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You are not alone - we can all have times when we need a bit more support or guidance.

Pastoral staff in school are there to support young people with any worries and concerns.

Have an open conversation with your parents and carers

The School Nurse service are here for you and offer a confidential service both in and out of school. You can contact pastoral staff in school if you wish to see your school nurse or phone our Health Visitor and School Nurse advice line on 0161 835 6789 to book an appointment.

Speak to your GP

If you need urgent help and feel unable to keep yourself safe you can go to A&E at the hospital.

Have a look at the links in this section for online and telephone support.

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The role of the school nurse

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It’s important for your body to stay clean and healthy.

Particularly as you grow through puberty. During this time your body will begin to sweat more, your skin and hair may become greasier, plus hair will start to grow in new places.

There’s no need to be overwhelmed though, here’s a checklist for keeping on top of your personal hygiene.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Personal hygiene checklist | Health For Teens

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Health for Teens offers a great choice of content and quizzes across all areas of your health, from sexual health to your feelings, growing up, lifestyle and much more.

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Your feelings about how you look and the changes you go through can have a big impact on your life. But whatever you're going through, we can help.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Childline is a service provided by NSPCC Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717

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If you have a problem you can’t fix on your own, it’s a good idea to speak to an adult you trust. Telling someone you need help isn’t always easy, but we have some advice to help you.

Last reviewed June 2026 - MM, AR

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If you have a problem you can’t fix on your own, it’s a good idea to ask an adult you trust for help. This page is all about helping you find the right person to ask and giving you ways to start a difficult conversation.

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Self-care

In this section, you’ll find practical ways to look after your mental health, allowing you to choose what works best for you. Whether you’re just starting to explore self-care or looking for new ideas, this guide is here to help.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Explore self-care strategies to manage mental health, with tips and activities for young people based on research and expert advice.

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Relationships

Being in a relationship can be really exciting, but sometimes it can be confusing too. Read our advice on what to do if you’re not sure about a relationship.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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4 tips to ask someone out:

Spend more time with them to see if you both get along.

Find out more about them to see if you have similar interests.

Choose a time when you're both free to talk and are alone if you're embarrassed to talk to them with others around.

You don't have to ask them out, you could ask them to hang out or go to the park.

Check out our message boards for advice from other people in similar situations.

It isn't illegal to have a relationship with someone older or younger than you, but there is a legal age for sex, to protect young people.

When you're 16 you can legally have sex with someone aged 16 or older, as long as you both agreed to do this and gave your consent.

It's illegal to have sex with someone under the age of 16. This includes oral sex and sharing sexual messages.

If you're under the age of 18, it's illegal for anyone to take, have or pressure you for a sexual photo of you, including sharing sexual images.

Even if you're over 16, it can be illegal for someone to have sex with you if they work with you in a professional way, like a teacher.

Remember, in relationships, one person might have more sexual experience. This can sometimes make the other person feel pressure to do things they don't want to, or say yes when they don't fully understand what's being asked.

It's important that you're comfortable with anything you do and that you understand and consent to any sexual activity.

Dating someone older or younger can feel exciting, and you might be attracted to their maturity, confidence or independence. Or you might see them as more trusting or fun than people your age.

These might feel like positive reasons to start a relationship but they could affect how equal you feel, or how the relationship works.

When one person has more experience, knowledge, money or material things, it can sometimes feel like they have more power in the relationship or should make more of the decisions.

Remember, in a healthy relationship both of you should have an equal say in what you do together and any decisions you make.

Having a big age gap can make it more difficult sometimes to find places to go together. There might be things like certain films you can't go to see at the cinema together, or you might like different types of music.

If one of you is aged 18 or older, going to places with age restrictions, like bars and clubs, could be a problem.

You might be in situations where you feel pressure to go to places you're not comfortable with, or do things you're not ready to do.

Sometimes your friendship groups might not mix easily, or your family might not approve. It can be difficult to be with your partner's friends if you can't easily join in with things they do. You might be tempted to try to hide the relationship from others because you're worried how they might react.

