Children and young people's emotional wellbeing

People drink alcohol for all sorts of reasons. Many people enjoy alcohol and most of the time it is not a problem. But drinking heavily can damage your health, especially if you’re a young person.

Whatever the reason, taking drugs and drinking alcohol doesn’t make you a bad person. But there are laws in place, and drugs and alcohol can have a negative effect on your mind and body.

You might also be affected by someone else’s use of drugs and alcohol.

The best way to reduce harm is to not drink alcohol or use drugs.

To find out more and get advice on how to stay safe and reduce harm, visit drugs and alcohol information from Young Minds.

For support and information, the Drug and Alcohol Support Hub (DASH) is for young people under 25 in the SO14-SO19 postcodes.

Getting angry is part of being human. We all do it and, just like stress, a little of it can be good for us. Anger isn’t good if it harms you or the people around you. If you’re shouting, throwing stuff, hurting others (or yourself) then that’s harmful behaviour. Anger can contribute to mental health problems and make existing problems worse.

Young Minds have developed an anger guide for young people.

Things like exams, leaving school, job interviews or even changes at home can make you feel anxious. It’s a normal biological reaction.

Young Minds have developed two different guides:

• Young people's guide to anxiety
• Parents and carers' guide to anxiety

If anxiety is significantly impacting on you, making it harder for you to get to school, leave the house or do other things you enjoy, and other interventions have been tried and/or there is a dramatic and sudden deterioration in your mental health then a referral to Specialist CAMHS is indicated.

The death of someone you care about, or even of a pet, can be very difficult. It’s important to remember that everyone experiences loss or bereavement differently. There is no right or wrong way to feel.

Most children who are bereaved will not require specialist mental health services. Support from family, friends and the school community can help.

Support for children and their families available includes:

• Simon Says is a young person bereavement support charity that provides support and advice to young people and their families across Hampshire. For more information about how they might be able to support you, visit the Simon Says website or call their support line
• Listening Ear offer a specialist counselling service for children and young people bereaved by suicide. Any parent, guardian or professional can make a referral by visiting the Listening Ear website
• Cruse is a national organisation that supports young people and adults following a loss or bereavement. The Cruse website has information to support carers and adults in supporting young people as well as tips for from children and young people themselves
• Winston’s Wish is a childhood bereavement charity that offers a wide range of practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families, and professionals.

Support for school staff, practitioners, and parents:

• UK Trauma Council information about traumatic bereavement: For school staff, practitioners, and parents. Tools to identify, help and support children and young people experiencing traumatic bereavement

The school pastoral team, Kooth and No Limits can also provide emotional and mental health support.

Referral to Specialist CAMHS to be considered following interventions from bereavement and community services and/or if the level of distress the child is experiencing is having a significant impact upon the child’s level of risk (e.g. due to self-harm or thoughts of suicide) and/or functioning.

We all have times when our mood is low and we’re feeling sad or miserable. Usually these feelings pass after a short time. If a low mood lasts for a long time and affects your everyday life, then it could be a sign that you’re experiencing depression.

Young Minds have developed two guides on this topic:

• Young people's guide to depression
• Parents and carers' guide to depression

If low mood is significantly impacting on you, (e.g. making it harder for you to get to school, leave the house or do things you enjoy) and other interventions have been tried and/or you are using self-harm or having thoughts of suicide, then a referral to Specialist CAMHS would be indicated.

Some children and young people can find it harder to manage their emotions than others. There can be lots of understandable reasons for this, including:

• Additional needs, e.g. learning and/or social communication difficulties, sensory processing difficulties, neurodiversity
• ACEs (Adverse childhood experiences) in early life, such as witnessing domestic violence, victim of abuse or neglect, prolonged stressful events, poverty, or other traumatic experiences
• Physical needs, e.g. tired or hungry

Information and advice:

• Emotions: Government website about emotions for early years
• Emotions matter - helping children to self-regulate: Resources on the Behaviour Matters website

Early signs of an eating disorder

Beat, the national eating disorder charity, have developed information on knowing the first signs of an eating disorder.

Don’t wait and see what happens. Getting treatment earlier can make a positive difference in someone’s recovery, therefore it is vital to act quickly if you suspect an eating disorder.

Access to support

• If you are concerned that a young person may have an eating disorder, make a referral to Specialist CAMHS to ask for support and advice
• Beat can provide a range of support including a helpline, open from 3pm– 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, one-to-one web chat., resources and access to support

Young Minds have developed a number of relevant guides:

• Young people's guides about anorexia and bulimia
• Parents and carers guide about eating disorders

If you feel your child is refusing to eat sometimes or not getting enough food, information, advice and top tips are available from the NHS.

For further advice and support contact the Public Health Nursing service. They work across all schools in Southampton.

Everyone has different needs for friendships and relationships, and it is OK to enjoy being alone. However, feeling lonely can have an impact on young people’s emotional health. This can lead to low mood, anxiety, and depression.

Young Minds offer a guide for young people who are experiencing loneliness.

Support services available include:

• Childline: Sign up for a free Childline locker (real name or email address not needed) to use their free 1-2-1 counsellor chat and email support service
• Samaritans: This is a listening service and does not offer advice or intervention
• Kooth: Free, safe and anonymous online chat and emotional wellbeing with qualified counsellors and therapists, for people aged 11 – 25

If loneliness is significantly impacting on you, (e.g. making it harder for you to get to school, leave the house or do things you enjoy) and other interventions have been tried and/or you are using self-harm or having thoughts of suicide, then a referral to Specialist CAMHS would be indicated.

