How Citizens Advice Somerset Works with Your Local OMH Team
Even when life is going well, we can all experience problems with our mental health. But when things aren’t plain sailing and practical troubles begin to pile up, life becomes even tougher. Unresolved problems can easily trigger low mood or make existing mental health struggles much harder to manage.
Both the UK Government and the National Health Service recognise housing insecurity, debt, welfare barriers, unemployment, and legal disputes as major factors causing mental distress. When we open brown envelopes with a sinking feeling in our stomach, our mental wellbeing suffers. Trying to make sense of the benefits system can feel daunting, and dealing with rising energy bills or tenancy disputes can be frightening.
It is almost impossible to focus on our recovery or emotional wellbeing when we aren’t sure how we will pay next week’s rent or put food on the table.
Support That Looks at the Whole Picture
Looking after your wellbeing means looking at the whole picture of your life, not just symptoms. Mental health services need to be holistic and address day-to-day problems.
That is why Citizens Advice Somerset works directly with Open Mental Health’s local teams across the county. When you get in touch with Open Mental Health, you do not have to tell your story over and over again to different organisations. Instead, your local team can connect you to a dedicated specialist from Citizens Advice Somerset. While you work with your team and alliance partners on your mental and emotional wellbeing, an advisor can offer support to help lift the load of practical worries off your shoulders.
How Citizens Advice Somerset can Help
If you’re getting anxious whenever the phone rings or letters arrive, Citizens Advice Somerset works hand in hand with our support teams to help you find a way forward:
Benefits and Income: Completing lengthy forms from the benefits agency or appealing a benefits decision can overwhelm us when we’re struggling with our mental health. Citizens Advice Somerset can provide clear guidance and help with applications, renewals, and appeals, including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, and local welfare support.
Debt and Money Worries: Financial worries can leave us feeling trapped and hopeless. Advisors offer realistic, non-judgemental help to deal with debt, negotiate with creditors, and stop fees from spiralling.
Housing Difficulties: A secure home is the foundation of our lives. If you are dealing with rent arrears, repair disputes, or fear losing your home, advisors can help you understand your rights and plan your next step forward.
Workplace and Legal Rights: It helps to have someone explain complex rules in plain English, whether you are dealing with unfair treatment at work, facing dismissal, or sorting out family disagreements.
Emergency Support: Sometimes things reach a point where we require immediate, practical help. Advisors can quickly arrange crisis food bank vouchers or fuel vouchers to ease acute financial distress.
Real-Life OMH Teamwork in Action
This joined-up support brings a real difference when life seems overwhelming.
When David began working with his Support Time and Recovery Worker through Open Mental Health, he was struggling with everyday budgeting and desperately needed a proper bed. His worker connected him with Citizens Advice Somerset. Together, they collected the information needed to apply for a grant through the Help Through Winter Fund, successfully getting David a new bed. The advisor also joined David on three-way phone calls with the Universal Credit helpline, the local council, and Wessex Water, taking the intimidation out of dealing with official organisations and helping him get his finances back on track.
James was also dealing with several difficult situations at once. He was living in a cramped two-bedroom flat with three children, and the overcrowded living conditions were taking a severe toll on his mental health. While his local team supported his wellbeing, Citizens Advice Somerset stepped in to tackle the practical barriers. An advisor worked with him through regular appointments, started a Homefinder Somerset application to help the family find a suitable home, and supported him through submitting a Personal Independence Payment application.
Finding Support with Open Mental Health
Dealing with mental health and practical problems together can bring stability and peace to our lives and prevent us from getting completely overwhelmed.
You do not have to untangle life’s challenges alone.
If you are an adult living in Somerset and you are struggling with your mental health, Open Mental Health is here for you. When you contact us, our local teams will work with you to understand what you need, connecting you to both emotional support and practical advice to help you sort out financial and other life problems.
Call Mindline Somerset: Speak with someone confidentially on 01823 276 892 or freephone 0800 138 1692. We are here to listen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Contact us online: If you prefer to write things down, send us a message, and we’ll put you in touch with your local Open Mental Health team.