You can help MhIST Bolton by Donating via Give as You Live.
Click on the Give as You Live sign to donate.
Self Help Support Groups
Our support groups can provide you with the tools you need to get the help you need. Find out more about our groups below. Each group has its own information page which is ran by the group to give you a great insight into what they offer.
Featured Groups
Empowering and improving self-esteem The Keeping Grounded group PROVIDES RESPECT by Giving everyone a chance to be listened to and being sensitive to others. There is prejudice and disturbances are kept to a minimum by keeping phones on silent. PROVIDES SUPPORT by Being there for each other. Offering…
Do you feel alone and have no one to talk to? Anxiety or depression taking over your days? Want to improve your mental health and wellbeing? The group members arrange trips out to places such as museums, cafés, to the theatre etc. External speakers also regularly attend to share their own experiences and knowledge.
Why not come along to the Mindfulness Meditation Group The aim of meditation is to bring inner peace within ourselves and the world in a positive and spiritual way. The world is not a peaceful place and within every soul, there is some form of stress or stress and tension.
Our Other Groups
- Anxiety, Depression, & Well-being (AM)
- Anxiety, Depression, & Well-being (PM)
- Anxiety, Depression, & Self Esteem (10:30am) Group
- Anxiety, Depression, & Self Esteem (11:00am) Group
- Autism Group
- Craft & Social Group
- Creative Crew
- Keeping Grounded for Women
- MhIST x Colony Gym ‘Get Fit With Us’
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Welcome to the Digital World Group
- Westhoughton Wellbeing Support Group (Wed)
Support from people who have similar experiences.
Our self-help groups are very active and they provide for the needs of different groups of people such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and mindfulness.
Help Us Today
Donations can help us provide our services to people who need them the most. If you can Donate then please follow the link to our JustGiving page.
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Latest News
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What people are saying about MhIST
Been going to some of the groups about a month, met some great people and feeling I’m getting the help needed and good to know I’m not alone.
MhIST is an excellent place to be a part of. The staff and volunteers are friendly, warm, and accepting. Services offered are accessible free of charge and cater for a diverse range of mental health issues.
All the staff and volunteers are the loveliest staff at MHIST. The group facilitator is nice as well. And mentioning no members names, but all the members are kind and helpful as well as caring. Thanks to everyone of you at MHIST for all your support. Thank you.
Frequenty Asked Questions
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What is Zoom?
Zoom is an internet video conferencing solution, a bit like Facetime or Skype.
Where do I find the Zoom Client?
You need the Zoom client on your device to have MhIST internet therapy. From the Zoom homepage, click RESOURCES and then Download Zoom Client, or visit https://zoom.us/download.
Which Zoom Client Do I need?
We recommend Zoom Client for Meetings for your PC/ laptop, or the appropriate Zoom App for your tablet or mobile phone available from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
What devices can I use?
You can use a personal computer (PC), laptop, tablet or mobile phone.
Is Zoom secure?
Zoom is recommended by talking therapy organisations as it uses end-to-end encryption to ensure nobody can intercept your session. It is reportedly more secure than Skype.
How much does Zoom cost?
We recommend the free version of Zoom.
Can I contact my therapist outside session times?
MhIST is not an emergency service. If you require up-to-date information, urgent assistance or practical support for those impacted by Covid- 19 we recommend that you contact the following sources:
Bolton NHS & Bolton Council Coronavirus Information
Greater Manchester Mental Health Coronavirus Guidance
Healthwatch Bolton – Community Information
We ask that you do not try to contact your counsellor directly with Zoom or email outside of session times.
Anything else?
- Have a play with Zoom before your first session to get comfortable with the controls.
- Therapy sessions are confidential so you should be in a private space.
- Sessions typically last 50 minutes so we recommend a setup which you can sit comfortably in front of such as a desktop PC or a laptop or tablet on a flat surface.
- Try to sit so that you are lit from the front that way your counsellor can see you properly.
- Ensure there is no background noise and that anyone else in your space knows not to disturb you.
- You need to be free to focus on yourself for the duration of your session.
- Have your phone to hand as a backup in case there are unforeseen technical problems.
- Visit the Zoom FAQ for more help with zoom.
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I keep telephoning and getting an answer machine.
MhIST’s switchboard normally operates from 9:30am to 12:30 pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm. There are some occasions that the switchboard may be switched off during the afternoon when the answer machine will take over. The answer machine also automatically takes a message if the line is engaged.
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How much does it cost to access MhIST’s services?
All of MhIST’s services are offered free at the point of contact. This means members do not have to pay a thing. Funding for the activities is obtained elsewhere.
Looking for help?
