Advice and resources : Supporting yourself or somebody else with mental health difficulties
How can we help
Apps to help with children and young people's mental wellbeing
Ways you can help a child or young person to feel better.
App adviceHow can we help
Apps to help with children and young people's mental wellbeing
Ways you can help a child or young person to feel better.
App adviceOverview
Childhood and teenage years are a time of rapid and constant change. Young people often have to cope with many different situations and unfamiliar challenges like exams, relationships and the other pressures of growing up.
While it’s possible for some young people to talk to parents or carers about their feelings, others find it hard. They might express their difficult feelings through being very emotional, moody or withdrawing from friends, family and previously enjoyed activities. Some find themselves getting in trouble at school or at home, and others find themselves becoming angry too easily. Others might notice physical sensations like headaches or nausea when they’re not able to say what they’re feeling.
For many young people, these experiences pass quickly. But for others, they get in the way of life, prevent them from learning, developing relationships and enjoying life and can develop into mental health problems.
What you might see
Some young people might experience difficulties that are severe or long lasting, and might find themselves reacting to setbacks in a more extreme way. They might tell parents or friends they’re distressed or unable to cope, or they might hint that they are and hope adults notice and speak to them. This can lead to getting the necessary support.
Often though, young people might show distress through acting differently, with more intense moods or behaviour at home, at school or with friends. Others might notice changes in eating patterns or that they aren’t looking after themselves. At times of difficulty, many young people experience disrupted sleep, which can mean not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much.
How you can help
If the young person can carry on their usual life and doesn’t experience lasting unpleasant feelings, the best help is for parents, relatives or friends to be available to listen, talk things through and to support them where they can. There is also help available in schools, colleges or in the local community, such as counselling services which can be face to face or accessed online.
If you’re concerned that a young person is struggling with their mental health, there are a number of things you can do to help them.
- Encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling; this is sometimes easier when doing an activity, such as walking or cooking
- Listen to them in a non-judgmental, non-critical way; try not to worry about saying the wrong thing, just listen
- Spend time with them doing the things they enjoy; this might include watching their favourite TV show or watching them/joining them on their games console; use this time to talk about things other than your concerns about their mental health
- Reach out to them in everyday ways, such as inviting them out, texting, tagging them in a meme
- Encourage connection with others (maintaining friendships and family time), being physically active, attending school, giving to others and using mindfulness activities
- Offer to help find more information and offer to go with them to get further advice or information.
If your child, friend or sibling is unwilling to talk, or refuses to seek help and you’re worried that they might be at risk in some way (for example, if they are talking of ending their life, not eating or if they seem preoccupied with odd beliefs or ideas), you should explain to them that you need to share your concerns and get some help and advice from a trusted adult or healthcare professional. This might seem hard to do, but many young people report that when this happens, it can make them feel more cared for, safe and supported.
When to ask for help
There is a lot of help available in your local community.
Occasionally, young people’s feelings or moods might be so extreme or upsetting that they need urgent help. If a young person’s difficulties are having a significant impact on their life (such as not going to school, or isolating themselves from friends and family for long periods) and this feeling continues for some time, they might need to get help.
If you become aware that they’re self-harming or having suicidal thoughts, they might need further help from Child and adolescent mental health services’(CAMHS).
Referral to CAMHS should be made urgently if you believe there’s a significant risk to the young person or others as a result of their mental health issues.
Self-help and other support
AnDY Research Clinic offers assessment, interventions and research to young people suffering from anxiety and depression.
GOV.UK have guidance on the Five ways to mental wellbeing.
Kooth offer free online counselling and emotional wellbeing support service.
NSPCC: child protection and advice
Contact number: 0800 800 5000 Adult contact number
Alternate contact number: 0800 1111 Children and young people
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Samaritans
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Contact number: 116 123 Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
SamaritansMobile apps
Little Blue Book of Sunshine (Apple and Google download) has practical and useful advice to help teenagers with how they're feeling.
Parents and carers
You can find additional support online.
Family Lives have experienced editor provide parenting advice through advice articles
Relate offer counselling, training, and self-help resources to help you with family, mental health, and relationship challenges.
Young Minds provide young people with the tools to look after their mental health, and empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives.
Local support
Reading
No.5 offers free, confidential counselling and mental health support for young people aged 11-25 who live, work or study in the RG postcode area.
West Berkshire
Time to Talk (t2twb) offers emotional and psychological support service for young people aged 11-25 and parents connected to West Berkshire
Wokingham
ARC is an organisation that offers a confidential counselling service. We offer this service to anyone who needs counselling, young or old, in a warm, comfortable and safe environment.
Local support in East Berks
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