Youth Mental Health Day 2021 Special Update

 

 

Links to information for parents about young people’s mental health and wellbeing; separated in sections about general mental health information, selfcare, anxiety, depression, talking about mental health, coronavirus, helplines and suicide prevention day.

 

 

Trigger warning – there is a section at the end which refers to suicide!

 

 

This update was emailed to parents on 7th September 2021.

 

 

Mental health is important every day of the year for everyone and we know that many people appreciate some helpful information. Youth Mental Health Day is on 7th September; the theme this year is Stride Forward (and achieve your goals).

Friday 10th September is also World Suicide Prevention Day, raising awareness of suicide prevention and encouraging people to reach out to others to show they care.   

So for these two awareness days we have put together some links to information about children and young people’s mental health (and where parents and children/young people can access help and about talking about it). Many of these were included in our Children’s Mental Health Week update (February 2021), but some are new or were not in that update, so so take a look through them. 

 

 

General information:

Worcestershire CAMHS  (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

MindEd

Kooth

Mental health and wellbeing (NHS)

 Looking after your mental health (Mental Health Foundation)

We All Have Mental Health  (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

Young people’s mental health and wellbeing resources (The Children’s Society)

When I worry about things  (BBC)

Looking after a child or young person’s mental health  (NHS Every Mind Matters)

Supporting young people (and you!) (The Blurt Foundation)

Resources to support teenagers’ mental health (stem4)

Raising low self-esteem  (NHS)

On my mind  (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

Ollee app for children aged 8 – 11 years (ParentZone)

ThinkNinja app for ages 10 – 18 years, free during the coronavirus crisis (NHS)

Combined Minds app to help families and friends support teenagers’ mental health

Calm Harm, award-winning app to help resist/manage the urge to self-harm

Safespot app (resources on the website include downloadable stress management workbooks)

 

 

Selfcare:

15 self-care ideas for children   (The Blurt Foundation)

Helping our children to understand selfcare (The Blurt Foundation)

Selfcare top tips for young parents and carers  (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

Selfcare on a budget (The Blurt Foundation)

Selfcare for when the news is terrifying (adults)  (The Blurt Foundation)

 

 

Anxiety:

Guide to 7 ways to support children and young people who are worried  (The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

8 symptoms of social anxiety  (The Blurt Foundation)

Anxiety, why we’re so exhausted (all ages) (The Blurt Foundation)

Depression, anxiety and mental health  (NSPCC)

Children and anxiety factsheet   (Anxiety UK)

Taming and tending your meerkat brain, TEDx talk (Jane Evans)

 

 

Depression:

Depression, anxiety and mental health  (NSPCC)

Parent’s guide to depression   (Charlie Waller Trust)

World Health Organisation animation about depression

Depression: how poor mental health can test friendships (Blurt Foundation

 

 

Talking about Mental Health:

Supporting children’s mental health, 10 conversation starters for parents  (National Online Safety) 

Tips for talking with friends about your mental health (Young Minds)

Can’t talk, Write  (Action For Children)

Short animation  about conversations about mental health (2019, pre-coronavirus!)

You’re never too young to talk mental health (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

 

 

Coronavirus:

Guide for young people about coping with coronavirus , updated 11th September 2020 (The Mental Health Foundation)

Looking after children and young people during the coronavirus outbreak  (NHS Every Mind Matters)

Coronavirus and mental health  (Young Minds)

Five ways to support children’s mental health   (BBC Bitesize)

Coronavirus support app (developed in collaboration with Student Minds)

 

You can find a post about  looking after your family’s mental health during coronavirus on our website.  Our coronavirus page also has several links to information about mental health.

 

 

Helplines etc:

The Shout Crisis Text Line is available 24/7 – text SHOUT to 85258 for any emotional/mental health crisis.

Young Minds Crisis Text Line is there 24/7 for anyone up to the age of 25 experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Papyrus HopeLine is open 9am – 10pm weekdays and 2pm – 10pm weekends and bank holidays: 0800 068 4141.

The Samaritans’ number is free to call –  116 123 – or email jo@samaritans.org (there is also a self-help app available from the website).

Trigger warning – the following section refers to suicide!

 

Suicide Prevention Day:

On Friday 10th September, local charity Behind the Smile will be in Cathedral Square, Worcester 12 noon – 2pm with Drumlove; from 2pm they will be in St Andrew’s Church in Pump Street with cakes, scones, tea and coffee. You are welcome to join them. (Behind the Smile aim to help people affected by stigma attached to mental health and to support those who have been bereaved by suicide.)

 

There are a number of  apps which young people are using to stay safe from suicidal thoughts listed by Papyrus.

Papyrus : “Spot the signs”  information and films includes conversation starters and what to do next if you’re worried about someone.

MIND has  information about supporting someone who has suicidal thoughts.

The Blurt Foundation lists  9 things you can do for someone who’s having suicidal thoughts.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention’s downloadable resource about taking time to reach out is here: https://bit.ly/2X2bWsD. 

Suicide and Autism (National Autistic Society)

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust has a parent’s guide to depression.

That’s all for this update, thank you for reading it!  

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