Mental Health Courses For The Over 50s

Improving Mental Health For The Over 50s

Are you over 50 and struggling with mental health issues?

Over 50s Mental HealthBeing over 50 can sometimes bring unexpected stress, family pressures, bereavements and financial worries, causing us to feel unhappy, unmotivated and unwell physically and mentally –  at a time when our body and mind just wants a calmer life!

Some older age groups have a tendency to ignore mental health problems and tend to think more about good physical health rather than good mental health, so are far less likely to seek help with stress or depression. Both are equally important, and mental health issues can be treated, just like any other illness.

The causes of stress and depression in the over 50s can be many and varied. We have a tendency to blame ourselves which in turn can add to the negative thoughts and feelings. Causes can include:

  • Painful events like the passing of a friend or loved one. Men are more likely than women to try to supress feelings of anxiety or depression and are less likely to talk about how they feel and how these feelings are affecting their lives
  • Financial pressures can have a major, negative impact on positive mental health
  • A previous history of stress, anxiety or depression
  • Physical illnesses – while feeling anxious or depressed about illness or recovery is understandable, it doesn’t mean it can’t be treated
  • Loneliness – Impact’s courses are designed with peer support in mind
  • Employment problems
  • Retirement – is a major change in someone’s life and can be difficult to adjust to that change

As with the causes, the symptoms too, can be many and varied and can include:

  • Tireness and/or lack of energy
  • Changes in appetite
  • Weight changes
  • Lack of libido
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety, worry or panic attacks
  • Feelings of self-blame
  • Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
  • Low self-esteem
  • Feeling tearful
  • Continual sadness and low mood
  • Feeling guilt-ridden
  • Indecisiveness
  • Lack of enthusiasm even for the things you usually love doing
  • Social exclusion and avoiding contact with others

If you are 50 or over and struggling with worry, anxiety, stress or depression, attending an Impact YOU Programme may just be the opportunity, you need to get back in control of your life and your mind!

Impact, provide relaxed, mental health & wellbeing programmes across Bedfordshire, and we are excited to announce that we will be delivering one of our YOU Programmes in September 2018, specifically for local residents aged 50 and over.

This programme will help you to help yourself manage pressures such as stress/anxiety, isolation, unemployment, relationship difficulties, bereavements, employment issues and unhealthy addictions using peer-led discussions to uncover and build confidence, plan for structure in your life and teach empowering decision-making techniques.

An enjoyable and friendly, informative 4 days delivered over 4 weeks by facilitators sharing a wealth of lived experience, and who know what it’s like to be over 50!

If you would like to find out more, register for one of our enrolment sessions or pop-ins, or just drop us a line.

Let’s make being over 50 something to celebrate with renewed hope, new learning and new goals for a more enriched and healthier life.

How To Apply

We understand that it can be daunting to call and talk to someone, or to complete an enrolment form, that’s why we have created a variety of ways in which you can enrol yourself or refer someone else onto an OVER 50s YOU Programme in your area.

Request A Call Back

Drop us a line, and we’ll call you right back …

Find A Local Sign-Up or Pop-In

We arrange relaxed and informal sign-up sessions and pop-ins throughout Central Bedfordshire on a regular basis.

Call Us On 01582 797596

and we’ll be happy to complete the enrolment forms with you and confirm your place on the next cycle in your area.

Funded In Partnership With

Course Content

Take a look at what some of our previous learners have said about the YOU Programme!

