For 23 years Body & Soul have been on the frontline of delivering a trauma informed community response. We have supported families struggling with the life-threatening effects of trauma, whether someone has been neglected or abused, trafficked, attempted suicide or stigmatised because of HIV.
In this time of collective crisis, Body & Soul has further mobilised to bring a community response to Covid-19 for our members, our volunteers, staff and to the wider community. This is the time for us all to come together, uniting with love in the face of such adversity.
Physical distancing does not mean emotional distancing. What we do today will change all our lives. Through this darkness there is hope, but it requires us as humans to reset – to return to the values of love, connection and empathy. The most powerful buffer to trauma we have is our ability to connect.
We need a return of reverence for this planet, for our communities, for one another.
We know for those of you who already have experienced adversity in your childhood, this crisis may feel even tougher and we want to be here to support you in managing these difficult times.
Skills for young people in distress
Crisis support for NHS frontline staff
Brave Families
During the coming weeks, the stress of the current crisis is very likely to begin to take its toll on all of us. With schools, colleges, universities and workplaces closed, many of the natural support networks are suddenly absent and routines that are so central to managing on a daily basis are no longer there. We also know that there are already growing numbers of young people with complex mental health needs who don’t have access to support and will be most at risk.
Body & Soul is providing a weekly MindSET Livestream session that will be accessible to any young person in psychological distress. You can register for each session and receive a link that will provide access to the event. MindSET delivers effective, concrete skills to help young people manage emotional distress, skills that have been essential to our members at risk of suicide and self-harm. Our therapeutic team will help you acquire the same knowledge and skills quickly, enabling you to reduce and manage emotional distress and prevent harmful behaviours.
Register to watch our MindSET livestreams
Crisis Counselling for NHS Frontline staff
In this collective time of trauma and with every NHS staff member under intense pressure, Body & Soul has launched a crisis support line with a team of volunteer qualified therapists to help anyone working on the frontline.
We know from our experience of working with trauma and PTSD the importance of a holding space for everyone involved in the crisis. Your wellbeing is important to us today, next week and beyond.
Our immediate response is that we are offering a call-back service. This would be a 30-minute one-off session with a trained therapist, as a chance to be validated, heard and supported. There is an option for further support if necessary. Other resources for your whole family and a framework for longer-term support is being developed..
Click here to request a call-back.
What you can do right now …
Love yourself
Begin with yourself! To help others, we need to make sure we are managing ourselves and our own emotions. Check out and practice our skills to stay grounded and regulated:
New skills brought to you regularly – check back here.
Love others
Think who you could share this with. Perhaps not the first person that comes to mind but someone who you might be concerned for or someone you haven’t spoken to for a while.
We need your help too, join our community of volunteers – click here to register.
Share the love
Join our Homemade Hearts movement. Sharing your heart will not only build the love we all need right now but will raise awareness and support our community response to Covid 19. We are supporting thousands of people struggling to manage through this crisis.
Let the message of love move faster and wider than this virus. We all need some love. Give generously!