If you're younger, you might not be able to drink alcohol, drive a car or stay out overnight. If you're the older one, you might be too old to go to the youth club or uncomfortable hanging around in the park.

If one person is working or has more money, they might make decisions about the things you do together. They may also feel frustrated if the other person can't afford to do things they want to do.

It might be difficult to understand their partner needing to study or feeling under pressure because of exams

When there's an age gap, there might be different expectations about the relationship and about the future. It's important to talk about what you want from the relationship and be clear about what your aims and hopes are for the future.

It can be really hard to break up with someone, especially if you're not sure if it's the right thing to do. But there are ways to make it easier.
5 things to consider:

Try to tell your boyfriend or girlfriend face to face. You might want to do this in a quiet place where you can talk without being disturbed.

Try not to break up by text or online - your message could be shared with lots of other people and this could make things hard for you.

Tell your boyfriend or girlfriend why you want to end the relationship.

If you don't want to be friends, don't promise that you will be. It could hurt them more if you lie.

Try to get your stuff back from them if you have given them house keys, money, travel cards or other important things.

If you're scared about what would happen if you tried to end your relationship, speak to an adult you trust or get support.

It's really upsetting if you're the one who has been broken up with, and it can take time to get over it.

It can sometimes feel difficult to deal with a break-up. But it's important to remember that things can change. In the days and weeks after a break-up it can still be hard to accept and you could feel hurt and let down. Many people feel different after a while and you could meet someone else in the future.

5 ways to help you cope:

Talk about how you feel with someone you trust.

Talk to one of our counsellors for support.

Check out the relationships message board and get support from other young people who might be in a similar situation as you.

Focus on things that make you feel happy, like spending time with friends and doing hobbies.

Take time to think about what is important to you and how you want things to be in the future. Try to express your feelings and draw how you want things to be.

Worried about a friend's relationship?

It can be difficult if you're worried about your friend. You might not know what to say or they might be secretive about what's been happening. We often hear from people who tell us:

'my friend's boyfriend is treating her badly'

'my friend's girlfriend is always teasing him and putting him down'

'my friend is in a relationship with someone who is much older'

'my friend is being forced to have sex'.

If you're worried about a friend, you don't have to cope on your own. Read our advice about helping a friend.

Lots of young people have crushes on teachers or feelings for them and this is normal. The important thing to remember is that acting on these feelings or having a relationship with a teacher is wrong.

It can be hard when you have feelings for someone like a teacher and you realise that you can't be together. But it's important to remember that these feelings will go away and it would be wrong to act on your feelings.

It's wrong because your teacher is in a position of trust and it's against the law for them to have any kind of personal relationship with a student who is under the age of 18. They could go to prison for having a relationship with a student.

It's a teacher's responsibility to work with you in a strictly professional way. This means that at all times they are a teacher and you are a student. If you left school or if the teacher worked at a different school, it would still be seen as wrong and unprofessional.

If you felt pressured by a teacher to do anything which you felt uncomfortable or unsure about, you should talk to a counsellor.

The internet can be a great way to meet new people. Some people find it easier to talk online. And it can help you say how they feel more openly.

But sometimes it can be hard to know who you're talking to. They might not be who they say they are. It's important to understand the dangers of talking to someone you don't know and make sure you stay safe online.

Try to remember:

don't share your personal info or photos

be aware of your digital footprint - what photos and info is on the internet already

don't meet up with them unless it's in a public place and you have a friend with you

trust your instincts. Be careful of things that seem to good to be true, or too much of a coincidence.

It's not okay for someone to pressure you online. Find out more about online grooming.

It can be really hard if your family doesn't like your boyfriend, girlfriend or someone you fancy. Or if they stop you from being with someone.

It can make you feel sad, angry, confused or isolated, but there are things you can do to help:

Find out why they think this way
Your family might not agree with the relationship because of their behaviour, age, race, gender, religion or because of other reasons.

Talk to your parents about how you feel
See if you can work things out together.

Ask someone you trust for help
You could speak to someone you trust, like a family member, teacher or someone else.

Talk to us
Speak to one of our counsellors who are here to give advice and support.

