It’s okay not to be okay.

If life in lockdown is having a negative effect on your mental health, help is at hand at home – the HSE is offering a free Stress Control Class that you can take part in online.

The six-session course begins today, Monday, November 2nd and classes will live stream at 2pm and 8:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays with a live interactive chat where you can talk to your fellow participants and a member of the Stress Control team (there is no requirement to participate).

The 8:30pm class will then remain on-demand on YouTube for 48 hours so you can watch it at a time that suits you.

The class, suitable for anyone aged over 15, is hosted by Dr Jim White,  an internationally recognised expert in stress management who spent more than thirty years as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with the NHS.

Dr White has published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has written two influential books on stress management –StressPac and Treating Anxiety and Stress.

Topics include ‘Controlling your Thoughts’, ‘Controlling your Actions’ and ‘Controlling Panicky Feelings’.

‘Prevent stress from becoming a problem’

“As the HSE can’t deliver our Stress Control classes in the community just now, Dr Jim White will, instead, live-stream the classes until December, free-of-charge.” said a HSE spokesperson.

“Stress can have many forms, for example: anxiety, low mood, depression, anger, low self-confidence, low self-esteem, panic, poor sleep and burnout. The classes can be used to help people who already have problems with stress and people who would like to prevent stress from becoming a problem.”

“All you need to successfully complete this class is to watch each of the six sessions, read the booklets and use the relaxation and mindfulness.”

You can access the classes here.