Free Vet offer

Free veterinary consultation for local Mind staff and service users

Many of us have four-legged family members and may be concerned about their health during this period. In order to help, FirstVet has kindly offered a free video consultation with one of their many experienced vets, open to the local Mind network, service-users and any family and friends who may benefit until the end of June 2020.

Their experienced vets will provide advice and at-home treatment recommendations, and send call notes to share with your usual vet, all while you are in the comfort and safety of your own home. FirstVet is the largest veterinary telemedicine service in Europe, and want to provide a service which helps people’s peace of mind during these challenging times.

FirstVet will provide support for most common pets. Example of conditions that FirstVet can help with include:

● Vomiting and diarrhoea

● Eye and ear problems

● Poisoning

● Coughing and sneezing

● Itching and skin problems

● Minor injuries and accidents

If FirstVet advises you to physically take your pet to your regular vet, and the vet is not available, they will refer you to the closest open clinic.

If you would like to take them up on their offer, simply register for FirstVet and download the app, then click on this link. Please note that you won’t have to enter any payment information to access the free initial consultation, and this service is available 12pm – 5pm, 7 days a week.

FirstVet have provided this service free of charge for supporters and service users of North Kent Mind. We appreciate their support during this time. Although the service is free, we’d be grateful for any support you can offer North Kent Mind by following the link and donating using https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/donation-web/charity?charityId=1008228&stop_mobi=yes

Mindful Moments



See our new ‘Mindfulness’ page. We invite you to use this page to share photos that you feel have a mindful effect on you, and that create opportunities for mindful awareness, in the present moment.  Whatever creates a space for calmness and peace for you that you would like to share with others’

Take notice – take time to be aware of the world around you, whether it’s while exploring your local area for your daily exercise, out in the garden looking at plants and wildlife, while preparing and eating a meal, spending time with your pets, a picture or an object you may find …  Pause to take photos of something beautiful.

If you would like to share your favourite photos of ‘Mindful Moments’ you have had please e-mail them to juliemoss@northkentmind.co.uk



Help to Care

Help to Care leaflet Help to Care poster

Do you provide care for somebody living in Kent and Medway?

Help to Care is a free mobile app designed to help you to spot the signs of a problem and find the right information and advice if you’re worried about someone’s health and wellbeing.

Download today on your app store to access:

  • Over 40 advice and guidance articles
  • Links to services to support you and the people you care for
  • Training videos on different conditions

Visit www.designandlearningcentre.com/overview-of-our-work/helptocare/ to find out more or download for free on your app store.

#DeclutterAndDonate

We’ve added a Ziffit link to our Virgin Money Giving account! You can now support our work from the comfort of your home, get involved as we #DeclutterAndDonate on May 5th for #GivingTuesdayNow

To make donating faster and easier supporters can download the Ziffit app. Anyone making trade-ins through Ziffit can now donate the value of their unwanted goodies directly to any charity registered with Virgin Money Giving by selecting North Kent Mind charity at the checkout.

Thank you

Well-being volunteer, Olivia Cheale and her mum dropping the care packages they put together for some of our most vulnerable service users.

They dropped the boxes to support workers drive, with socially distanced and done safely. I understand that these were well received.


Olivia had some of the money given to her from Dartford Deeds but they topped up the boxes themselves. 

Covid19 Stress and Health Study

NEW Covid19 Stress and Health Study – Closing soon!

Mind is supporting a research study examining how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the mental and physical health of people in the UK. 

Taking part is quick and easy. It involves a short online survey (takes 10 minutes) and a couple of minutes to collect a small sample of hair from the back of your head. They use this to measure the stress hormone cortisol.  

You are asked to do this now (or as soon as possible) and 12 weeks later.

This research will assess how stressed you feel but also how this stress is affecting you physically too. Full details on how to participate and collect your hair samples are on their website:

 https://www.covidstressstudy.co.uk/ 

The first wave of the study ends soon (last day to participate is 30th April), so do log on soon if you wish to take part.