Questioning your sexuality is normal. It's okay to be confused about who you're attracted to, or whether you're attracted to anyone. When you are confused it can make you feel alone, but we're here to support you.

If you're struggling to understand your sexuality, try:

looking at our information on sexuality

talking about it, you could speak to a friend you trust or ask other young people for support on our message boards

not putting pressure on yourself, it can take time to understand your feelings

expressing your feelings using our Art box.

There's no right or wrong way to feel when it comes to your sexuality. If you're worried about how other people might react or you just want to talk, try speaking to a Childline counsellor.

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4 tips to ask someone out: Spend more time with them to see if you both get along. Find out more about them to see if you have similar interests. Choose a time when you're both free to talk and are alone if you're embarrassed to talk to them with others around.

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Relationships can make you feel amazing. But they can also leave you feeling stressed out and upset. Get advice if you're having problems with relationships.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Friends, relationships and sex | Childline

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Childline is a service provided by NSPCC Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717

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There are many reasons why someone might drink alcohol or take drugs. Our guide covers the facts on drugs and alcohol, how they can affect your mental health, and advice on what to do if you need help.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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A drug is any chemical that you take in - whether as a pill, a liquid, a powder or in another form - which can affect the way you think, feel and act. This includes alcohol - although we often don't think of it as such, alcohol is a drug.

A drug can be something legal and commonly used, like headache tablets. However, generally when we talk about drugs, we mean illegal drugs or drugs that people take for enjoyment or any other non-medical reason. (When drugs are used in this way, they are sometimes referred to as "recreational drugs".)

Why do people drink or take drugs?

There are lots of different reasons why people might take drugs or drink alcohol. It might be:

to fit in with a group or appear popular

to see what it feels like

because they feel like they should, or they feel pressure to do it

to distract from difficult thoughts or feelings, or to try to make these feelings go away

to feel more confident or able to talk to people

Whatever the reason someone drinks alcohol or takes drugs, it doesn't make them a bad person. But there are laws around drugs and alcohol; and drinking alcohol or taking drugs can have a negative effect on your mental and physical health, so it's important to know the facts and be aware of the risks.

When you take drugs, there is always some risk involved. This is because drugs can affect different people in different ways, and it can be hard to know exactly what you are taking, as you often don't know where the drugs have come from. For more information about how different drugs can affect you, and the risks that come with different drugs, the Frank website is a really good place to start.

The laws around drugs and alcohol

Recreational drugs (drugs that people take for non-medical purposes) fall into one of three groups:

e.g. alcohol and nicotine (cigarettes or vapes)
These are drugs that you can buy legally, though there may be laws around who can buy them. This includes alcohol and nicotine, but also over-the-counter medication like headache tablets.

You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol or nicotine products in the UK. However, if you're 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal.

e.g. cocaine, heroin, marijuana etc.
These are drugs that are against the law to have, use or provide to other people.

e.g. diazepam, methylphenidate, dexamfetamine etc.
These are drugs that are used in medicine and might be given to you by a doctor, but are illegal to have or use if you don't have a prescription for them. It is also illegal to give or sell controlled drugs to anybody else. Your doctor should tell you if they prescribe you a controlled drug.

If you choose to take illegal drugs, remember it can lead to a criminal conviction, which could end up affecting things in your future, like getting a job. And if you're under 18, it's against the law to buy (or try to buy) alcohol, or to drink alcohol in licensed premises like restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs, other than in the circumstances explained above.

You can find out more on the Government's website:
Drugs penalties Alcohol and young people

Can you get in trouble for telling someone that you've taken drugs or drunk alcohol underage?

When you talk to a doctor or other healthcare professional, everything you tell them is confidential - this means that they will not tell anyone else unless you agree otherwise, or they feel that you are in danger of harming yourself or others (if this is the case, they will always try to let you know first). However, if you are under 16 and a doctor or healthcare worker suspects that you are being abused or that you are in danger, they have to report that.

But if you tell them you've voluntarily taken drugs or drunk alcohol underage, they will not report you to the police. In fact, if you think that you have any kind of issue with drugs or alcohol, it's really important that you tell your doctor so that they can help.

