With nearly a quarter of us having to wait to start treatment for our mental health, we share eight ways you can look after yourself while waiting to access support

The Royal College of Psychiatrists revealed that two in five (43%) adults with a mental illness feel that long waits for treatment have led to their mental health getting worse. With almost one in four (23%) of us waiting more than 12 weeks to start treatment - and many areas having limited types of support and numbers of sessions available - it’s no wonder so many of us feel like we’re not only struggling with our mental health, but aren’t getting the help that we need when we need it.

Non-urgent referrals for consultant-led treatments in England are legally entitled to be seen within 18 weeks, from the day the service or hospital receives your referral letter or the day your appointment is booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. But that can feel like a long time when you are struggling and feel like you need help now.

Taking that step and seeking a referral is huge. But it’s not always the instant fix we hope for - especially when faced with delays in receiving support. It’s natural to feel disappointed, overwhelmed, or unsure of what you can do while waiting to access help and support. So, what can you do to look after yourself until support becomes available?

Reach out to friends and family

Asking for help from those we love when we’re struggling can feel impossible. When you’re struggling with your mental health, you may worry about opening up to friends or family, as you may fear you are being an inconvenience, adding extra stress to their lives, or may be seen as ‘over-reacting’.

You may worry about being judged or rejected, yet reaching out can help you to feel a deeper sense of connection with others, gain valuable outside perspective, and help to feel unstuck.

Try these tips on how to ask friends and family for help when you’re struggling.

Have a conversation with your boss

Talking about mental health in the workplace has become much more commonplace in recent years. Yet many of us may hesitate to let our employers know when we are struggling. It’s important to remember that your employer is legally obligated to make reasonable adjustments to help accommodate you – but in order to do so, they need to k

Creamy, buttery, cheesy potatoes with bacon are combined in this Loaded Baked Potato Dip to create a snack that is a guaranteed win for your football party. Everyone knows that potatoes and sour cream go together like football and snacks.

And we all know, the better your snacks, the better your team’s chance of winning, right?

My family is all about dippable foods and when I had the idea of a cheesy potato dip for potato chips? I was all over that. It should come as no surprise that my family absolutely loved this recipe and it’s become a much-loved favorite in our house.

Baked Potato Dip

To make this baked potato dip recipe, first, bake the potatoes. Then slice them in half, hollow out the centers and combine that fluffy baked potato with sour cream, butter, and cheese.

The filling is my favorite part of classic twice-baked potatoes and that was the inspiration for this Twice Baked Potato Dip.

Served with sturdy potato chips or eaten with a spoon, this is the mashed potato dish of my dreams.

Loaded Potato Dip

Potatoes + Potatoes + all the delicious dairy + bacon?! What’s not to love about this combination?

Perfect for game day or pretty much any other occasion, this loaded potato dip is going to be the big favorite for your next event. Judging by how quickly this disappears when I make it, I can pretty much guarantee it.

Even if your team misses the Hail Mary pass, these potatoes will ensure your party is a winner.

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Pickled Red Onions

I don’t know why I haven’t posted this recipe sooner, but I can’t stop making and eating these pickled red onions…bring on all the tacos!

Pickled red onions are tangy and sweet, and they add a little extra crunch to whatever you put them on. I’m obsessed with them! I absolutely love them on tacos and pretty much all Mexican recipes. They are also phenomenal on sandwiches or burgers or in a salad. Essentially, I just keep them on hand all the time now.

They have a long shelf life and just get better with age. All you need is 6 simple ingredients!

Ingredients for Picked Red Onions

Here are the 6 simple ingredients you will need to make pickled onions:

• Red Onion – thinly sliced, you could use any type of onion you want if you aren’t a red fan
• Apple Cider Vinegar and Red Wine Vinegar – I love the combination of these two vinegars, they are sweet and a little more mild
• Sugar – balances the tartness and acidity of the vinegars
• Kosher Salt – adds flavor and enhances all the flavors
• Water – using warm water helps dissolve the sugar and salt

The measurement for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card down below. The recipe can be saved or printed there as well.

Variations for Pickled Onions

I’m all about not changing things up if it’s delicious, but this recipe is super flexible and can be easily adjusted to fit your desires. Here are a few ideas:

• Spicy – add slices of jalapeno or a dash or red pepper flakes
• Garlicky – add a clove or two of fresh garlic that has been thinly sliced
• Peppery – add whole peppercorns
• Herby – add a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary or whatever herb(s) you love

You can also use other types of onions or vinegar. Play around with this recipe and find variation is your favorite!

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Traeger Smoked Cheezits

Irresistible snack alert!!! I don’t even know how this happened or what to tell you other than, I smoked cheezits and then I ate them all. 

Ok, I didn’t eat them all but for someone who isn’t really into rando snacks like this, it’s a pretty big deal that I couldn’t keep my grubby little hands out of them. 

We had some of our best friends over one night for dinner and swimming and afterwards ended up in the backyard roasting marshmallows and chatting away until the stars came out. If you’ve snagged a copy of our cookbook, Raised in the Kitchen you know what this is called, Sobremesa and it’s honestly my favorite part of the entire book. I’ll let you read all about it yourselves, but man, it was suuuuch a good night. 

And then Steve mentioned that his friend had smoked cheezits and I became obsessed. I lasted 4 days before curiosity got the best of me and I went for it. I decided to not google any recipes but to just wing it on my own and I am pretty dang sure that’s why it turned out awesome, it was pure inspiration. 

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Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It was a non-stop week of cooking and photographing new recipes over here and I’m ready for a weekend with my feet up on the couch. Rebecca and Lynne were here working with me and we ate some seriously delicious food all week long. I’m looking forward to sharing it all with you! 

ON THE BLOG this week: Tender chunks of chicken and vegetables are simmered together underneath a buttery, flaky biscuit topping to make this chicken pot pie casserole. I made it a few weeks ago and it was such a hit, it’s already been made three times since then.

When you pull this cheesy and delicious ham potato broccoli casserole hot and steaming from the oven everyone will be clamoring for a bite.

This Strawberry Blueberry Banana Smoothie brings summertime straight to your glass – even in the middle of winter. Sweet and creamy, this good-for-you smoothie is an easy way to start your day or refuel in the afternoon.

Pepperoni pizza dip is the perfect party appetizer. I mean, who doesn’t love a piping hot, melting cheese dip full of pepperoni?

Roasted vegetables dipped in Bang Bang Sauce, dare I say it, are better than vegetables with homemade ranch dip. I didn’t think that was possible but it IS! (And yes, this homemade ranch really is incredible.)

After eating parmesan-roasted carrots you will not want to make them any other way. Bite-sized and toasty perfect, you can’t eat just one!

Fluffy, buttery, sweet pancakes filled with bursting juicy berries are possible with minimal effort. Enough pancakes for the whole family can be cooked all at once on a single sheet pan!

Homemade salted caramel sauce is ridiculously decadent and delicious. This sweet sauce makes a terrific addition to countless desserts, like this amazing chocolate cake with salted caramel frosting.

What I’m CRAVING: Have you ever had a Profiterole?? They are Read more