Mobilates – Wellbeing & Support Signposting Guide
- Suzanne
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Your Wellbeing Matters in Our Community
Mobilates is more than an exercise programme — it’s a community where people come together to move, connect, and support one another. Many of us live with long-term health conditions, disabilities, mobility challenges, or fluctuating health, and we know that physical wellbeing and mental wellbeing are closely linked.
During classes and social events, it’s natural for people to share updates about their health or life experiences. Sometimes these conversations can be uplifting and bring the group closer together. At other times, they may touch on difficult emotions, distressing situations, or topics that feel triggering or heavy for those listening - including members, instructors and teachers.
We care about every single person who comes into a class, but we also recognise that neither the Mobilates team nor fellow participants can hold or resolve everyone’s emotional challenges.
That’s why we’ve created this guide: a place you can visit any time you need extra support, information, or someone to talk to, or a place to direct others to.
This resource will help you:
find mental health support when things feel overwhelming,
access peer groups and online communities,
look into talking therapies and reliable information,
explore crisis helplines,
and get signposting for work, volunteering, and disability support.
You can dip into it whenever you need to. You don’t have to wait for a session. You don’t have to explain anything to anyone. And you won’t be taking time away from others - this guide is here just for you.
Positive Community – Why Support Matters
Positive communities — like Mobilates — can deeply enrich our wellbeing. Feeling welcomed, included and connected can boost our confidence, belonging and purpose.
Online and in-person spaces help us make friends, share experiences, and learn from one another.
But we also recognise that being part of a warm community doesn’t mean every moment feels easy. Reading or hearing something sensitive, especially related to health or personal struggles, can bring up difficult emotions. That’s why it’s important to know where to turn when you need further support.
In Case You Need Urgent Support
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need urgent help, you can jump straight to our Crisis Support section by clicking here.
Peer Support
There are different types of peer support, but they all involve both giving and receiving support. This could be sharing knowledge or providing emotional support, social interaction or practical help. Everyone’s experiences are treated as equally important, and no one is more of an expert than anyone else. How much help you give and receive will depend on what feels right for you at different times.
Research shows that peer support can improve people’s well-being, meaning they have fewer hospital stays, larger support networks, and better self-esteem, confidence and social skills.
What can peer support help with?
Peer support programmes can help with various issues, including:
other mental health conditions
How can I find peer support?
NHS services
Some NHS services run peer support groups. Ask your GP or other healthcare professional about this.
Mental health groups
Many local Minds offer peer support. Visit their peer support directory to find out what’s available in your area.
Rethink has peer support groups run by volunteers who often have lived experience of mental illness. They can help you feel more confident, informed and in control of your life. Some meet for mutual support, while others offer activities such as art or sport.
Together UK runs peer support groups. Contact your local one to find out if you need a referral or can self-refer.
Also, check your local library or community centre message board - local groups may put flyers up there.
Peer support for specific groups of people
Some peer support services are aimed at people with mental health conditions or who are part of particular communities.
Bipolar: Bipolar UK has support groups hosted by staff or volunteers who are affected by the condition
Carers: Carers UK has a directory of local support groups. You can talk honestly to other carers and get tips on supporting someone and looking after yourself
Depression: Peer Talk has a network of peer support groups for people who experience depression
Hearing voices: the Hearing Voices Network has groups for people who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual sensory experiences
LGBTQIA+: Stonewall has a list of local peer support groups, including those specifically about mental health.
Befriending Networks lists peer support groups for specific groups of people, including people from BAME communities, older people, disabled people, single parents and more.
Online support groups
Mind has an online community, Side By Side, where you can talk about your mental health and connect to others who understand what you’re going through.
Togetherall is an online community for people with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. You may need an access code to register, or your local council or healthcare provider may have already signed up.
Talking Therapies
Talking therapy involves talking to a trained professional about your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Describing what’s going on in your head and how that makes you feel can help you notice any patterns you may want to change. It can help you work out where your negative feelings and ideas come from and why they are there.
Understanding all this can help you make positive changes, take greater control of your life and improve your confidence.
Who can benefit from talking therapy?
Talking therapy can help with:
difficult life events such as bereavement or redundancy
relationship problems
events from your past that still cause you distress – consciously or unconsciously
difficult feelings such as anger, shame or low self-esteem
mental health problems
It doesn’t have to be a last resort or something you turn to in a crisis. If you think you could do with talking to someone in a safe space who won’t judge you, then it’s ok to try it.
Different types of talking therapy
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends certain therapies for certain problems, but other therapies might work for you just as well.
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) has more information about them.
To find a private therapist, it’s a good idea to search via a website that only lists therapists who are registered with a professional body, such as:
the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for all kinds of therapists
Counselling Directory for all kinds of therapists
the Online CBT Register for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) practitioners
Pink Therapy for therapists with LGBTQIA+ experience
the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) for therapists of Black, African, South Asian and Caribbean heritage
Through your place of work or education
Some workplaces have Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) which may offer a limited number of free therapy sessions. Many colleges and universities offer free therapy services.
Other organisations
Some charities and community organisations offer free or low-cost talking therapies, sometimes by using trainees. Ask your GP if they know anywhere local, contact local counselling training centres, or try one of the following.