The effects of drugs and alcohol on your mental health

Drugs and alcohol can affect your mental health in different ways. The effect they might have can depend on a number of things, such as:

the drug you take

how much you take

how frequently you take it

how you're feeling at the time

the environment you take it in

In the short term, while you're still feeling the effects of drinking alcohol or taking drugs, you may feel:

happy

excited

energetic

relaxed

sociable, or like it's easier to talk to people

tired

sad

anxious

paranoid

impulsive, or less worried about doing things you wouldn't do normally

out of control

Even once the alcohol or drug wears off, it can still have an effect on your mental health. You may find that you feel:

As some drugs such as alcohol make you feel more relaxed, outgoing and sociable, some people use them to help with anxiety in the short term. While this may help reduce feelings of anxiety in the moment, it can have negative long-term effects. For example, you may find that you start to feel as though you "need it" to cope in these situations in future; it may make feelings of anxiety or depression worse once the effects have worn off; or it may make you physically ill.

If you are struggling with anxiety, it is important to get help so that you can develop coping mechanisms that work for you in both the short term and the long term.

For advice on coping with anxiety, have a look at our guide.

Using drugs and alcohol can make any mental health problems you struggle with worse in the long term, and it can even lead you to develop new mental health problems. For example, regular use of cannabis has been linked to the development of psychosis.

If you take drugs regularly, you might reach a point where you feel like the drug is in control of you, rather than the other way around. Maybe you're using it in private, away from friends, and your life revolves around getting more of it. Or perhaps drugs and alcohol are becoming the main things you think about. If so, you could be getting addicted, and addiction is closely linked with mental health problems.

Drugs, alcohol and mental health medication

If you take medication for your mental health, it may change the way that drugs and alcohol affect you. We have more information on our medication pages, but please speak to your doctor for any medical advice.

How to tell if you have a problem with drugs or alcohol

It can be hard to recognise when you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, as this can develop over time without you noticing. Below are some common signs that you might have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

You feel like your drug or alcohol use is no longer under your control, and that you cannot cope without it - you "need" to do it, even if you don't want to.

You build up a tolerance to the drug, meaning you might start to need more and more of it in order to feel the effects.

You get withdrawal symptoms when you don't take it. For example, you might feel sick, anxious or develop a tremor (shakes).

You often have unexplained cuts and bruises, blackouts, confusion and difficulty remembering what happened while drinking or on drugs.

You are feeling secretive and ashamed about what you are doing, or doing it in private or on your own.

What to do if you're struggling with drugs or alcohol

If you're at all worried about your drug or alcohol use, whether you think you are addicted or not, it's important that you reach out for help. Talk to someone you trust about it, whether that's a friend, parent, teacher or counsellor. If drugs or alcohol are affecting your ability to cope in daily life, then you should see your GP.

This may feel scary, but it is the best way to get help and your doctor won't judge you.

Show/hide caption

Illustration by Emily @21andsensory. Black text in the centre of a white background reads, 'believe in yourself and magic will happen.'

You may feel like stopping taking drugs or drinking alcohol is impossible, but you can do it and live a happy life without drugs or alcohol with the right support.

Dealing with peer pressure around drugs and alcohol

When it comes to drugs and alcohol, you may sometimes feel like there is pressure to do something you're not comfortable with because others want you to. This is called peer pressure. You may feel flattered that people want to drink or take drugs with you, but it can also make you feel:

scared

worried

alone

like you need to explain why you aren't joining in

like people will make fun of you or not want to hang around with you if you don't join in

When dealing with peer pressure to drink alcohol, I explain my personal reasons why I choose not to drink, and even though I don't mind others drinking, I've been really put off and it is of no interest to me at all. Usually people can see why I have made that choice and respect it.

It's important to remember that when it comes to drugs and alcohol, the only person who gets to decide what you do is you. It can be difficult saying no, but people who care about you shouldn't push you to do anything you're uncomfortable with.

Frank have ten tips for dealing with peer pressure on their website:

Childline have a guide to being assertive, which you might also find helpful when you want to say no but you're not sure how.