Psychosis is when your thoughts are so disturbed (and confused) that you lose touch with what is real and what is not. Unusual experiences called ‘hallucinations’, such as seeing or hearing something that is not really there, can also be a symptom of psychosis. Hearing voices or having other hallucinations does not mean that a person is definitely experiencing psychosis.

Young Minds offer a guide for young people on psychosis.

If families or professionals are concerned that a young person (aged 14 and over) is experiencing psychosis, then they should contact the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team who can offer specialist assessment and treatment.

If you have concerns about a child aged under 14 years old experiencing symptoms of psychosis then refer to Specialist CAMHS.

Young Minds have developed a guide for parents whose child is unable to or feeling anxious about going to school.

Young Minds have also developed a guide for parents on bullying.

In the first instance we recommend accessing support via the school’s pastoral support team and then considering additional support from Education Welfare, Educational Psychology, as appropriate.

Where there is concern that the difficulties with school attendance are linked to a mental health problem, a conversation with the Mental Health in Schools Team (MHST) or Specialist CAMHS (where there is evidence of a significant impact on the child’s functioning and/or concerns about risk, e.g. self-harm or suicidal thoughts) is recommended.

Getting enough sleep is really important to help us feel energetic and positive. These resources can help you to get a better night’s sleep:

• Young Minds have developed a guide for young people on sleep problems
• The Every Mind Matters sleep information offers advice and support if you have trouble sleeping

Young Minds have developed a guide for parents around social media. The guide provides tips and advice to have a conversation with your child around such things as social media, gaming and the internet use.

Self-harm describes any behaviour where someone causes harm to themselves, usually as a way to help cope with difficult or distressing thoughts and feelings. There are many forms of self-harm and there are many reasons why a young person may engage in self-harm.

Young Minds have developed two guides on this topic:

• Young people's guide on self-harm
• Parents and carers' guide on self-harm

If the young person has seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose or are in an emergency and their life is at risk, dial 999 or go to the nearest emergency department.

For urgent concerns about a child or young person’s mental health problem (including self-harm), phone Specialist CAMHS or the NHS Mental Health Triage Service on 111 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or visit NHS 111 online.

Other support services available include:

• Samaritans offer free telephone access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Childline's self-harm information offers advice and more information about contacting Childline via free telephone access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Alumina provides free online self-harm support for 10-17 year olds
• Shout has a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help
• Solent Mind’s self-harm support service aims to reduce isolation, challenge stigma, and provide support for parents, carers and families of children and young people who self-harm

Everyone gets stressed at some point in their life, though it affects people differently. A little stress can be a good thing as it can provide the motivation to get something done. Stress becomes a problem when it feels greater than your ability to cope. You might feel sad or tearful, anxious or worried, angry or unable to concentrate.

Young Minds have developed a guide for exam stress.

If stress is significantly impacting on you, (e.g. making it harder for you to get to school, leave the house or do things you enjoy) and other interventions have been tried and/or you are using self-harm or having thoughts of suicide, then a referral to Specialist CAMHS would be indicated.

If someone is having suicidal thoughts and feelings, it is important that they tell someone and get help. If a young person has seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose or are in an emergency and their life is at risk, dial 999 or go to the nearest emergency department.

For urgent concerns about a child or young person’s mental health problem (including thoughts and/or plans of suicide), contact Specialist CAMHS or the NHS Mental Health Triage Service on 111 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or visit NHS 111 online.

Young Minds have developed relevant guides on this topic:

• Young people's guide about suicidal feelings
• Parents and carers' guide about suicidal feelings

Other support services available include:

• Samaritans are free anytime, from any phone. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Papyrus prevention of Young Suicide: Website and helpline offers confidential information to parents, carers and anyone who are worried that a young person who they think is contemplating suicide
• Staying Safe offers free resources for anyone distressed, thinking about suicide or worried about someone they care about. It provides Safety Plan guidance tools, with easy to print/online templates and guidance video tutorials designed to help people through the process of writing their own Safety Plan
• Shout has a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help
• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Men can call the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) during set hours every day or use their web chat service

Some relationships are better for us than others.

• A healthy relationship shows mutual respect, honesty, trust and emotional support
• An unhealthy relationship doesn’t make you feel good about yourself or makes you unhappy
• An abusive relationship might involve physical, emotional or sexual abuse – it can happen online, on your phone or in person.

For more advice, go to Childline's relationship advice. Abusive or controlling relationships are never OK. Call Childline in confidence for advice at any time using the phone number on their website.

The majority of tic disorders, including Tourette’s, need little intervention.

Psychoeducation is often helpful and can be found at Tourette’s Action.

People who experience distressing and frightening events where they or someone close to them was harmed or in danger of being harmed can understandably go on to experience difficulties, including changes in their mood, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, nightmares, or changes in their behaviours.

Young Minds have developed guides to support parents and carers if your child is struggling with the effects of trauma.

You can also view information around post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and what support is available from Young Minds.

If you are worried that, as a result of their traumatic experiences, your child or young person is experiencing significant mental health difficulties that are impacting on their ability to engage in their normal activities (e.g. school, hobbies, friendships) and/or are leading them to have thoughts of self-harm or suicide request support from Specialist CAMHS.

For trauma related to domestic violence or sexual abuse, Yellow Door offer a range of psycho-educational, support, advocacy, and therapeutic interventions. Their website includes more information and options to make a referral.