A collection of resources for children and young people to help with mental health.
Local Renfrewshire resources
· Lifelink - www.lifelink.org.uk/youth/one-to-one/ - counselling for young people on issues such as well-being, feelings, stress, relationships, health, emotions, coping skills, anger and conflict, peer support and exam stress. Speak to pastoral care staff or a teacher at your school who can refer you into the service.
· Crisis counselling - www.crisiscounselling.co.uk – counselling service in Erskine. Specialist counsellors trained to work with children and young people affected by many issues. You can self-refer on 0141 812 8474 or email info@crisiscounselling.co.uk
· School nurse –support young people affected by mental health issues e.g. related to bereavement, parental separation. Referral can be done by School or by the GP.
· Women and children first - https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/Womenadandchildrenfirst - provide support to women and children who have experienced rape, sexual assault, physical abuse, harassment and/or child sexual abuse regardless of where or when this happened. You can self refer on 0300 300 0345
· Cedar Network - www.cedarnetwork.org.uk – part of Scottish Women’s Aid. Programme for children and young people who have been victims of or witnessed domestic abuse. Programmes also available for the mothers of these children/young people. Run by Renfrewshire Reconnection – 0300 300 0345 (can self refer).
Online resources
· www.youngminds.org.uk – UK’s leading charity for looking after the emotional health of young people. Excellent website with helpful resources and advice for both the young person and their parent/carer. There is a separate Parent helpline 0808 802 5544 (9.30-4pm M-F)
· www.themix.org.uk – UK based charity. Free, confidential support for anyone under 25y. Offer support on wide range of issues such as self harm, sex and relationships, mental health, bullying, drugs, finding a job, money, housing problems, work and study, crime and safety , travel and lifestyle. Can chat online or phone 0808 808 4994 or chat by email. Available 24/7 365 days/year.
· www.childline.org.uk – UK based charity, anyone under 18 can confidentially call, email or chat online 1 to 1 with on online advisor about any problem. Freephone 24h helpline 0800 1111 or sign up for a childline account online to be able to message a counsellor any time without using your own email address.
· www.kooth.com run by XenZone (a provider of online mental health services for children, young people and adults). Kooth is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free to use. Register online to sign in and access it. Only seems to be available now in England
· Prevention of young suicide – Papyrus. –national confidential helpline for young people <35 at risk of suicide or someone worried about a young person. 08000684141 or 07786209697 10am-10pm M-F 2pm – 10pm weekends or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
· www.healthtalk.org/young-peoples-experiences - useful information and video clips of other people’s experiences including mental health problems
· www.stem4.org.uk - Supporting teenage mental health. This is a useful website with advice for young people, their friends and family/carers about teenage mental health including issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, depression and anxiety, addiction.
· https://gozen.com/ - programs although they do cost money they have a helpful facebook page that gives helpful tips and advice.
Help with specific issues
Relaxation exercises for children with anxiety - www.moodcafe.co.uk/for-children-and-young-people/relaxation-for-children.aspx - Scottish website with helpful relaxation exercises/techniques for children with anxiety
Help with bullying
www.bullying.co.uk – UK Charity Bullying UK – lots of information including about Cyberbullying.
www.respectme.org.uk – Scotland’s anti-bullying service – information for young people, parents and information on anti-bullying policies
www.antibullying.net –The Anti-Bullying Network – website supporting anti-bullying work in schools and providing information about how to tackle bullying. Sections for young people and for their parents/families.
Help to lose weight
Weigh to go – service in Renfrewshire for 12-18 year olds who want to lose weight. Run by Youth Health Service in Renfrewshire www.yhs-ng.co.uk or phone 0141 451 2727
Drugs and alcohol
RADAR is a dedicated service in Renfrewshire for young people aged between 12 and 21 to provide support with alcohol or drug issues. Call 0141 618 2585 to get an appointment. https://www.renfrewshireadp.co.uk/advice-support/children-young-people.aspx
www.talktofrank.com – Website with lots of information about drugs. Provides confidential support about drugs via live online chat (2-6pm Monday-Friday), by email frank@talktofrank.com , by text on 82111 or by freephone 03001236600 24/7 365 days/year.
