Alcohol Awareness Week: Speaking up about alcohol and mental health

Alcohol Awareness Week 2020 takes place from 16-22 November 2020, and this year will focus on the issues around alcohol and mental health.

When things get tough, we can find ourselves turning to alcohol to cope. But what many of us don't realise is that drinking too much and too often can make our mental health problems worse - such as anxiety and depression - and prevent them from being properly addressed.

So for this Alcohol Awareness Week, Alcohol Change UK are looking at the issues around alcohol and mental health, the best ways to look after ourselves and those we love during a year of great change and uncertainty.  

If you are using alcohol to help you feel better about being confined at home, not being able to see friends and family, or if you are just drinking more heavily in general lately, there is a real risk of worsening your mental health with problems such as anxiety and depression, along with many other health conditions.  

The good news is that by taking control of your drinking, you can become healthier and reduce your risk for many serious health conditions including seven forms of cancer, mental health problems, and liver disease.
Lots of us drink more than we realise, to check how healthy your drinking is, or for tips on how to cut down, visit www.alcoholchange.org.uk.  

Want to talk to someone? 

Wirral Ways to Recovery is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for adults (including offenders), young adults, families, carers and affected others in Wirral.

They provide a range of treatment, recovery and support services for those who have concerns about their drug or alcohol use, including advice and information you can access online.

To refer yourself or someone else to the service, call Wirral Ways to Recovery on  0151 556 1335, email Wirral.services@cgl.org.uk or complete an online referral form https://www.changegrowlive.org/wirral-ways-to-recovery/referrals#yourself.

Further  information, including details of hubs opening times,  and online groups can be found on the Wirral Ways to Recovery website  https://www.changegrowlive.org/wirral-ways-to-recovery