Address
West Park Hospital
Edward Pease Way
Darlington
Co.Durham
DL2 2TS
Tel: 01325 552017
Email: [email protected]
Lead contact: Jo Cromarty
Do you suffer with repeated episodes of depression?
Are you stressed by caring for, or parenting, someone with mental ill health?
Many of us spend a lot of time brooding about the past, worrying about the future, and being hard on ourselves. These habits of mind are difficult to control and often leave us feeling stressed and low.
Mindfulness can help…
What is mindfulness?
This short animation film explains what mindfulness is.
Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention to the present moment. When we’re tuned in to the present moment, the mind is less likely to get caught up in unhelpful patterns of thinking and feeling.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our thoughts and emotions and relate to them in a different way. We learn skills that can help us to:
- become more focussed and steady
- feel less overwhelmed
- respond more wisely to difficulties and stress.
Mindfulness can also help us learn to be kinder to ourselves and more accepting of how things are.
‘Staying present’ is not easy– especially when we’re feeling stressed, or miserable. With patience and practice we can all learn to be more mindful more often.
Members of the Trust mindfulness team explain a little more in this short film clip.
The following audio clip will take you through a brief mindfulness meditation which may help you to understand more about mindfulness. It’s best to do this meditation sitting in a chair, at a time when you know you won’t be interrupted.
Our courses
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) courses combines two great approaches; mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. Our MBCT courses are a great way to understand thought patterns and how to work with these in more helpful ways. We are currently delivering these courses on line.
You will learn and practise simple meditations and other activities that can help you to:
- be more aware of your thoughts and feelings
- be kinder to yourself
- respond more wisely to difficulties and stress
The following film shares the personal experiences of some who have attended courses at a different NHS centre and the benefits they have experienced.
Who can take part?
Our online courses are available to adults (aged 18+) living in County Durham and Darlington, Teesside and most of North Yorkshire, who:
- have experienced repeated episodes of depression
- are stressed by parenting or caring for someone with mental ill health or a learning disability.
What is a mindfulness course like?
The course includes eight sessions lasting two hours and one longer session. Sessions normally take place over consecutive weeks.
In the sessions you will learn and practice some fairly simple meditations, for example focusing attention on your breathing for periods of time. The teacher will be a qualified mental health professional who is also experienced in teaching mindfulness.
The course takes a lot of time and effort and involves practising the meditations at home on a daily basis. It is important to attend regularly and to practise the approach at home every day.
What is the evidence?
MBCT has been thoroughly researched and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for people who suffer from recurrent depression. There is also good evidence that learning mindfulness can be helpful for people who are stressed.
How do I take part?
To find out more about mindfulness and the course we offer you can attend an online taster session. After this you can apply for the nine week course and we will discuss this in more detail with you with a telephone appointment. Online services are via Microsoft Teams.
Online taster sessions
- Monday 13 December 10am – 12noon
- Monday 10 January 2022 10am -12noon
- Tues 11 January 6-8pm
- Wednesday 12 January 10am – 12noon
- Tuesday 18 January 6-8pm
- Wednesday 19 January 10am – 12noon
If you are interested in taking part in one of our free online tasters or courses, please email us at [email protected] or telephone 01325 552017 so we can send you the link to the meetings.
Online courses
- Tuesday evenings, 7-9.15pm, Jan 25 – March 22
- Mondays, 11- 1.15pm, Jan 31 – March 28
- Tuesdays, 10 – 12.15pm, 1 Feb to 29 March
- Wednesdays, 10 – 12.15pm, Feb 2 – March 30
Online half day of mindfulness
If you are interested in joining us for a half day of mindfulness, please email us at [email protected] or telephone 01325 552017 so we can book you in and send you the link to the meeting.
- Monday 8 November, 10am – 3pm
- Tuesday 9 November, 10am – 3pm
- Tuesday 16 November, 10am – 3pm
- Monday 22 November, 9.30am – 2.30pm
- Thursday 25 November, 10am – 3pm
Online practice group
If you have attended one of our courses in the past, you would be very welcome to join our online ‘practice group’ sessions. These regular 45 minute sessions are an opportunity to do some practice with other people and to re-visit some themes of the course. Everyone will be very welcome, including people who haven’t done any practice for years! The sessions will be led by members of the mindfulness team.
If you are interested in registering for these, please email us at [email protected] with PRACTICE GROUP as the subject heading.
Online practice group
If you have attended one of our courses in the past, you would be very welcome to join our online ‘practice group’ sessions. These regular 45 minute sessions are an opportunity to do some practice with other people and to re-visit some themes of the course. Everyone will be very welcome, including people who haven’t done any practice for years! The sessions will be led by members of the mindfulness team.
If you are interested in registering for these, please email us at [email protected] with PRACTICE GROUP as the subject heading.
Useful resources
You may find some of the following resources helpful:
Headspace
Headspace is a very popular and high quality app.
Oxford Mindfulness Centre
The Oxford Mindfulness Centre site has many useful resources including audios of practices and a free online practice group relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Free mindfulness
Free mindfulness is hosted by Peter Morgan, one of our team members, and includes many useful resources including practices, poetry and links to other sites
The Mindfulness Network
The Mindfulness Network site includes links to other free online practice groups relating to the Covid-19 pandemic
L955, v37, 19/05/21, archive 18/05/24