Top tip from our Activists

If your friends often drink alcohol or take drugs, it can sometimes feel like a lot of social activities revolve around that, which can be difficult if you don't drink or take drugs. To get around this, you could try planning activities that don't involve these things. This helps to take away the pressure to drink or take drugs, and allows you to find other things that you and your friends enjoy doing together. For example, you could suggest:

going to the cinema

playing sport

cooking or baking

going shopping

going for a walk

playing video games

Supporting a friend with a drink or drug problem

If you think your friend has developed a problem with alcohol or drugs, it can be really hard to know what to do. You may worry that if you say something to them, they'll be angry at you or start hiding their drink or drug use from you. But you may also worry that if you don't say anything, their problem might get worse.

The best thing you can do is let them know that you are there for them as a friend, and that they can talk to you if they want to. You could start by letting them know that you're worried they may have a problem, and telling them how their behaviour is affecting you or your friendship. It's important to let them know that you aren't judging them, and that you only want to help.

However, if you don't feel able to have that conversation, that's okay too. It is not your responsibility to fix things. Instead, you could try suggesting they use one of the helpline services at the bottom of this page. It's also a good idea to ask for support from an adult you trust, like a parent, teacher or youth worker. You don't have to tell them the name of your friend, but if you think they may be in danger, then this can be a good idea. You can let your friend know that you need to talk to an adult and let them know why. Your friend might find this difficult and ask you not to, but they will eventually understand that you want to help them get through this.

For more information and advice on supporting a friend, have a look at our guide.

You might also find helpful...

Where to get help

See below for a list of organisations and helpline services that can offer you further support.

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Drugs and Alcohol | Support For Young People

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Read our guide for the facts on drugs and alcohol, how they can affect your mental health, and advice on what to do if you need support.

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A health promotion website, covering subjects that promote a healthy body and mind. Links are provided to further information if needed.  Users can also find out about accessing support from local services.

Last reviewed June 2026 - MM, AR

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Health For Teens | Everything you wanted to know about health

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Health for Teens offers a great choice of content and quizzes across all areas of your health, from sexual health to your feelings, growing up, lifestyle and much more.

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Information for toileting and bladder and bowel health

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Information for toileting and bladder and bowel health

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Find out how you can keep your child's bowel and bladder working properly from birth. Clinically approved information and resources to help you and your child.

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With your help, we can keep offering free support to those who need us.

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Issues affecting the bladder and bowel are very common in children and young people. Here you can find specialist advice to help.

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Advice on Bladder and Bowel Problems in Children and Young People

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Children and young people Bladder and bowel health Issues affecting the bladder and bowel are very common in children and young people. Here you can find specialist advice to help. varied issues The problems can include difficulties with toilet training, wetting and/or soiling.

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Quality sleep is essential for children’s growth and development. A decent night’s sleep will help them to do better at school, allow them to react more quickly to situations, have a more developed memory, learn more effectively and solve problems, plus it will make them less susceptible to colds and other minor ailments, less irritable and better behaved!

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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A decent night’s sleep will help children to learn more effectively and make them less susceptible to minor ailments,

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National Child Measurement Programme in Stockport

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National Child Measurement Programme in Stockport

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Video for parents

last reviewed June 2026- MM, AR

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National Child Measurement Programme - Stockport School Nursing

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The local offer provides information about the support available in Stockport for children and young people with SEND, their families and carers

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Essential Parent

A library of information, videos and resources to support parents of babies and children through to teenagers. Essential Parent can help you with a range of needs, from caring for your newborn, to potty training your toddler, and from preparing your child to start school through to understanding teenage behaviour.

Complete our form to sign up:
Sign up to Essential Parent

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Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) local offer

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The local offer provides information about the support available in Stockport for children and young people with SEND, their families and carers.

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Chat Sexual Health is an NHS-approved secure and confidential text messaging service for people across Bradford, Kirklees,Tameside and Stockport. It is brought to you by Locala Sexual Health and allows you to get in touch with a healthcare professional, at the touch of a button, for advice and support about sexual health and contraception.

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To book an appointment please contact us on:

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Did you know that making some simple lifestyle swaps can help you to sleep better?

