Help for Young People Under 11

Life can be tough at times and it can make you feel down. We all feel low at points in our lives but sometimes, it can feel like we are unable to cope.

If you are feeling sad as you have lost someone you care about, it’s natural to feel sad, depressed, worried or angry. Everyone reacts in their own way. If you’re finding it hard to cope, we can help you find support.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Young Minds |information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Good Thinking| advice and tools aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners.

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• Samaritans| confidential counselling and support for people struggling to cope | Call 116 123
• Papyrus| confidential support and advice for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide | Call 0800 068 41 41
• The Mix| counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258

We all feel angry sometimes, often when there’s a good reason. Uncontrolled anger can be harmful, but you can learn to manage it.

If you often feel angry there are things you can do to help yourself. Other people can help too.

• Talk about how you are feeling. Parents or carers and other family members, such as grandparents, may be good listeners. Your close friends and other family friends may be able to help.
• At school, find a teacher, mentor, counsellor or school nurse who you trust. In the community, social workers, youth workers and leaders will also be able to listen.
• You can also see your GP. They may be able to suggest some treatment or recommend a counsellor.

Young Minds has some really helpful tips and support on how to deal with anger, or you can look at the links below:

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• The Mix| counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

You might be questioning and exploring your gender, transitioning between genders, or thinking about transitioning. For some, this can be a confusing or difficult time. It may be distressing being viewed as a gender that doesn’t feel right, or being referred to with pronouns (‘he’ or ‘she’), that don’t feel right.

You may also struggle with your body image or how you feel in your own skin if your body does not match your gender. But it doesn’t always have to be this way and with the right help and support, things can start to feel better.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Young Minds |information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Good Thinking| advice and tools aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners

Talk to someone:

• Mindline Trans+ | confidential helpline for trans and non-binary people | Call 0300 330 5468
• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• Samaritans| confidential counselling and support for people struggling to cope | Call 116 123
• Papyrus| confidential support and advice for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide | Call 0800 068 41 41
• The Mix| counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

Growing up can be a difficult time. You might be feeling new feelings for people that you’ve never felt before, and aren’t sure why.

You may be attracted to someone of the same gender, or a different gender, or you might not feel sexual attraction at all.

It is important to remember that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ sexuality.

No one deserves to be treated differently because of who they are attracted to, and you should be able to live freely and without fear. However, sometimes people are bullied, treated differently or badly because of it.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Young Minds |information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Good Thinking| advice and tools aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners
• Young Greenwich| Royal Greenwich’s youth support service, for young people between 8 and 19 (up to 25 for people with SEND).

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• The Mix | counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

Most of us worry sometimes – about things like friendships or money – and feel anxious when we’re under stress, like at exam time. But afterwards we usually calm down and feel better.

Anxiety is the feeling you get when you’re worried or scared about something. Some anxiety can be helpful as it can keep you safe from danger. But sometimes anxiety can make you feel like things are worse than they actually are and can feel overwhelming.

Almost everyone gets anxious sometimes, but if your anxiety is stopping you from being able to live your life or do things you normally enjoy then it’s important to get support.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too. Check out some of the below links for support on dealing with anxiety:

Advice:

• Young Minds|information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Anxiety UK | Provides information, support and advice for anyone struggling with anxiety
• Good Thinking| advice and tools aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners.
• Young Greenwich| Royal Greenwich’s youth support service, for young people between 8 and 19 (up to 25 for people with SEND).

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• Samaritans| confidential counselling and support for people struggling to cope | Call 116 123
• Papyrus| confidential support and advice for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide | Call 0800 068 41 41
• The Mix| counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

Self-esteem is how we think, see and feel about ourselves. It isn’t just about how we physically look but also how confident we feel.

Sometimes, we might find it hard to believe in ourselves and feel good enough. That’s okay – it’s normal to struggle with our self-esteem and this can change at different times in our lives.

Young Minds has some helpful tips about how to feel better about yourself.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Good Thinking| advice and tools aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners.
• Young Greenwich| Royal Greenwich’s youth support service, for young people between 8 and 19 (up to 25 for people with SEND).

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• Samaritans| confidential counselling and support for people struggling to cope | Call 116 123
• Papyrus| confidential support and advice for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide | Call 0800 068 41 41
• The Mix| counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

Sometimes, we might feel different from other people or that they don’t understand how we are feeling. This can be really tough and isolating, but it’s important to know that there are things you can do to feel valid, seen and heard. You are important, and your feelings matter.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Young Minds |information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• Samaritans| confidential counselling and support for people struggling to cope | Call 116 123
• Papyrus| confidential support and advice for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide | Call 0800 068 41 41
• The Mix | counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

It’s never ok for someone to make you feel unsafe, scared or frightened, or for someone to hurt your body or your feelings.

Abuse is anything another person does that’s meant to hurt you. But it’s not always easy to know what abuse is or what to do about it.

Abuse isn’t always done by a stranger and could be someone you know, which can make it feel hard to speak out about. Abuse is always wrong. If you tell someone, they can help to make it stop.

There are different types of abuse:

• Physical – being hurt by someone for no reason
• Mental or emotional – being treated badly, such as always being ignored or criticised
• Verbal – saying, shouting or writing horrible things
• Neglect – not being looked after and kept healthy
• Sexual abuse – being touched or kissed where you shouldn’t be or forced to take part in sexual activity.

Find out more about each of these different types of abuse.

It’s ok to talk to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher, school nurse or another adult at school, someone from your place of worship or your GP.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Young Minds |information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Young Greenwich| Royal Greenwich’s youth support service, for young people between 8 and 19 (up to 25 for people with SEND).

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• Samaritans| confidential counselling and support for people struggling to cope | Call 116 123
• Papyrus| confidential support and advice for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide | Call 0800 068 41 41
• The Mix | counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.

We all have problems with sleeping, waking, or having bad dreams sometimes.

You may find yourself waking up in the night, or having difficulty getting to sleep in the first place.

You may be anxious or worried – about being alone, the dark, or imaginary scary monsters and ghosts. You might feel you want someone there with you as you drop off to sleep or if you wake in the night.

Worries or anxieties can also be about:

• friendships or bullying
• school work
• family relationships
• divorce or separation
• changes in routine such as a new school or moving house

Chat to your GP if your sleep problems continue for a long time, things you try at home are not helping, or if you are worried about an emotional or physical problem. You can also chat to a trusted adult such as a family member, teacher or someone at your place of worship.

There’s lots of support available online and over the phone too:

Advice:

• Young Minds |information and helplines for supporting young people, including Young Minds Crisis Messenger: If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis you can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Good Thinking| advice and tools aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners.
• Young Greenwich| Royal Greenwich’s youth support service, for young people between 8 and 19 (up to 25 for people with SEND).

Talk to someone:

• Childline| call 0800 1111 to talk to a counsellor, who are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about.
• The Mix| counselling and advice about a range of issues online, by telephone and by email | Call 0800 808 4994. For urgent support text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.