Anxiety UK offers reduced rate therapy
The British Psychotherapy Association offers low-cost intensive therapy. You need to make a two-year minimum commitment
Cruse Bereavement Care offers bereavement counselling through its local branches
Sign Health offers free therapy to deaf people via sign language, lip reading or deaf-blind communication
Online information
Perhaps the simplest way to get help online is by visiting trustworthy websites to find out more about mental health problems, symptoms and treatment options.
Use reliable, evidence-based sources such as The Mental Health Foundation A-Z pages or the NHS Every Mind Matters website.
Have a look at the links on The Mental Health Foundation ‘getting help with your mental health’ page, or ask your GP for recommendations.
You may also find podcasts and videos helpful. The NHS has some mental wellbeing audio guides, and Mind has a YouTube channel, for example.
Online one-to-one support
Sometimes it can feel easier to talk about what’s on your mind through an online chat rather than on the phone or face-to-face. The organisations listed below let you have an online conversation with a trained volunteer or counsellor in real-time.
If you’re a young person, you can contact The Mix (for people under 25)
If you’re LGBTQIA+, contact Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline to talk to an LGBTQIA+ volunteer. If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you can use Galop’s webchat service
You can talk to a Beat advisor if you’re affected by an eating disorder
CALM offers a webchat service for anyone feeling down who needs to talk
My Black Dog is a peer support chat service for people with mental health difficulties
Online communities
Posting on online forums can connect you to support and advice from others who understand what you’re going through. You could join:
Beat’s message boards for people with an eating disorder and those who support them
Side by Side, Mind’s online community
All these forums are moderated, meaning a team will check all posts to keep the community safe and stop harmful messages from being shared.
Smartphone apps
If you have a smartphone, apps can help you manage your mental health. They can provide information, tips, games, exercises and self-help.
You can download apps from 'app' stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play. Make sure the app is genuine and secure, especially before entering personal information or paying to use it. Check the reviews in the app store: a real app will likely have hundreds of positive reviews.
Online self-help programs
If you talk to your doctor about your mental health or self-refer for talking therapy, you may be offered an online self-help course. These courses often use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
It can be a convenient way to have therapy if you don’t have a lot of time, can’t access face-to-face therapy, or want totally anonymous help.
Some areas offer guided self-help, where you go through the course with some telephone or email support from a therapist.
Online therapy
Online therapy is a chance to talk to a counsellor online via a video call. It’s also known as e-therapy, internet counselling or remote counselling. Sessions work in the normal way, except instead of going to a counselling room, you see your counsellor via your laptop, tablet or mobile phone.
If you want online therapy, talk to your GP or self-refer to your local psychological therapies service to see if it’s available on the NHS. You can also find private therapists who offer an online service.
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) advises people looking for help with their mental health to use therapists registered with an accredited professional body based in this country, such as the BACP or UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Crisis Support
‘Crisis’ can describe many different situations. With mental health, it means a time when you need urgent help. You might be extremely anxious and have panic attacks.
You could be self-harming or thinking of suicide. You may have felt this way before and know where to get help, or it could be the first time you’ve felt this way.
Crisis care can take many different forms – calling a helpline, going to A&E, or making an emergency doctor’s appointment. Different things might work for you at different times.
The important thing to know is help is available. You won’t be wasting anyone’s time if you ask for support.
I need urgent help for my mental health
There are different types of crisis support available depending on what you need.
You could:
call 999 or go to your local A&E if you’ve tried to hurt yourself or think you might act on suicidal thoughts
make an emergency appointment with your doctor or call 111 for advice if you’re not in immediate danger
contact your local crisis team if a community mental health team is already supporting you
call an NHS urgent mental health helpline for advice and support (England only)
be admitted to a hospital if you need intensive support or if there’s a risk you could hurt yourself or someone else. Ask your doctor or another healthcare professional to refer you if you think you need to go to a hospital or stay in a crisis house. They offer intensive short-term help as an alternative to going into a hospital or following a hospital stay.
Mind has more information about crisis houses.
tell someone you trust like a partner or friend. If you’re not sure what to do or need support to get help
call a helpline to talk about your feelings with a trained listener
.
Useful resources
Mind has practical tools you can use to help yourself in a crisis.
Samaritans offer confidential emotional support to anyone having a difficult time.
You can text Shout on 85258 for confidential support by text.
In Northern Ireland, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. They’re a crisis response helpline for anyone in distress or despair.
Work/Volunteering Support
The Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP) provides free confidential information and advice, so that disabled people and people with long term health conditions, employers, and advisors can make informed decisions about impairment-related work issues.
Their services for fill the real need that individuals and businesses have to gain appropriate support and accessible plain English information that allows them to address the barriers they may face to full workplace inclusion.
Through their email service they provide support to individuals and employers at every stage of the recruitment process and in a wide variety of work situations.
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you can find more information about support in work if you have a disability or health condition (Access to Work).
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).
ACAS gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They also offer training and help to resolve disputes.
Mobilates CIC provides inclusive, adapted exercise for people living with long term health conditions, chronic pain, fatigue and disability.
We create safe, welcoming spaces to move, connect and build confidence in what your body CAN do, whether you join a class in person, online, or from your bed. We’re led by lived experience and powered by community. Together, we’re redefining what movement can look like.
💗 Join Da Mob: www.mobilates.com
📧 Get updates: Subscribe to our newsletter for gentle inspiration, community stories, and upcoming events.
Comments