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If You Are Worried
If you have serious concerns because you think that a child might be being abused (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect) you should contact the Children’s Services Department at Hampshire County Council:
During office hours (8.30 am to 5.00 pm) you should contact Children’s Services either by phone at 0300 555 1384 or by email childrens.services@hants.gov.uk
At all other times, you should contact the Out of Hours Service: 0300 555 1373
For all emergency situations, please call 999. If you are a victim of this crime, our advice is to report it immediately to the police.
For other non-urgent matters there is a list of organisations that can provide support below
Mental health resources
This is an online mental health support service that gives free and confidential advice for ages 10-25. There is the facility to chat with a team member and it also has an online community where you can remain anonymous but still access online support and counselling. The Kooth magazine is full of other people’s experiences, written by other young people. There are also Kooth discussion boards where you can start or join a conversation on all sorts of topics and issues. There are also tools to help you to help yourself, like keeping an online mood diary. Another feature is Kooth messenger where you can chat with others, via messages, or even contact a trained counsellor to have a conversation through text messages. Counsellors are available from 12 noon till 10pm on weekdays and 6pm-10pm on weekends every day of the year.
Anyone under 25 years old can phone their helpline for free on 0808 808 4994. There is support there 7 days a week, from 3pm to 12am. They also have a crisis text messaging service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Text THEMIX to 85258 to access this free service. The Mix also offers contact via email, webchat or one-to-one chat or short term counselling support. They will offer support on a wide range of issues: mental health, homelessness, sex, exam stress, debt, drugs and so on.
Youth Helpline and Services - NoPanic
Youth Line: 0330 606 1174 Everyday 10am-10pm 365 days of the year
Charity that helps people who experience panic attacks, phobias, OCD and other anxiety-related disorders
Call 0800 1111 for free to speak to a counsellor.
Or you can access online support to message a counsellor, or email them www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/
There is a wealth of material on their website that’s worth looking at as well
Every Mind Matters for information written specifically for youths: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/youth-mental-health/ There’s information about low mood, anxiety, stress, sleep, exercise, dealing with change. There are short videos to watch and lots of other links to other support pages and websites.
There is material here on racism and mental health; sexuality and mental health; gender and mental health. It also looks at the effects of family and friends, drugs and alcohol, gaming and school stress and how all of these affect our mental health.
- Self Injury Support - This website has a range of support, including for friends and parents and carers. Helpline: 0808 800 8088 which offers free, confidential and non-judgemental support. Text support: 07537 432444 (Tues, Wed, Thurs - 7pm-9:30pm)
- Samaritans: 116 123 24 hour helpline, free of charge from mobile or landline
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) help and support for young men aged 15-35 Helpline: 0800 585858 or
- Papyrus: Prevention of Young Suicide: Helpline number: HopeLine UK - 0800 068 4141
- Stem4 is a charity that promotes positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them including their families and carers, education professionals, as well as school nurses and GPs through the provision of mental health education, resilience strategies and early intervention.
- OCD-UK
Information and support relating to OCD in children and young people. Produces useful, friendly guides including a teenagers’ guide, children’s guide and parents’ guide.
Awareness, information and resources around mental health.
Resources for parents and carers
- Parenting Smart from Place2be has Parenting advice from child mental health experts with practical tips to support children’s wellbeing and behaviour.
- Young Minds which has a parents and carers helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4pm, free for mobiles and landlines)
- The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families has a series of podcasts on a range of issues as a wave of support, alongside other material and resources Parents and Careers | Advice and Guidance | Anna Freud Centre
- Papyrus PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141
- Self Injury Support - This website has a range of support, including for friends and parents and carers. Helpline: 0808 800 8088 which offers free, confidential and non-judgemental support. Text support: 07537 432444 (Tues, Wed, Thurs - 7pm-9:30pm)
- Helping your child - Anxiety UK
Helps all those experiencing anxiety disorders, and specific section on helping your child
Supporting children and young people - Cruse Bereavement Support
This website provides a helpline, chat room, email support and resources on all aspects of eating disorders.