POST-Christmas blues and counting the cost of the festive season can leave many people feeling down at this time of year.

But help is at hand from MyWellbeing College, run by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Sharon Edwards, the college’s clinical lead, said that each January they notice an increase in referrals to the service – which supports people with common mental health difficulties around depression or low mood.

She believes a combination of reasons prompts people to seek help.

“At the start of a new year you think about your own goals, wellbeing and lifestyle,” said Sharon.

“While Christmas and New Year are traditionally seasons of celebration, others may struggle.

“Christmas can often not be a great time for a lot of people.”

She said people may have issues in their lives they need help with such as relationship difficulties, concerns about their health, phobias or feeling unmotivated, disconnected or anxious.

Sharon said the start of the year could be a good time for people to seek help.

But she warned: “People have to want to do it, to want to change, because it is hard work and you have to put the effort in and you have to go out of your comfort zone.”

She added that seeking help wasn’t a sign of weakness.

“People all over the world suffer with this,” she said.

“There is absolutely no need to suffer on your own. We are here to support people and teach them ways of managing and improving their mood.”

Among those who has been supported by the college is Paul Lonsdale.

He decided to seek additional support after becoming stressed at work.

The 49-year-old felt his confidence was low and he says he also suffered slight anxiety.

People can self-refer to the service, but Paul was referred through his GP.

“She was very understanding about it and told me I was suffering from anxiety and we worked out it was all work related,” he said.

He was recommended to enrol on a self-help group and was invited to attend the mood matters course which, he explains, can be accessed through the MyWellbeing College website.

Using techniques he learned, Paul was able to change his way of thinking to help him cope better with everyday situations.

“Completing the course was an opportunity for me to have a look at the way I think and it was an eye-opener,” he explains.

“I would recommend it to anyone who is feeling a little low as there are loads of courses on offer and you can refer yourself.

“It’s only a six-week course; it didn’t take up much time, just two hours one afternoon a week. It was a relaxed classroom-style setting with adults of various ages on the course, from retired people to teenagers – people from all walks of life.

“Two people ran the class and they were fantastic. You could participate in the sessions or you could just sit and listen and take away what you wanted from the course. It was very, very useful.”

MyWellbeing College offers a range of course options, from online supporting people from the comfort of their own home to group courses and guided self-help.

It is free to enrol and courses are available for anyone registered with a GP in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven

The college also brings together a number of resources which are free to use, covering a range of topics including low mood, sleep problems and anxiety.

For more details, visit bmywellbeingcollege.nhs.uk.