Eating disorders
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk (beat – beating eating disorders) – confidential web chat online or Freephone Youthline 08088010711 or email fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Sexual health and wellbeing
https://sexwise.fpa.org.uk/ - website of the family planning association with loads of useful information about contraception, STIs, unplanned pregnancy, and sexual wellbeing.
Other useful online resources
www.docready.org - helpful advice for young people about preparing to talk to a GP about mental health
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyoungpeople.aspx - The Royal College of Psychiatrists has put together lots of useful information for young people, parents, teachers and carers on a wide range of mental health issues. Links to leaflets to print out.
NICE guidelines for social anxiety in young people https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg159 - these are the national guidelines on how to help young people experiencing social anxiety
https://young.scot/aye-mind/
https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/ Resources put together by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Phone apps
Stay alive – pocket suicide prevention app including safety plan, lifebox to store photos and memories that are important to you, tips for staying safe, breathing exercises
Calm Harm – award winning app to help you cope with the urge to self harm
Smiling mind – guided meditation
SAM – self-help for anxiety management
Headspace – meditation and mindfulness
Calm – meditation and help with sleep.
Stop Breathe Think – sleep better, breathe more easily and find more calm
Bhuddify – meditation and mindfulness
Books
For children/young people:
Feeding the anxiety gremlin (Kate Collins-Donnelly) – there are 2 books, one aimed at children aged 5-9y and one at children aged 10y and over.
Stopping the pain: a workbook for teens who cut and self injure (Lawrence E Shapiro)
What to do when you worry too much – a kid’s guide to overcoming anxiety (Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews) – self-help book aimed at 6-12 year olds and their parents.
The huge bag of worries (Virginia Ironside) – aimed at anxious children aged 3-8 years
Am I depressed and what can I do about it? (Shirley Reynolds) * – age appropriate self-help guide aimed at young people aged 13-17 who are experiencing low mood and depression
Anxiety Relief for Teens by Regine Galanti
Hello Happy! Be Brave! Stay Strong! A series of books by Stephanie Clarkson and Dr Sharie Coombs – colouring drawing mindfulness activity books – excellent for younger children or for older ones who enjoy creativity
Ten minutes to better health – a step by step guide for teens using CBT and mindfulness by Dr Lee David – This book covers everything from dealing with anxiety and worry and building your confidence to creating healthy life habits and positive relationships
For parents/carers:
Helping your anxious child: a step by step guide for parents - 2009 edition (Ronald Rapee) – strategies and techniques to help parents help children with separation anxiety, general anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobia, panic disorder.
A volcano in my tummy: Helping children to handle anger (Eliane Whitehouse) – A resource book for parents, caregivers and teachers
How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk (Adele Faber) – effective step by step techniques for parents to help improve their relationships with their children
How to talk so teens will listen and listen so teens will talk (Adele Faber) – practical advice for parents and teens
When your kids push your buttons and what you can do about it (Bonnie Harris) – advice on how to end the cycle of action and reaction between you and your child.
Parenting a child who has intense emotions: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills to help your child regular emotional outbursts and aggressive behaviours (Pat Harvey) – guide to de-escalating your child’s emotions and helping your child express feelings in productive ways
Overcoming your child’s fears and worries: A self-help guide using Cognitive behavioural techniques (Cathy Cresswell) – teaches parents how to use cognitive behavioural techniques with their children.
Teenage depression – a CBT guide for parents (Shirley Reynolds) – companion book to * above. Looks at the issues from a parent’s point of view with advice about what to look out for and strategies to help.
Autism
The girl with the curly hair The Girl With The Curly Hair - Autism Training, Animations, Books
National Autistic society National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk)
Socialprogrammesscotland@nas.org.uk – empowerup group for young people meets on line or face to face in Glasgow