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Looking for advice on how to sleep better? Tweak your routine and understand the science behind your sleep patterns.

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Our brain is the control centre of our body and responsible for our thoughts, actions and overall function of the body. But it doesn’t stay the same as we grow up. It’s continually changing and developing. One of the most fascinating transitions for the brain is between childhood and adulthood: your teenage years.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Vaping is not for children and young people. Their developing lungs and brains mean they are more sensitive to its effects. Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk-free.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Vaping is not for children and young people. Their developing lungs and brains mean they are more sensitive to its effects. Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk-free.

That's why there's a minimum age of sale for vaping products in the UK. It is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to anyone under 18 or for adults to buy them on behalf of under-18s.

If you find a retailer selling either nicotine vapes or tobacco products to under-18s, you can report a retailer to local authority Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice online portal.

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Vaping is not for children and young people, whose developing brains are more sensitive to its addictive effects. Find out how to talk to young people about vaping.

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It’s normal for young people to experiment with drugs and alcohol at some point and to varying degrees, but it can be extremely worrying if you discover that your child is misusing them to cope with deeper issues.

In this video, Edith Bowman shares five tips from NHS mental health experts about what to do if you’re worried about your child’s relationship with drugs or alcohol.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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If you notice changes in your child's physical appearance, personality, outlook or behaviour then it might suggest that something's wrong. The signs might not be obvious and will vary depending on what they're using, but you know your child better than anyone, so trust your instincts.

Some signs to look out for:

You might notice that they appear drowsy.

They may have red-rimmed eyes and / or a runny nose.

They may have begun staying out late or mixing with new people.

You may have started to notice mood swings, antisocial behaviour or a negative attitude.

They may not be sleeping properly or are getting up late.

They may be being secretive or evasive about what they're doing or where they're going.

They may have stopped paying attention to their appearance or personal hygiene.

They may have lost their appetite or suddenly lost interest in friends or hobbies.

You might notice money going missing or being unaccounted for.

You may find unusual equipment like burned foil or torn cigarette packets.

2. Try to find out what's going on

If you do suspect or discover something, try not to overreact or jump to conclusions. You need to figure out what's going on and whether it's about them having fun with mates or if it's something more serious.

Things to consider before reacting

As parents we tend think the worst, so before you go making accusations allow them to explain the situation rather than basing it on your imagination.

Remember that adolescence is a time of experimentation and establishing an identity, which is likely to involve some questionable decision-making. Think back to your own adolescence and the mistakes you made before passing judgement.

All behaviour is communication, so think about what they might be trying to say with their behaviour and what underlying feelings the drugs or alcohol may be masking.

3. Be supportive

Although you may feel scared or angry, try to be patient and understanding. Words matter so think through what you want to say in a way that avoids accusing them. They may be reluctant to talk about it so let them know that you're there to support and help them when they're ready.

Tips for starting a conversation

Ask them how they're doing.

Stick to the facts and tell them what you've noticed and why you're concerned about, but don't be surprised if they try to avoid the conversation or deny what's going on.

Sitting across a table can feel like an interrogation. It's better to talk on walks or journeys when you're both heading in the same direction, as if you're confronting something together rather than confronting each other.

Remember that the aim of talking isn't to criticise or lay blame, but to get to the heart of the problems and consider solutions together, so be mindful of the language you use.

It can be difficult to get a dialogue going at times but it's important not to force the issue or rush into it as soon as their guard comes down a little. Some people have found that text messages and emojis can be a very good way of easing into it gently.

4. Help them to get help

Acknowledging that there's a problem is a vital first step, but even if they're not ready to do that you can still reach out for advice and support from your GP or local drug and alcohol service. Some people have found that leaving a leaflet lying about or texting their child a link to some information can open the door to them getting the help they need.

5. Be vigilant

Things can change quickly in the lives of young people so keep the conversation going, be observant of any changes in attitude or behaviour, and if it feels like something's wrong, trust your instincts.

Some additional resources that may help.
Download a printable version of this advice

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Help if your child is misusing drugs or alcohol | ThisMayHelp

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Support, tips and guidance on how to tackle substance and alcohol abuse by children. Watch the video.

