Health and Wellbeing
The formation of this group was driven by the intention to provide support and assistance for challenges such as loneliness and depression. Although our weekly get-togethers can be beneficial in addressing these concerns, it's important to note that none of us are medically qualified to provide advice on health-related matters.
That said, here are a few online resources that may be able to help.
NB: The Neilston Men's Group has no connection with any of the services listed and their inclusion here implies no endorsement from us.
Air Quality and Water Safety
Low air quality and air pollution can be detrimental to those with heart, lung or other breathing problems so here are a couple of resources that you can use to check it:
Air Quality Scotland - a site developed for the Scottish Government to publish forecasts, reports and information on air quality in Scotland.
UK AIR - a service operated by DEFRA and which publishes air pollution forecasts, maps and alerts and has a wealth of information and data about it.
Water is essential for life and Scotland has loads of it but it can also be dangerous if you don't take care around it:
Water Safety Scotland - a site whose main purpose is to understand the risks around water in Scotland. It has a water safety code and advice on staying safe while enjoying water-related activities.
Diet and Food
Eating healthily is something we really should do as often as possible and there are a few resources out there that can help if you're diet-conscious:
Diabetes UK - useful information about diabetes and managing the condition along with some tasty recipes.
myfitnesspal - a free mobile app for Android and iOS that can help track your food, exercise and calorie intake. It has data on over 18 million foods.
MyNetDiary - a free mobile app for Android and iOS that can help you manage your weight loss and diet.
Food Hygiene Ratings - Covers all UK food-related businesses covered by The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in England, Northern Ireland and Wales the and the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) in Scotland.
NHS Weight Loss - a free mobile app for Android and iOS with information to help you lose weight.
Scores on the Doors - discover the food hygiene ratings of your favourite pubs, clubs, cafés, take-aways, deliveries and restaurants. It has all over 500,000 food establishments listed in the UK.
First Aid and General Fitness
British Red Cross - has free online resources to learn first aid, workshops, Red Cross first aid training courses and more. There are free first aid apps for Android and iOS mobiles here: https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-apps
St John Ambulance Service - has some useful first aid advice on a wide range of conditions - from hay fever to head injuries to heart attacks and much more. They also have free first aid apps for Android and iOS mobiles here: https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/free-first-aid-app/
The Circuit - the national defibrillator network, which provides a national overview of where defibrillators can be found.
RevivR - A short, self-directed CPR training module from the British Heart Foundation that could teach you how to save someone's life.
Google Fit - Google's free fitness app for Android and iOS.
Samsung Health - Samsung's free fitness app for Android and iOS.
Mental Health and wellbeing
Aware - a free mobile app for Android and iOS, developed by psychologists, with open or private, hosted live sessions for mental health, wellbeing and inner development.
anxietycentre.com - has information on anxiety symptoms and some free online tests on anxiety, stress and depression.
Breathe Machine - A free, online app for anyone feeling nervous, restless or tense. Whenever you feel like you need to catch your breath, push the button, relax, follow the bubble and breathe. Just that. Breathe.
HelpGuide.org - a guide to mental health and wellbeing that hopes to empower you with the knowledge and skills you need to strengthen your mental health & well-being.
Mental Health Foundation - a mental wellbeing charity aiming to improve your mental health.
Mind - a UK mental health support charity.
Mindful - an online mindfulness and meditation magazine that offers courses, personal stories, news-you-can-use, practical advice, resources and insights.
MoodMission - a free, evidence-based mobile app for Android and iOS, designed to empower you to overcome feelings of depression and anxiety by discovering new and better ways of coping.
MoodTools - a mobile app for Android and iOS, to help track depression and mood issues.
Pocket Mindfulness - a blog about mindfulness, about stopping still for a moment and taking stock of what's really going on around you.
RAMH - Recovery Across Mental Health, a charity based in Paisley, supporting approximately 7,000 people a year across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire in their recovery from mental ill health.
SAMH - Scottish Action for Mental Health, a charity that provides over 70 services in Scotland for people with mental health problems. Services include therapeutic horticulture, peer support, employability, community engagement, homelessness, addictions, suicide prevention and supported accommodation.
Smiling Mind - Australia’s leading digital-led, prevention focussed mental health not-for-profit and are the innovators behind Australia’s most trusted mental wellbeing app.
TalkLife - a free mobile app for Android and iOS, that provides a safe place where you can talk about anything: mental health, depression, self harm, eating disorders, and more.
Meditation, Music and Nature Sounds
There are definite benefits to meditation, listening to the sounds of nature and birdsong to combat stress and anxiety and evidence shows that music can help people - including those living with dementia - to feel and live better so here are some supporting resources:
An article from the UK Natural History Museum:
Articles from Earth.fm on the benefits of birdsong to mental health:
Anxiety versus birdsong - an article on the benefits of birdsong and a collection of free-to-stream birdsong soundscapes.
Apps that can maybe help with dementia, depression or anxiety:
A Soft Murmur - a free online background noise generator designed to help you relax, focus, and tune out unpleasant sounds from your environment. You can mix in a range of nature sounds including birdsong.
BBC Music Memories - A web site designed to use music to help people reconnect with their most powerful memories. Create a playlist and then export it to Spotify to listen to your tracks in full, or sit back and listen to a Memory Radio show.
Birdsong FM - a free web and mobile app that delivers an audio stream of birdsong to let you work or relax to the sound of birds singing.
Calmsound - a free site streaming nature sounds and videos, recorded at the highest standards, allowing you to relax.
Click and Relax - a free online app with a range of relaxing nature scenes and sounds.
myNoise - a collection of immersive and customizable online soundscapes that can enhance focus, relaxation, and sleep. Choose from noise generators, nature sounds and ambient music to create your perfect audio environment.
