Heart disease & Mental Health

FoodSwitch (iOS & Android): app to support making healthy food choices

PatientMpower apps: apps to support people living with hypertension as well as other conditions such as COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung transplant, kidney transplant and vasculitis (patientMpower – iOS & android).

Livia Healthcare app (iOS & Android): an app to help manage conditions such as heart problems, diabetes and obesity, and make lifestyle changes using self-monitoring. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/liva-uk/

iPrescribe Exercise (iOS & Android): an app developed by physiotherapists that creates a 12-week exercise plan based on health information entered by the user. It helps to improve overall health, along with managing a number of long-term health conditions through physical activity. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/iprescribe-exercise/.

Other mental health apps:

These resources support general mental health and may not be specific to health problems.

NHS Apps Library provides a general list of digital tools to help you manage and improve your mental and physical health.

UCL Positive app for students – an app to support your wellbeing.

iCope Mental Health Apps Review 2017 – this is a list of free, recommended mental health apps. Recommendations come from iCope clinicians, online app reviews, published studies and feedback from iCope service users.

British Heart Foundation is a national charity that supports people living with heart conditions in the UK.

Phone: 0300 330 3311
Email: hearthelpline@bhf.org.uk
Web: https://www.bhf.org.uk/
Online chat – click here

They also have a number of resources available via their website:

• All guides available here
• Cardiac rehabilitation at home-home
• Practical support for people with heart conditions 
• Heart matters: physical activity with a heart condition
• Heart matters: nutrition and advice for people with heart conditions
  

Pulmonary Hypertension Association: a national charity for people with pulmonary hypertension

Blood Pressure UK: a national charity for people with low or high blood pressure

HEART UK: a national charity for people with raised cholesterol and other blood fat conditions

Pumping Marvellous Foundation: a national, patient-led charity for people with heart failure

Arrhythmia Alliance: a coalition of charities patient groups, patients, carers, medical groups and allied professionals for people with arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)  

Cardiomyopathy UK: a national charity for people with cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle)

Phone: 0800 018 1024 (with access to specialist cardiomyopathy nurses)
Email: supportnurse@cardiomyopathy.org

• Downloadable resources and guides

My Heart: a website by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) that provides personalised help, support, and information to individuals aged 18-35 who have been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening inherited or congenital cardiac condition

Heart disease and depression workbook for clients: a workbook developed as part of a research trial looking into how effective collaborative care is for individuals with depression and comorbid diabetes and/ or cardiovascular disease. For more information about this randomised controlled trial visit here: https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h638

Positive Coping with Health Conditions: a self-care workbook written by health professionals that provides strategies to help individuals living with health problems to cope

General mental health websites and workbooks

These resources support general mental health and may not be specific to health problems.

Northumberland NHS self-help
Brief self-help leaflets on: Abuse, Alcohol, Anxiety, Domestic Violence, Self Harm, Panic, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress, Postnatal Depression, Obsessions and Compulsions

Centre for Clinical Interventions
Detailed workbooks on: panic, worrying, assertiveness, disordered eating, low self-esteem, managing distress, depression.

Talk Plus
This website has a range of booklets and videos explaining step by step how to use some of the key cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, for example behavioural activation, problem-solving, worry management and graded exposure. These may be used alongside some of the therapy sessions you attend in our service.

Good Thinking
Tools and resources to help yourself and others to feel better.

Mind
Mental health charity with lots of useful information.

British Heart Foundation Podcasts that include advice, tips and interviews all about living well with heart conditions

Pumping Marvellous Podcasts all about living with heart failure

Heart – a British Medical Journal Podcast all about cardiology and heart conditions with the aim of educating and providing information about cardiac conditions (aimed at health professionals and academics). Consider listening to these episodes:

• Cardiovascular Health – Diet and Exercise with Dr Hazel Wallace ‘The Food Medic’
• Heart Disease: Environmental, Physical & Psychological Triggers – Is anger a trigger for cardiovascular disease? 

Positive Coping with Health Conditions – Relaxation Method Audio resource that goes through exercises to release tension and promote relaxation. Accompanies a self-care workbook written by health professionals that provides strategies to help individuals living with health problems to cope

General mental health audio resources:

These resources support general mental health and may not be specific to health problems.

Let’s talk about CBT – audio podcast by Dr Lucy Maddox, BABCP

NHS Moodzone – a range of audio guides and podcasts to boost your mood including low mood and depression, overcoming sleep problems, unhelpful thinking, and low confidence and assertiveness

Exercise and mental health – podcast by the Mental Health Foundation

Glasgow Wellbeing Service – a range of audio resources on topics such as anxiety, relaxation, panic, sleep and stress