More and more people have come forward and spoken about mental health following months of lockdown but for many kidney patients, it can be an ongoing battle.

Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood.

Living with a mental health problem can often have an impact on day-to-day life, making things that others might not think about a bit more difficult. It's perfectly normal to experience a range of emotions as a person with kidney disease. It is not a sign of weakness so don't be afraid to ask for help if your feelings are affecting your quality of life.

We have produced a booklet to help you with the emotional impact of receiving a diagnosis of kidney disease.

Talking to someone about how you are feeling is very important as you do not have to deal with kidney disease alone. You can discuss things with members of your family, friends and your renal unit. If you unit has a renal social workers then they can support you on a practical and emotional level. 

We run the only free UK Helpline dedicated solely to kidney patients with two fully-trained, experienced advisers providing a 5-day per week service. You can contact the Helpline on 0800 169 09 36. 

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