. Patients will be speaking with people who are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. Services include providing care and treatment for mental health problems, including therapeutic treatment for psychological trauma, and intensive emergency care in crisis. They also work with charities and local organisations to support patients with their wider health and wellbeing needs, such as housing, relationships, finances, employment, drug and alcohol misuse and social support.
Information about medications used for mental health. Includes information leaflets for patients and also information for doctors, including: medications in pregnancy, comparing different medication side effect profiles, management of drug specific side-effects, switching medications or formulations.
Confidential support and advice service and helpline for children and young people under 35 years old who are contemplating suicide. They also have a digital platform that allows users to create and modify a suicide safety-plan with the help of the advisors. This is a plan that helps with safety when suicidal thoughts are feeling overwhelming. 9am – midnight every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included) - also have a text line and email address.
Information about how to check your peak flow and how to complete a peak flow diary. The Asthma and Lung UK website more broadly has a lot of information about different lung conditions, and a helpline with trained staff who are able to provide advice about management of different lung conditions.
A charity supporting parents who are victims of child to parent violence. Parents can self-refer to the service where they are offered peer support, virtual drop-ins, sessions that teach coping strategies, and one to one support sessions.
A small volunteer led charity that aims to provide support and information about Pelvic Girdle Pain. Their website has good practical suggestions for things such as pain management, and approaches to tasks such as sitting, bathing, driving, sleeping, etc.
Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) and Urgent Eyecare Service (UES) is an NHS service provided by opticians to assess and treat both minor and sudden onset eye problems. Patients do not need a referral from a GP. The website has a link to find local participating opticians which patients can then contact directly. Examples of problems that may be suitable include: Red, dry, gritty, painful, inflamed, watery eyes. Flashes, floaters, loss of vision, foreign body in eye, minor eye injuries.
RCOG has developed a number of helpful information leaflets for patients about various procedures and conditions. Includes leaflets on topics such as hysteroscopy, LLETZ, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, miscarriage, assisted delivery, pelvic girdle pain etc. A good place to source additional information for your patients.
Developed with the NHS and RCPH, What 0-18 has created information leaflets for common conditions seen in children in primary care. These can be sent to parents to provide additional information and safetynetting advice. Also known as 'healthier together'.
A youtube video created by a physiotherapist. In this seated dumbbell workout (drink bottles or food cans can also be used), there are a number of exercises covering different muscle groups. Designed as a beginner low intensity seated workout for those with limited mobility or who are older.
A resource created by NHS Scotland: self help resources for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Contains suggestions of strategies to manage issues with time management, anxiety, impulsiveness, attention, frustration, home management, problem solving, sleep etc.
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. It is a de-escalation, volunteer-driven service, working with people in immediate distress to take them to a calmer moment and empower them with support and techniques to take their next steps to feeling better and handle future issues, as well as possibly signposting someone to further support services or their GP so that they can get continuous and long-term support. It is not a service that can provide regular, ongoing support.
Sleepio is a six-week clinically proven programme used to treat insomnia, available free on the NHS. It is now available for all patients in England using their NHS login. It is a CBT based program delivered via an app that can be used on mobile devices.
An organisation offering peer-to-peer support to all those over the age of 18, impacted by suicide loss in the UK. They help those bereaved by suicide to support each other, at the time of their loss and in the months and years that follow. They offer peer led support groups, online virtual support groups, a national telephone helpline, online community forum and email support.
NICE guidelines for lipid management in people who are intolerant to statins.
The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. Opportunities to create a 'life box', with images and videos that are important to you, and to create a safety plan. Resources including breathing exercises and signposting to links for help including emergency help.
Resources to support teenage mental health. Includes information leaflets and also links to four free mental health apps: Calm Harm (resisting self-harm impulses), Clear Fear (managing symptoms of anxiety), Move Mood (to help with low mood and depression), and Combined Minds (aimed at helping families and friends to provide mental health support). Resources on the website have sections aimed at teenagers, at schools, at healthcare professionals, at families and also at friends of somebody struggling with their mental health.
BMJ article that compared effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial. Outcome was a reduction in symptom score that was greater in those who did tai chi exercises. Article may be used to facilitate discussions with patients around tai chi or other stretching exercises as a pain management strategy in fibromyalgia.
A youtube video that goes through some tai chi exercises for patients with fibromyalgia. Involves a number of seated exercises and low intensity exercises. A randomised control trial demonstrated evidence that exercise such as tai chi may be helpful for pain management in fibromyalgia; this video is one example of some exercises that they may find helpful.
Educational tool that aims to inspire research-based action in the treatment of chronic pain. Animated and written information about understanding chronic pain, and learning to overcome it. Useful resource links about understanding pain and moving towards recovery.
The Children's Society is a resource for children who are living in difficult situations. The website provides signposting to places where they can seek help. It also has information about mental health, abuse, and practical advice about things such as household bills and finding a job.
The Silver Line Helpline is a free, confidential telephone service just for older people. They provide friendship, conversation and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Depending on what kind of support somebody needs, they can direct people to certain services, groups or resources that may help. "Whether you’d like to exchange a quick “good morning” with someone, fancy a chat about how your day has gone, or need a trusted listening ear to share your thoughts and feelings with, we’re here to talk."
The Sleep Charity produces a wide range of evidence-based information on all aspects of sleep from triggers to treatments. This includes advice sheets and suggestions for people of all ages, with specific information for children, teens and adults. They also have a helpline where they can discuss recommendations and strategies.
Charity with free helpline, advice, information and support for anybody suffering from tinnitus. They have summarised evidence on treatments for tinnitus (including complimentary ones) with advice on their efficacy and evidence base.
Information leaflets about gout, its treatments, and dietary advice
Information from the 'medicines for children' website regarding prescribing medicine off license. Useful for discussions with parents.
Versus Arthritis is a charity that raises awareness and supports people with arthritis. Their website has information about arthritis and its various treatments, and other rheumatological conditions such as fibromyalgia. They also have a helpline for further information and advice. This page in particular has exercises to keep joints healthy and to help with arthritis related pains.
Victim Support helps anyone affected by crime. Not only those who experience it directly, but also their friends, family and any other people involved. It doesn’t matter when the crime took place, or whether it has been reported it to the police. They run a 24/7 helpline that is independent from the police, free and confidential.
Really great website of resources for parents and doctors. Developed with the NHS and RCPH, resources for both healthcare professionals and parents about maternal and child health. Includes: Information on common childhood illnesses, symptoms in pregnancy, postnatal health, maternal mental health, child safety, healthy living. For healthcare professionals there are also resources to support discussions about healthy living such as childhood obesity.
Information for patients about possible next steps when presenting with gut problems: "If you have gut problems or problems with your poo, then it’s important that you get the right diagnosis. Your GP may suggest that you have several tests, examinations or investigations. We hope that this information will help you understand your pathway to getting a diagnosis and make things seem less overwhelming."
Whole body seated exercises (for seniors). The video has been created by a physiotherapist and is a beginner full chair workout covering exercises for every area of your body. Get stronger, improve your flexibility and fitness. Move better, feel better. This session goes for 55 minutes. May be helpful for patients with limited mobility who want to increase their activity levels, strength, flexibility.
Mental health resources for children and teenagers. Includes advice and a helpline for parents, and advice written for teens.