Manchester is a fantastic place to live, with a fast-paced lifestyle and vibrant city centre – not to mention the incredibly friendly and likeable people.
However, like most cities, Manchester has its challenges, especially when it comes to mental health issues.
Taking care of your mental health in a city like Manchester has never been more important, with the cost of living and pressures of daily life putting more and more strain on individuals and local mental health services.
The good thing about living in Manchester is that there are a whole host of resources available to you on your doorstep, some of which are listed below for you.
Looking after your mental health matters for a whole host of reasons. Without your mental health intact, you aren’t able to function in society.
Those with severe mental health issues aren’t able to hold down a job, maintain healthy relationships or even look after their body and physical health [1].
If you struggle to look after your mental health, then you will also undoubtedly put a strain on local services, including your local healthcare services and mental health providers.
If you suffer from a mental health issue, then you are also more likely to become addicted to certain drugs or alcohol.
People who suffer from depression, anxiety, paranoia or schizophrenia are more likely to use addictive substances as a crutch or a coping mechanism.
Likewise, those who are addicted to alcohol and certain drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis are more likely to develop a mental health issue due to the chemicals in the drugs and the way that they affect the brain [1].
As you can see, failing to look after your mental health can easily spiral and worsen your situation drastically.
This is why it is incredibly important to keep on top of your stress, anxiety and depression levels and to seek help immediately if you start to struggle with your own mental health.
If you are considering hurting yourself or other people, then you should seek help immediately. You should start by calling 999 or by visiting your local A&E for immediate help and support.
Manchester isn’t known best for its blue skies. However, it is best to try to get out and about as much as possible.
This is because it has been proven that your mood can’t be uplifted once you are exposed to Vitamin D [2].
This is why a lot of people now invest in ‘SAD’ lamps. SAD stands for seasonal affective disorder, which a lot of people across the UK and particularly the North of England suffer from due to the lack of sunlight during the winter months.
Getting outside as much as possible is also great for your mental health due to the increased physical activity. Moving your body has also now been linked to improved mental health, whether it’s a run or a walk.
There are a number of places in Manchester that you are able to walk or run around, including Heaton Park, Fletcher Moss Gardens or Chorlton Water Park, which is great for walking, jogging or simply sitting down by the lake to read a book.
Isolation is one of the worst things for your mental health. By nature, humans are social creatures, and we crave socialisation for our health, both physically and mentally.
This is why a lot of people who suffer from mental health issues caused by loneliness and isolation join a local community group [3].
Luckily, in Manchester there are a range of community groups such as Manchester Cares, The Bread and Butter Thing and Andy’s Man Club.
Likewise, the Samaritans, 42nd Street and Anxiety UK are all Manchester-based community groups that provide low-cost and/or free support for anyone who suffers from mental health issues.
As mentioned above, exercise is by far one of the best things that you can do to help your mental health and boost your mood.
The best thing about exercise is that it is free. You do not need a gym membership or fancy equipment to get started.
Below are some Manchester-based exercise groups and classes that might be able to help you get started.
Parkrun is a fantastic organisation that puts on hundreds of runs each week in local parks.
Usually, park runs involve 5k runs across a local park with a number of members of the community, where you get the chance to run and socialise with one another.
There are also a number of low-cost yoga sessions including The Life Centre or Bee Well Yoga. There are also a number of local walking groups, including the Manchester Ramblers.
Mindfulness and meditation are fantastic ways to work on your mental health from home or wherever you are.
Manchester can be an incredibly energetic and busy place to live, which is why it is important to practice mindfulness when you can.
You can meditate from the comfort of your own home, or you can opt to attend a meditation centre such as Kadampa Meditation Centre or The Monastery in Gorton which offers mindfulness workshops for anyone who is interested.
Likewise, eating healthy food has a positive impact on your mental health and in Manchester, you are simply spoilt for choice when it comes to healthy places to eat. The saying goes that you are what you eat.
So, it’s important to eat as healthy as possible for not only a healthy body but a healthy mind, too.
Healthy food does not need to be boring or disgusting. In fact, in Manchester there are a number of healthy restaurants such as The Allotment, Evelyn’s Cafe Bar and a range of fresh food markets.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, including depression, anxiety or paranoia, then you need to prioritise your self-care as much as possible.
There are a number of places across Manchester where you can prioritise your mental health, including HOME Manchester which acts as a calming arts centre with a quiet cinema and exhibition centres.
There are also a number of libraries in Manchester, including the Manchester City Library and the John Rylands Library which provide calm and quiet spaces to do some reading or practise some self-care.
If you need further support for your mental health in Manchester, then there is a range of mental health services available to you.
Manchester Mind is a fantastic service available to those in Manchester and provides individuals with wellbeing workshops, peer support and counselling for anyone who wants it.
You are also able to gain access to NHS Manchester mental health services, which will give you access to NHS-funded therapy, counselling and crisis support if you think that you are at risk of hurting either yourself or those around you.
There are a number of free and online tools available to those who live in and around Manchester. These online tools are able to help you to reduce your stress levels, reduce your anxiety and boost your mood.
Silver Cloud is a free and online tool available for anyone who wants to reduce their stress, anxiety or depression.
Silver Cloud contains a range of self-help tools, including interactive exercises and resources that will help you to better manage your stress, anxiety and any sleep issues that you might be suffering from.
Living Life to the Full is a free course that allows anyone who suffers from mental health issues the chance to work on their mental health and general mood from the comfort of your own home.
Living Life to the Full contains a range of free courses for lots of different life stages, including postnatal depression, life with a new baby, and how to overcome addiction issues.
Kooth is another online tool available to those in Manchester who want to work on their mental health. It offers entirely anonymous and professional counselling, moderated by your peers and professionals.
The platform also contains self-help tools and eBooks. The best bit? There are no fees or long waiting lists.
If you are suffering from a mental health crisis and are a danger to either yourself or to others then you should seek immediate help by calling 999 or by going straight to A&E.
If you are not a danger to yourself or to other people but are experiencing a mental health crisis then you should call 111 or visit our local GP for support and advice.
As we know, there is a strong link between mental health issues and addiction issues.
According to a recent study, more people than ever across Manchester are abusing drugs and alcohol, with a population that is growing quickly.
In fact, between 2022 and 2023, there were 12,131 drug related crimes, which almost doubled within just 12 months [4].
Unfortunately, as more people abuse drugs and alcohol across Manchester, mental health services across the city are becoming increasingly more stretched, leading to longer waiting times and less access to help.
If you are suffering from a mental health issue alongside an addiction to drugs or alcohol, then you should speak to a professional at Rehab 4 Addiction.
Our team of specialist advisers will talk you through the addiction rehab process in Manchester but will never put any pressure on you to attend drug and alcohol rehab.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, there is never any judgement. So, start your recovery journey today by calling our friendly and professional team on 0800 140 4690.
[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10277019/
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4225959/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
