Alcohol and your mental health

As it’s a depressant, drinking too much alcohol can affect our mental health as well as our physical health.

Many of us are aware of hangover symptoms, but the long-term effects can be debilitating depending on how much, and how often, you drink. These include:

• Needing to drink more alcohol to feel good
• Becoming dependent on the alcohol
• Mood changes
• Loss of motivation
• Depression

There are also physical effects if you’re dependent on alcohol. These can include:

• Shaking or trembling
• Hallucinations
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Racing heart rate
• Seizures

If you experience any of these due to alcohol habits, you should speak to your GP.

If you’re in a mental health crisis and need urgent help, call the Single Point of Access on (01472) 256256 and select option 3. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Alternatively, you can call NHS 111 free from a landline or mobile phone.

In the first instance, you should speak to your GP if you’re concerned about your drinking. They will be able to signpost you to the most appropriate support. They may decide that talking therapies, such as NHS Talking Therapies, may help you if you are feeling depressed.

Sometimes, we may feel like you need some extra support to reduce or stabilise your alcohol use before accessing psychological therapies, so you can get the most out of treatment. If you access NAViGO services, we may recommend that you engage with our substance team who will help you achieve this.

North East Lincolnshire Council have a Wellbeing Service that offers one-to-one support to see if you are drinking in a risky or harmful way and, if you want, to help you cut down on how much you are drinking. To arrange a meeting or speak to someone about your options, please call (01472) 325500 or text ‘Wellbeing’ to 60060 and they will call you back.

We Are With You provides free, confidential support to people experiencing issues with alcohol and their mental health. You can call them on (01472) 806890 or chat to the team online. 

There's also a specialist national helpline for anyone over the age of 50 who may be worried about either their own drinking, or that of a loved one. Call 0808 8010750 or visit the We Are With You website.

There are also regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings throughout North East Lincolnshire. You can search their website to find a group that’s close to you.

Safespace provides instant support if you’re vulnerable and need assistance with your mental health out-of-hours. You can speak to the team using Zoom or by visiting NAViGO House on Brighowgate in Grimsby. Find the latest opening times here.

We've also teamed up with Shout to provide specialist mental health text support for North East Lincolnshire. Just text ORANGE to 85258. This is also a 24/7 service. Please note: this service is run by Shout and not by the NAViGO crisis team.

Drink Aware: Find out if you’re drinking too much and understand the health benefits if you reduce your alcohol intake. 

We Are With You: Get help and advice on managing your alcohol intake, with tips on reducing cravings, setting realistic goals and much more. 

The Comeback: Home to the Addiction Recovery Community in Grimsby, The Comeback is a drop-in centre, community space and much more.

Alcohol Change UK: Every day, 20 people die as a result of their drinking. But alcohol harm is not inevitable. Find help and support.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Alcoholics Anonymous provides opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from alcoholism.

We Are One: We Are One offers support for problems with drug and alcohol use.