Mental Health Peer Support

“Thank you so much, I have loved every minute!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The course was delivered in a very easy to understand manner, helpful, informative. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly, unpressurised. Worthwhile.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The past is in your head. The future is in your hands.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Tremendously empowering!… has given me the strength to make change and decisions to move my life forward.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Great course, facilitators were fantastic.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I have really enjoyed this course… it has given me hope for the future… thank you so much.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“People have been very nice and i have made some new friends.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Found the course very interesting.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“It is the most helpful course I have ever done.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I found the course very friendly and I am glad I decided to do it.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Empowering & educating others to make important changes in their lives to succeed.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“After doing this course I feel more in control and know what I need to do to control my mental health.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I would recommend this course to anyone involved with mental health. Be it service user or professional… Good information and delivered with a non-school feel. Well done Impact, keep it up!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The programme needed to be longer! Relaxing and had a great laugh!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Felt unwell this morning. Feeling better now!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Feel empowered, on a journey and supported. I realise that not all change is negative and fear should not stop me. Empathic and understanding. I feel accepted for who I am – I am a person not a diagnosis!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“It was really interesting to learn that there are others in the same boat and that I am not alone. Great course!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The course and staff are great but the programme needs to be longer!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I really enjoyed the course.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“A very enjoyable couple of days, please continue providing such excellent support.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I owe a big thank you to all, I was not in a good place but have learnt such a lot. I recommend that this course should be used as recovery.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I felt very strong after the first session, couldn’t explain why but so glad I came back to enable me to accept the opportunity to help myself.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Thank you for the help, I started feeling much better than I did and want to move on – a great service for the people who need it.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“It’s been great to meet like-minded people. The paperwork is few and sufficiently direct so it’s great not to have to try and read too much information. The course staff mingle in with participants, so there’s no superiority, unlike the professional, patient situation!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Fantastic course, a breath of fresh air. I really benefitted and I strongly believe I have acquired a set of tools and knowledge that will benefit me in the short and long-term.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Really well presented, respectful and understanding. Thanks so much.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I found the programme really interesting, informative and inspiring!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Impact really have made a positive impact on my self-view and my hopes and expectations for a positive future, based on change and planned development. Programme needs to be longer.”

“Thank you so much, I have loved every minute!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The course was delivered in a very easy to understand manner, helpful, informative. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly, unpressurised. Worthwhile.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The past is in your head. The future is in your hands.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Tremendously empowering!… has given me the strength to make change and decisions to move my life forward.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Great course, facilitators were fantastic.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I have really enjoyed this course… it has given me hope for the future… thank you so much.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“People have been very nice and i have made some new friends.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Found the course very interesting.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“It is the most helpful course I have ever done.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I found the course very friendly and I am glad I decided to do it.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Empowering & educating others to make important changes in their lives to succeed.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“After doing this course I feel more in control and know what I need to do to control my mental health.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I would recommend this course to anyone involved with mental health. Be it service user or professional… Good information and delivered with a non-school feel. Well done Impact, keep it up!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The programme needed to be longer! Relaxing and had a great laugh!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Felt unwell this morning. Feeling better now!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Feel empowered, on a journey and supported. I realise that not all change is negative and fear should not stop me. Empathic and understanding. I feel accepted for who I am – I am a person not a diagnosis!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“It was really interesting to learn that there are others in the same boat and that I am not alone. Great course!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“The course and staff are great but the programme needs to be longer!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I really enjoyed the course.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“A very enjoyable couple of days, please continue providing such excellent support.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I owe a big thank you to all, I was not in a good place but have learnt such a lot. I recommend that this course should be used as recovery.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I felt very strong after the first session, couldn’t explain why but so glad I came back to enable me to accept the opportunity to help myself.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Thank you for the help, I started feeling much better than I did and want to move on – a great service for the people who need it.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“It’s been great to meet like-minded people. The paperwork is few and sufficiently direct so it’s great not to have to try and read too much information. The course staff mingle in with participants, so there’s no superiority, unlike the professional, patient situation!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Fantastic course, a breath of fresh air. I really benefitted and I strongly believe I have acquired a set of tools and knowledge that will benefit me in the short and long-term.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Really well presented, respectful and understanding. Thanks so much.”

Mental Health Peer Support

“I found the programme really interesting, informative and inspiring!”

Mental Health Peer Support

“Impact really have made a positive impact on my self-view and my hopes and expectations for a positive future, based on change and planned development. Programme needs to be longer.”

Mental Health Peer Support

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