Rooms available for people experiencing homelessness in Norfolk
Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney, which supports up to 52 people at the former All Hallows community site in Ditchingham, currently has several rooms available.
The charity provides stable accommodation, work opportunities and personalised support to help individuals rebuild their lives.
Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney Community Kitchen (Image: Supplied) Residents, known as companions, are given their own bedroom, three home-cooked meals each day and access to communal spaces.
They also receive support from dedicated staff who help them identify and address the challenges they face.
Cecile Roberts, chief executive at Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney, said: 'After experiencing homelessness, trauma or mental health issues, we know having a safe space to pause and take stock is vital.
Cecile Roberts ENW CEO (Image: Supplied) 'At Emmaus, we offer the chance for people to recover in a beautiful, rural therapeutic space and escape the social isolation felt by so many while experiencing homelessness.
'We support people to rebuild, gain self-confidence and look positively towards the future.'
Adults aged 18 and over who are rough sleeping, vulnerably housed or at risk of homelessness can apply for a room.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
What is ‘AI psychosis' and how can ChatGPT affect your mental health?
Hundreds of millions of people chat with OpenAI's ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence chatbots each week, but there is growing concern that spending hours with the tools can lead some people toward potentially harmful beliefs. Reports of people apparently losing touch with reality after intense use of chatbots have gone viral on social media in recent weeks, with posts labeling them examples of 'AI psychosis.' Some incidents have been documented by friends or family and in news articles. They often involve people appearing to experience false or troubling beliefs, delusions of grandeur or paranoid feelings after lengthy discussions with a chatbot, sometimes after turning to it for therapy. Lawsuits have alleged teens who became obsessed with AI chatbots were encouraged by them to self-harm or take their own lives. 'AI psychosis' is an informal label, not a clinical diagnosis, mental health experts told The Washington Post. Much like the terms 'brain rot' or 'doomscrolling,' the phrase gained traction online to describe an emerging behavior. But the experts agreed that troubling incidents like those shared by chatbot users or their loved ones warrant immediate attention and further study. (The Post has a content partnership with OpenAI.) 'The phenomenon is so new and it's happening so rapidly that we just don't have the empirical evidence to have a strong understanding of what's going on,' Vaile Wright, senior director for health care innovation at the American Psychological Association, said. 'There are just a lot of anecdotal stories.' Wright said the APA is convening an expert panel on the use of AI chatbots in therapy, which will publish guidance in the coming months. Ashleigh Golden, adjunct clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Stanford School of Medicine, said the term was 'not in any clinical diagnostic manual.' But it was coined in response to a real and 'pretty concerning emerging pattern of chatbots reinforcing delusions that tend to be messianic, grandiose, religious, or romantic,' she said. The term AI psychosis is being used to refer to a range of different incidents. One common element is 'difficulty determining what is real or not,' said Jon Kole, a board-certified adult and child psychiatrist who serves as medical director for the meditation app Headspace. That could mean a person forming beliefs that can be proven false, or feeling an intense relationship with an AI persona that does not match what is happening in real life. Keith Sakata, a psychiatrist at the University of California San Francisco said he has admitted a dozen people to the hospital for psychosis following excessive time spent chatting with AI so far this year. Sakata said most of those patients told him about their interactions with AI, showing him chat transcripts on their phone and in one case a print out. In the other cases, family members mentioned that the patient used AI to develop a deeply-held theory before their break with reality. Psychosis is a symptom that can be triggered by issues such as drug use, trauma, sleep deprivation, fever or a condition like schizophrenia, Sakata said. When diagnosing psychosis, psychiatrists look for evidence including delusions, disorganized thinking or hallucinations, where the person sees and hears things that are not there, he said. Many people use chatbots to help get things done or pass the time, but on social platforms such as Reddit and TikTok, some users have recounted intense philosophical or emotional relationships with AI that led them to experience profound revelations. In some cases, users have said they believe the chatbot is sentient or at risk of being persecuted for becoming conscious or 'alive.' People have claimed that extended conversations with an AI chatbot helped persuade them they had unlocked hidden truths in subjects like physics, math or philosophy. In a small but growing number of cases, people who have become obsessed with AI chatbots have reportedly taken real world action such as violence against a family member, self-harm or suicide. Kevin Caridad, a psychotherapist who has consulted with companies developing AI for behavioral health, said AI can validate harmful or negative thoughts for people with conditions such as OCD, anxiety or psychosis, which can create a feedback