LIFE MATTERS: When you need to talk there is support there for you

Whilst wellbeing is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy.”

It also defines resilience as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, or toughness’. Life will always throw us curve balls. The key is how we deal with those curve balls to ensure that we don’t deplete our energy levels. For me, when a crisis strikes – and in my 60 years I’ve had many - it’s in my nature to reach out to family or friends or seek help from a professional if it’s a health matter, but I appreciate that’s not always an easy thing for everyone to do. Finding the right emotional and practical support at the right time is so important to building ones’ resilience.

One of the biggest challenges anyone can face is being given the news of having a life- changing illness diagnosis, whether that’s you or a family member. It’s also sometimes

difficult to know who to talk to first and where to go for practical and emotional support. Often there’s the issue of having conversations about your prognosis that would be too uncomfortable to have with loved ones and the feeling that you don’t want to burden your friends. However, if you live in North Northumberland there is support for you right here at HospiceCare.

HospiceCare’s ‘A Time to Talk’ advice and information telephone line service is for those looking to talk to someone about their own illness or someone they are caring for and you don’t need to have had any previous contact with the Hospice. Our clinical team have the time to talk to you and can offer practical and emotional support in the strictest confidence.

Our ‘A Time to Talk’ service can be accessed Monday – Friday 9am-4.30pm by telephoning T. 01665 606515 or T. 01289 309997, you don’t need to make an appointment – just call and ask to speak with one of our clinical team. There is no charge for this support and no ongoing commitment if you decide it’s not for you. Talking is the first step to building resilience and to have the support you need, when you need it. So we wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to our communities across North Northumberland to remind you that we are still here for you. Until next time, be kind to yourself and take care of each other.