Playlist for Life - a Scottish music and dementia charity founded in 2013 by writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson after the death of her mother who had dementia. Their vision is simple: they want everyone with dementia to have a unique, personalised playlist and everyone who loves or cares for them to know how to use it.
Meditation:
Connected Breath - a free, online and mobile 60-second group meditation tool to help you feel connected.
Goodful Meditations - a YouTube playlist with a number of short meditation videos that might help with a variety of situations like anger, anxiety, depression, stress, sleep and more.
Google Meditate - Google's free, online 1-minute breathing meditation app.
John Davisi - a series/playlist of free, online guided meditations on mindfulness.
Pixel Thoughts - a free, online 60-second meditation tool to help clear your mind.
NHS
Here are some useful online NHS health-related resources:
Neilston Medical Centre - our local health centre.
Neilston Pharmacy - our local chemists contact details, opening times, etc.
NHS Pharmacy First Scotland - information on the new system whereby a pharmacist, or a member of the pharmacy team, can give you advice and treatment (if you need it) for various minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - the wider area health service with information on hospitals, clinics and much more.
NHS inform - provides a coordinated, single source of quality assured health and care information for the people of Scotland. It's also got an online symptom-checker.
NHS 24 - A national telehealth and telecare organisation that provides comprehensive, up-to-date health information and self care advice for people in Scotland.
NHS 24 Online - a free mobile app for Android and iOS that allows you to find your nearest services and to assess your symptoms to find out what you should do next.
Breathing Space - A free, confidential, phone and webchat service operated by NHS 24 for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Vision and Hearing
Some online vision and hearing resources, online tests and apps:
NB: these online tests are for guidance only and have no diagnostic value - if you suspect you have an issue, then you should seek professional help.
Boots Online Hearing Test - a free online hearing test that takes just a few minutes.
Colblindor - colour blindness information and four online tests.
hearWHO - a free mobile app for Android and iOS developed by the World Health Organization that allows people to check their hearing regularly.
NHS Community Eyecare - Information on what you're entitled to on the NHS regarding eyecare.
NHS Hearing Loss - NHS guidance on hearing loss.
Nikon Online Eye Test - a collection of free online vision tests.
Online Hearing Test - a free, on-line hearing test created by an independent, professional research engineer and sound designer.
OptoPlus Eye Tests - free online tests for distance vision, near vision, astigmatism, colour blindness and dry eyes.
Rodenstock Online Eye Test - free, online tests for colour perception, retina function and field of vision.
RNID Online Hearing Test - a free, three minute online hearing test.
Seeing AI - A free mobile app for Android and iOS from Microsoft that narrates the world around you. Designed with and for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world. Seeing AI assists with daily tasks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products, and more.
Specsavers Online Eye Test - a collection of nine very simple online eye tests.
Specsavers Online Hearing Test - a free online hearing check that will give you a better idea about whether you need to see an audiologist.
Speech Radio - A free mobile app for Android and iOS, produced by the British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF), which gives visually impaired persons access to world-wide radio stations, through the sound of their voice.
Talking Newspaper - A free mobile app for Android and iOS, produced by the British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF), which gives visually impaired persons access to UK newspapers. This application makes it simple for users to listen to their favourite newspaper or any from around the UK, bringing together over 250 individual publications.
TapTapSee - A free mobile camera app for Android and iOS designed specifically for blind and visually impaired users to take a picture or video of anything and identify it out loud for you.
WHOeyes - a free mobile app for Android and iOS, developed by the World Health Organization, that checks near and distance visual acuity, and provides educational messages on how you can protect your eyes.
Zeiss Online Vision Screening - free online tests for visual acuity, contrast, colour, astigmatism and visual field.
Local Lunch Clubs and Warm Hubs
There are a few free lunch clubs and warm hubs operating in the village:
Saturday Lunch Club - open between 12pm to 2pm on Saturdays in Neilston Parish Church Halls for soup, sandwiches, games, and activities.
Drop-in Café - open between 11am to 1pm on Thursdays in St. Thomas's Church Hall for soup, tea, coffee, and home baking.
Warm Hub - Free Café at The Bank - open between 12pm to 3pm on Fridays in Neilston Development Trust for soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee, biscuits, games and free Wi-Fi.
NB: Finished on 29th March.
NB: These are seasonal so keep an eye on the following local Facebook groups for updates or changes:
There's also the village What's On In Neilston guide, which we're hoping will be kept up to date.
Charities
Age Scotland - a national charity with lots of health, wellbeing and dementia support information and advice. Also has a helpline.
British Heart Foundation - a UK charity with information about heart health and on managing a condition.
Change Mental Health - a Scottish mental health charity delivering non-clinical, person-centred support to people affected by mental illness in communities across the country.
Euan's Guide - a disabled access charity providing information that will give confidence and choices for getting out and about.
Independent Age - a UK charity with lots of information and advice on health-related topics, including health and wellbeing.
Mearns Kirk Helping Hands - A local charity based in Newton Mearns and offering a free befriending service and support for people living with dementia in East Renfrewshire.
Men Matter Scotland - a men's support charity, based in Drumchapel, that aims to improve men's quality of life, and expand and enrich men’s connections. They facilitate activities that support positive mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing for men.
Mindfulness Scotland - a Scottish charity promoting mindfulness, which is described as paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally. It's focus is for people with long term health issues.
RNIB - the national sight loss charity with information and support on eyesight-related issues.
RNID - the national hearing loss charity with information and support and online tests.
Samaritans Scotland - with 19 branches stretching from Scottish Borders to the Highlands and Islands, Samaritans Scotland provides a vital lifeline for people and communities across the country.
If you know of any similar health and wellbeing-oriented sites or apps not shown here, then please e-mail the details to neilstonmensgroup@gmail.com