loop that worsens their symptoms or makes them unmanageable, he said. He thinks that AI is likely not causing people to develop new conditions but can serve as the 'snowflake that destabilizes the avalanche,' someone predisposed to mental illness over the edge. ChatGPT and other recent chatbots are powered by technology known as large language models that are skilled at generating lifelike text. That makes them more useful, but researchers have found chatbots can also be very persuasive. Companies developing AI chatbots and independent researchers have both found evidence that techniques used to make the tools more compelling can lead them to become 'sycophantic' and attempt to tell users what they want to hear. The design of chatbots also encourages people to anthropomorphize them, thinking of them as having humanlike characteristics. And tech executives have often claimed the technology will soon become superior to humans. Wright with the APA said mental health experts recognize that they won't be able to stop patients from using general purpose chatbots for therapy. But she called for improving the public's understanding of these tools. 'They're AI for profit, they're not AI for good, and there may be better options out there,' she said. Not yet. It's too early for health experts to have collected definitive data on the incidence of these experiences. In June, Anthropic reported that only 3 percent of conversations with its chatbot, Claude, were emotional or therapeutic. OpenAI said in a study conducted with Massachusetts Institute of Technology that even among heavy users of ChatGPT, only a small percentage of conversations were for 'affective' or emotional use. But mental health advocates say it's crucial to address the issue because of how quickly the technology is being adopted. ChatGPT, which launched less than three years ago, already has 7o0 million weekly users, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in August. Health care and the field of mental health move much more slowly, said UCSF's Sakata. Caridad, the counselor, said researchers should pay special attention to AI's impact on young people and those predisposed to mental illness. 'One or two or five cases isn't enough to make a direct correlation,' said Caridad. 'But the convergence of AI, mental health vulnerabilities, and social stressors makes this something,' that requires close study. Conversations with real people have the power to act like a circuit breaker for delusional thinking, said David Cooper, executive director at Therapists in Tech, a nonprofit that supports mental health experts. 'The first step is just being present, being there,' he said. 'Don't be confrontational, try to approach the person with compassion, empathy, and understanding, perhaps even show them that you understand what they are thinking about and why they are thinking these things.' Cooper advises trying to gently point out discrepancies between what a person believes and reality, although he acknowledged that political divisions mean it's not uncommon for people to hold conflicting ideas about reality. If someone you know and love is 'fervently advocating for something that feels overwhelmingly not likely to be real in a way that's consuming their time, their energy, and pulling them away,' it is time to seek mental health support, as challenging as that can be, said Kole, medical director for Headspace. In recent weeks, AI companies have made changes to address concerns about the mental health risks associated with spending a long time talking to chatbots. Earlier this month, Anthropic updated the guidelines it uses to shape how its chatbot Claude behaves, instructing it to identify problematic interactions earlier and prevent conversations from reinforcing dangerous patterns. The company has also started collaborating with ThroughLine, a company that provides crisis support infrastructure for companies including Google, Tinder and Discord. A spokesperson for Meta said that parents can place restrictions on the amount of time spent chatting with AI on Instagram Teen Accounts. When users attempt prompts that appear to be related to suicide, the company tries to display helpful resources, such as the link and phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Stanford's Golden said the 'wall of resources' tech companies sometimes display when a user triggers a safety intervention can be 'overwhelming when you are in a cognitively compromised state,' and have been shown to have poor follow-through rates. OpenAI said it is investing in improving ChatGPT's behavior related to role-play and benign conversations that shift into more sensitive territory. The company also said that it is working on research to better measure how the chatbot affects people's emotion. The company recently rolled out reminders that encourage breaks during long sessions and hired a full-time clinical psychiatrist to work on safety research. Some ChatGPT users protested on social media this month after OpenAI retired an older AI model in favor of its latest version, GPT-5, which some users found less supportive. In response to the outcry, OpenAI promised to keep offering the older model and later wrote on X that it was making GPT-5's personality 'warmer and friendlier.' If you or someone you know needs help, visit or call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
15 Things Never To Say To A Friend Who's Losing It
When your friend is going through a rough patch, your instinct to help is spot on. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, the words you choose can make things worse. Instead of easing their stress, you might accidentally add to it. Here's a list of things you should never say to a friend who's losing it. It's all about supporting them in a way that doesn't feel dismissive or patronizing. 1. "Calm Down" Telling someone to "calm down" when they're visibly upset is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. It rarely works and often aggravates the situation. This phrase can make your friend feel like their emotions are invalid or irrational, which might lead them to shut down or feel more isolated. Instead, focus on creating a space where they feel heard. Offer your presence and ask open-ended questions to help them express what they're going through. According to Dr. John Gottman, a relationship expert and researcher, validation is key to emotional connection. He emphasizes that acknowledging someone's feelings without judgment builds trust and understanding. Redirect your focus from trying to manage their emotions to simply being there for them. Your friend needs to know you're on their side, ready to listen without criticism. 2. "It Could Be Worse" When someone is struggling, comparing their situation to potential worse scenarios can feel dismissive. This phrase minimizes their pain and suggests their feelings aren't valid until they reach a perceived "worse" level. While it's often said to provide perspective, it can make your friend feel guilty for being upset. What they need is empathy, not a competition of hardships. Let your friend know that it's okay to feel overwhelmed, and their feelings are valid right where they are. Instead of comparing, offer understanding. Try saying, "I'm sorry you're going through this. It sounds incredibly tough." This kind of response acknowledges their pain without making them feel like they should be handling it differently. Being present and supportive is more valuable than trying to reframe their struggle into something less significant. 3. "You'll Get Over It" Telling someone they'll "get over it" can come off as dismissive and condescending. It implies that their current feelings aren't important and that they should move on before they're ready. This phrase can make your friend feel misunderstood and alone. A better approach is to offer your support throughout their process of coping, however long that may take. Everyone heals at their own pace, and it's crucial to respect that. A study by Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, underscores the importance of connection in healing. Her work shows that empathy drives connection, which is essential for emotional recovery. Instead of rushing your friend, be the steady presence they need. Let them set the pace for their recovery, and reassure them that you'll be there through every step. 4. "I Know Exactly How You Feel" Even if you've been through a similar experience, saying you know exactly how your friend feels might not resonate with them. Everyone processes experiences differently, and even shared situations can evoke different emotions in different people. This phrase can unintentionally shift the focus from your friend to yourself, making them feel like their unique perspective is overlooked. Instead, try to draw on your own experience to offer empathy without assuming it mirrors theirs. Share that you're there for them and acknowledge their feelings as valid and unique. A more supportive way to communicate is to listen actively and ask questions that help your friend explore their feelings. You might say, "That sounds really hard. How are you feeling about it?" This shows that you're interested in their specific situation and emotions. It's about holding space for them rather than comparing notes on who's had it worse. 5. "Everything Happens For A Reason" While this might be comforting in other contexts, it can feel dismissive when someone is in distress. Suggesting a grand design behind their pain doesn't help them feel better now. It can minimize their feelings and make them feel like they should accept the situation rather than process it. Your friend might just need to hear that it's okay to feel sad, angry, or confused right now. Focus on being present in their current reality instead of philosophizing about the future. Psychologist Dr. Susan David highlights the importance of emotional agility, which involves being present with your emotions without trying to rationalize them away. Her research suggests that accepting emotions rather than assigning them a "purpose" can lead to better emotional resilience. Offer your friend the space to feel their emotions without pressure to find meaning in them immediately. Sometimes, just being there is the best support you can offer. 6. "At Least..." Starting a sentence with "at least" is often an attempt to find a silver lining, but can come across as minimizing. Phrases like "at least you have X" or "at least it's not Y" can be perceived as invalidating their current struggle. It suggests that they should be focusing on what's going right rather than what's wrong, which might not be helpful in the moment. Your friend may hear this as an indication that their feelings are unimportant. Instead, focus on empathy and understanding without trying to shift their perspective. Offer instead a simple acknowledgment of their pain. You might say, "I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. It sounds so challenging." This approach validates their feelings and shows that you're willing to listen rather than redirect or mitigate their emotions. Remember, they need your support, not a lesson in gratitude. 