Mental Health & Wellbeing
Good emotional and mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope better. This means they grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.
Children and young people (CYP) experience a range of emotions, feelings or moods every day. Some of these experiences can feel distressing to the CYP and their families. However, it usually falls within the range of what we could expect within our emotional development.
However, research tells us that mental ill health affects about 1 in 4 children and young people. This may present as a range of behaviours from exam stress and low mood to depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. These also may or may not be a clinically diagnosed conditions and are often in response to an individual's life experiences.
As parents there are services that you can access for advice and guidance.
For support on specific mental health needs:
Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk
OCD UK www.ocduk.org
Depression Alliance www.depressoinalliance.org
Eating Disorders www.b-eat.co.uk and www.inourhands.com
National Self-Harm Network www.nshn.co.uk and www.selfharm.co.uk
Suicidal thoughts Prevention of young suicide UK – PAPYRUS: www.papyrus-uk.org
For general information and support:
www.youngminds.org.uk champions young people’s mental health and wellbeing
www.mind.org.uk advice and support on mental health problems
www.minded.org.uk (e-learning)
www.time-to-change.org.uk tackles the stigma of mental health
www.rethink.org challenges attitudes towards mental health
Kooth
Kooth is a mental health and wellbeing platform that offers online text based counselling support. Not only do we offer access to counselling, at Kooth we feature self help tools including online journaling, goal setting and mindfulness techniques. We also have a community space on our Kooth magazine and discussion boards where young people can give and receive advice and support from others their age.
We are commissioned, and therefore free to young people at the point of need, by the local ICB who are keen to make sure every young person aged 11-18 in Essex is aware of their access to this platform.
We are a website at www.kooth.com that is accessible on all browsers and through all devices, including mobile, tablet and desktop.
Kooth is somewhat different from traditional support services that may not be available after the end of the working day. We are staffed by fully trained and qualified counsellors who are available until 10pm each night, 365 days per year. We've found that over 70% of contact with the service is made by young people after traditional office hours.
With no long waiting times or referral process, Kooth is a fantastic way for young people to get the help and support they need, when they need it, rather than having to wait long periods for an appointment.