People managing chronic kidney disease should NOT accept feeling depressed, anxious or having poor mental health, as part of their normal life. You should seek out support that suits your needs to help you overcome low mood, encourage a positive outlook, and improve your quality of life. This might include improving your physical health, needing to talk through your changed family role, improving self-confidence, reducing feelings of isolation, a lack of control, or worry and stress.
If you are feeling distressed and need to talk to someone immediately, get help now, over the phone:
Call Samaritans on 116 123.
Call the NHS on 111 or use their online services – to get medical advice quickly.
Text Shout to 852 58
NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression services provide psychological interventions for adults and older adults with anxiety disorders and/or depression. Here you can refer yourself, ask your GP to refer you.
5 steps to mental wellbeing – NHS – straightforward guide on what may help you.
Mental wellbeing audio guides – NHS – talking guides to support your well-being.
MIND Helplines – support line: 0300 102 1234 – (open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays)
Emotional resilience | Kidney Care UK – a useful leaflet to help you consider resilience and what you may need to enable you to have a better quality of life.
Your unit may provide access to a psychology team, counsellor, social worker or psychiatrist to support kidney patients, speak to your doctors and nurses and ask to be referred, in some units you can refer yourself into different services. Here are some resources and information for anyone seeking further support, or where psychosocial provision is limited.
Free Counselling and Support Service – Kidney Care UK offers free counselling and support, including for carers. You will have an initial consultation and up to six 50-minute sessions. Book an initial consultation by calling them or sending an email, follow this link for their contact details and more information. Whether you are worried or just need to talk to someone there are kind caring people available to listen and support you. Call Kidney Care UK on 0808 801 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or Email support@kidneycareuk.org
For young people Kidney Care UK run a fantastic Young Adult Kidney Group (YAKG) where like minded young adults meet and chat socially on Facebook, and meet up every year through a residential weekend.
National Peer support for people on home dialysis – National Kidney Federation (NKF) peer support service for people thinking about or on home dialysis, and shared care. For other support you can call the NKF Helpline 0800 169 09 36, open: Monday – Thursday 08:30 am – 5:00 pm, Friday 08:30 am – 12:30 pm.
KIN local Facebook groups offer per support 24/7 when you need it most you can talk to other patients online – join your nearest KIN.
Peer support networks of peer educators are being developed throughout the UK – your hospital may have a link to peer support networks, ask someone local to guide you to your local resource. For example – York Hospital Kidney Patient Peer Support Network – Communities Helping Each Other
If you want your peer support network added here please Contact KIN
Social prescribing and me | socialprescribingacademy.org.uk – Many things that affect your health cannot be fixed by a medical prescription. Like loneliness, isolation, or problems with money, housing or employment. Social prescribing is used to connect people to activities, groups and support that can be effective and help overcome different problems. From walking groups to debt advice, it is about what matters to you. Social prescribing can help you overcome the challenges that are holding you back. It can help you get active, develop confidence, and take control of your health. Look up different opportunities in your local area.