7. "Just Stay Positive" While maintaining positivity can be powerful, insisting on it during a friend's low moment might not be helpful. This phrase can sound like you're telling them to ignore their current feelings and skip straight to happiness. It can make them feel as though their emotions aren't valid, which might lead to increased feelings of isolation. Instead of pushing positivity, encourage them to express what they're going through. Allow them to feel what they need to feel without immediate pressure to "bounce back." Research by Dr. Martin Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology, suggests that authentic happiness is built on genuine feelings, not forced cheerfulness. He found that confronting and understanding our emotions can lead to more sustainable psychological health. So, rather than urging your friend to stay positive, support them in understanding and processing their feelings. Let them know it's okay to not be okay sometimes, and you'll be there with them through it. 8. "You're Overreacting" Telling someone they're overreacting can be a quick way to invalidate their emotions. It suggests that their feelings are bigger than they should be, which can make them feel ashamed or embarrassed. This phrase doesn't offer any real support or understanding and might cause your friend to retreat. Instead, try to understand why they're feeling the way they are. Encourage them to talk openly about what's weighing them down so they feel seen and heard. Ask questions to create a supportive dialogue. You might say, "Can you tell me more about what's going on?" This shows you're genuinely interested in understanding their perspective. By encouraging them to open up, you help foster a supportive environment rather than one where feelings are judged or minimized. 9. "You're Strong, You'll Get Through This" While intended as a compliment, this can add pressure to "be strong" when they may not feel capable of it. It suggests that showing vulnerability is not an option, which can exacerbate feelings of failure or inadequacy. Your friend might feel like they're letting people down by struggling, even if they're doing their best. Instead, remind them that it's okay to not always feel strong. Offer your support by being there for them in their weakest moments. Genuine encouragement is about acknowledging their struggle and offering a shoulder to lean on. You can say, "I'm here for you, no matter what." This reassures them that they don't have to face everything alone. Your friend needs to know that their support system is strong, even when they're not feeling strong themselves. 10. "Others Have It Worse" Comparing your friend's struggles to those of others can inadvertently belittle what they're going through. It implies that their pain is only valid if it's the worst out there, which is rarely the case. Instead of being comforting, it can make them feel guilty about their feelings. Everyone's experiences are different, and pain isn't a competitive sport. Focus on offering understanding and compassion instead of comparisons. Acknowledge their pain without bringing others into the conversation. You might say, "I'm really sorry you're going through this. It sounds incredibly tough." This approach validates their feelings and shows that you value their experience. Supporting your friend means respecting their individual journey, not measuring it against others. 11. "Just Let It Go" Saying "just let it go" simplifies a potentially complex emotional process. It implies that their feelings are something they can simply switch off, which isn't realistic or fair. Letting go takes time and often involves understanding and processing deep emotions. Your friend might feel more pressured or frustrated if they believe they can't meet this expectation. Instead, support their journey toward healing, no matter how long it takes. Encourage them to take the steps they need to heal at their own pace. You might say, "I'm here for you, however you need to work through this." This reassures your friend that there's no timeline or rush to "move on." Provide your support without setting expectations about how they should handle their emotions. 12. "Cheer Up" Telling someone to "cheer up" might seem like simple advice, but it can come across as dismissive. It suggests that their sadness or anxiety is something they can just turn off like a light switch. This phrase often fails to acknowledge the complexity of their emotions and can leave them feeling misunderstood. Your friend likely wants to feel better but may not know how to get there. Instead, offer your presence and understanding, and avoid quick-fix solutions. A more helpful approach might be to ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?" This shows you're willing to support them in practical ways. It acknowledges their feelings without suggesting that they just need to change their mindset. Being there in a tangible way can mean more than any words meant to lift their spirits. 13. "Get Over It" "Get over it" can be incredibly hurtful, as it dismisses your friend's feelings entirely. It implies that their emotions are trivial and shouldn't be given any more thought. This phrase can deepen feelings of isolation and make your friend feel unsupported. Instead of forcing them to move on, encourage them to explore their feelings at their own pace. Support their healing process by being a patient and understanding presence in their life. Show empathy by saying, "I'm here for you as long as you need." This lets your friend know they don't have to rush their recovery. Your patience and willingness to stand by them can be incredibly comforting and healing. Remember, your friend isn't looking for a quick fix, but for genuine support as they navigate their emotions. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Change to state's suicide and crisis line has driven large increases in contacts
