Optical Charity – RNIB highlights wellbeing support

Optical Charity - RNIB highlights wellbeing support

The charity outlined resources for blind and partially sighted people. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has encouraged people with sight loss to reach out to the organisation.

Recognising Mental Health Awareness Week (15–21 May), which this year focused on anxiety, RNIB pointed to research which suggests that people with a visual impairment are twice as likely to experience losing confidence in themselves, and to also experience reduced happiness. The charity highlighted wellbeing resources available through the RNIB Sight Loss Advice Service, which provides practical and emotional support for blind and partially sighted people. Services include peer-to-peer support, such as Talk and Support, Living Well with Sight Loss course, and community Facebook groups.

RNIB’s Mental Wellbeing Check-in service also aims to provide support within 72 hours of contacting the charity, with those referred receiving an hour long call with a counsellor.

Emphasising the importance of maintaining healthy mental wellbeing, Amanda Hawkins, head of mental health and counselling at RNIB, said: “We want blind and partially sighted people to know that they are not alone.”

What to do next: