Introduction
Wellbeing is about how you feel and how you manage daily challenges. You don’t need to feel happy all the time to have good wellbeing. If life feels hard, there are ways to support your mental health.
Mencap has easy-read guides about mental health and wellbeing. They include signs that someone might be struggling.
ChatHealth 11-19 is a free text service for young people. You can ask a school nurse for help with things like feelings, relationships, sexual health, drugs, smoking or alcohol. Nurses are trained and experienced. You don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to.
Somerset Emotional and Mental Health Support
The Somerset Emotional and Mental Health Route Map shows key services that can help children and young people with their mental health and wellbeing in Somerset.
You can also find out about what happens when you turn 18 and what some of the adult services look like. NHS Somerset Foundation Trust describes this change moving from children’s mental health services.
Somerset Young Mental Health Champions LifeHacks for Mental Health project
LifeHacks are practical tips and ideas created by young people. They help you look after your mental health and support your friends.
They include real stories from people who have tried them and links to useful resources. They’re easy to share with anyone who needs help.
This project helps young people build confidence and learn about mental health. It encourages open conversations, so it feels okay to talk about problems, recovery and hope.
Visit the Somerset LifeHacks website for more ideas.
Kooth
Kooth is a free website for children and young people. You can use it on any device. It’s a safe and private online service where you can get help with your mental health. You can chat with trained counsellors and get advice and support. The team are qualified and can guide you to other helpful services if you need them.
Lauren from Kooth explains how the service works in Somerset in the video below.
MindEd for Families
MindEd for Families is a free website with advice for parents and carers. It gives tips on how to cope in a crisis and how to support yourself and your child through tough times.
It’s an NHS-approved resource about children’s and young people’s mental health.
Mental Health Toolkit
The Mental Health Toolkit helps schools support emotional wellbeing and mental health. It includes lots of resources for use in school.
It also gives clear advice on self-injury – how to understand it, respond and manage it. There are sections for young people, parents and carers, and school staff, so you can quickly find what you need.
The guide was shaped by young people who live with self-injury. Their honesty and ideas helped create this resource during the SIPP project, which ended in March 2021.