During Dianna Caber's 15-year tenure at South Sound 911 – the public safety answering center for a majority of fire and law enforcement agencies in Pierce County – dispatchers have rarely transferred anyone to a regional crisis and suicide hotline. Practically every call that reached their Tacoma communication center was handled by first responders. 'The only caller we were transferring to a crisis line before was someone who called and said 'can I talk to crisis?'' Caber, manager of the center, said. 'Outside of that, it was getting entered for a law enforcement or fire department response.' Practices fundamentally changed two years ago, after trained mental health counselors from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Life Line embeded themselves inside Sound Sound's call center under a state pilot program. Large numbers of calls are now diverted, at least partially, away from emergency responders like law enforcement. The shift is one component of broader and ambitious effort to overhaul Washington's behavioral health response system following the lauch of 988, which debuted across the country in July 2022 as a replacement for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Changing from the former suicide hotline number, 1-800-273-8255, to an easy-to-rember three-digit replacement drove a significant increase in volume. Record numbers have connected with trained counselors via phone, text and chat since 988 launched. In Washington, calls are up 52% from launch, according to a state report published last December. Text messages rose 923%. And call volumes have continued to grow monthly, said Courtney Colwell, director of 988 Services for Volunteers of America of Western Washington. Calls were up 37% since last year, and 8% between June in July. Volunteers of America, based in Everett, is one of three providers handling 988 calls in Washington. VOA handles calls from a vast majority of the state, excluding those in King and six counties near Spokane. Only about 10% of those calls require any sort of dispatch, Colwell said. About 10% of calls end with a mobile crisis outreach team being deployed, while about 2% might need a response from law enforcement or firefighters. 'A lot of people just need someone to talk to,' she said. Much of the work being done around 988 is still in its infancy, but has shown promising results, Caber says. Their partnership with Volunteers of America has been a 'huge benefit.' One of the biggest innovations has been conference calls, where a 911 call receiver and 988 counselor are on the line at the same time with a caller – able to give them advice as they wait for first responders. About 16% of calls are now being handled in this format, Colwell said, while the rest are flat transfers. Being together opens up many opportunities to support callers and maintain a 'no wrong door approach,' Caber said. "No matter who you call and where you go, we're going to get you to the right people." Someone to respond and somewhere to go From the beginning, Washington officials envisioned 988 as an entry point to a more comprehensive system, adopting legislation to enhance the state's behavioral health infrastructure to provide help beyond the initial call. The concept, based on the ideal crisis continuum outlined by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, was that in addition to a crisis line to call, there would be local dispatch services and facilities for people to go for follow-up care. 'At launch, the promise for the future of Washington's lifeline was threefold: someone to call, someone to respond, and a place to go,' then-Gov. Jay Inslee wrote in a 2024 blog post. Three years later, much of those initial promises are still a work in progress, said Jolene Kron, executive director of the Salish Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization. Several state workgroups continue to discuss the future of 988 and its role in the state's crisis system. A spokesperson for the Washington state Health Care Authority, the agency tasked with overseeing much of this work, did not make a representative available for an interview by press time. One of the questions is how 988 fits in with the existing local crisis lines. Salish, one of 10 state-funded regional behavioral health providers, runs its own behavioral health hotline – distinct from and created prior to the launch of 988 – for residents of Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam Counties. The Salish Regional Crisis Line and 988 services coordinate with each other. Volunteers of America runs both, but they are separate entities. Kron said this requires some call transferring between the two lines, in an effort to maintain a no-wrong-door approach. In an emergency, an individual can call either line, she says. There are few transfers from 988 to the Salish Line, Kron said. Part of that is 988 has historically been used for suicide prevention, meaning most callers are only looking for someone to talk to and their issues are resolved on the phone. If a call needs an in-person response, it has to be transferred to Salish, Kron said. They are the only ones who can dispatch the mobile crisis outreach team run by the nonprofit Kitsap Mental Health Services. Kron said that is something that could be changed down the road. Challenges around georouting also exist for 988, to some degree, Kron said. Previously, when some dialed 988, their calls were routed to a call center based on their phone's area-code – not their actual location. That changed for major wireless carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T last year, but smaller providers still have this issue. 'Many of the folks we would be serving are probably not on those larger plans, so we continue to support folks using the Salish regional crisis line for most expedient direct access,' Kron said. 'There's not a barrier to using 988, it would just mean an additional call transfer.' This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: WA 988 suicide and crisis line seeing large number of calls