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Help and advice

Whether you want to understand more about how you're feeling, get information about a mental health condition or find support, our guides can help. If you need help speaking to someone, start with our guide to reaching out for help.

Your feelings are valid and things can get better.

Last reviewed June 2026 - MM, AR

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If you’re struggling with your feelings, we have tips and advice from other young people, and information on getting the support you need for your mental health.

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A judgement-free forum to get advice, help others and share your story

Access support from other young people and professionals, all at your own pace.

Last reviewed June 2026 - MM, AR

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Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous

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You can contact Childline about anything. Whatever your worry, it's better out than in. We're here for you, whatever's on your mind. We'll support you. Guide you. Help you make decisions that are right for you. Our tips and techniques, ideas and inspiration, can help you feel more in control. And you can access them in your own time, at your own pace!

Last reviewed June 2026 - MM, AR

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On Thursday 30 November from 2:30am - 7:30am, you won't be able to contact Childline whilst we do some important maintenance to our systems. This means that 1-2-1 chats, calling and messages to Childline will be unavailable. You'll still be able to use the Childline website for advice and information.

If you're in danger or it's an emergency, you should always call 999

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Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

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PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. We believe that no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide.

Last reviewed June 2026 - MM, AR

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Skip to content

Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

My whole way of thinking has changed. I feel positive about my future and the people around me. I'm now looking forward to the future and helping others just like me!

Thank you so much for the incredible support PAPYRUS and HOPELINE247 has given me. You helped me in that moment and it kept me alive.

I intend to continue to fundraise for and promote PAPYRUS. I am so proud and humbled to be involved with a wonderful charity, and to have received the support that I have.

Having been personally bereaved by suicide I understand the importance and need for our charity. I am surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about saving lives.

* All feedback is provided by people who contact PAPYRUS. All feedback has full consent of the user and the user remains fully anonymous. Some feedback may have been adapted to keep the users anonymity.

Our latest news

Stay up to date with PAPYRUS; our news section is regularly updated with helpful advice and guidance, as well as information about our upcoming events and campaigns. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch.

Our upcoming events

Please see below some of our upcoming and exciting events including fundraisers and charity events we will be attending. For more information please get in touch.

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Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

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PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

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Anxiety based school avoidance toolkit for young people

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Anxiety based school avoidance toolkit for young people

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Do you worry about going to school?

A booklet for young people

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Welcome to Healthier Families, the new home of Change4Life. We have a new name and look, but don't worry – we're still here to help you and your family eat better and move more.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Make a change today! Discover healthy recipes, food swaps, nutritional advice, and top tips and activities to help the whole family stay healthy.

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The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.
You do not need to achieve this balance with every meal, but try to get the balance right over a day or even a week.

Most of us still are not eating enough fruit and vegetables. They should make up just over a third of the food we eat each day.

Aim to eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and veg each day. Choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced.

Remember that fruit juice and smoothies should be limited to no more than a combined total of 150ml a day.

Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Find out more about how to get your 5 A Day

Starchy food should make up just over a third of the food we eat. Choose higher fibre or wholegrain varieties, such as wholewheat pasta and brown rice, or simply leave the skins on potatoes.

There are also higher fibre versions of white bread and pasta.

Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet.
Find out more about starchy foods

These foods are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils, are good alternatives to meat because they're low in fat and they're a good source of fibre and protein, too.

Choose lean cuts of meat and mince, and eat less red and processed meat like bacon, ham and sausages.

Aim for at least 2 portions (2 x 140g) of fish every week, 1 of which should be oily, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel.

Find out about fish and meat.

Milk, cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are good sources of protein and some vitamins, and they're also an important source of calcium, which helps keep our bones healthy.

Try to go for lower-fat and lower-sugar products where possible, like semi-skimmed, skimmed or 1% fat milk, reduced-fat cheese or plain low-fat yoghurt.
Find out more about milk and dairy foods

Unsaturated fats are healthier fats and include vegetable, rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils.

Remember all types of fat are high in energy and should be eaten in small amounts.
Find out more about the different types of fat in our diet

These foods include chocolate, cakes, biscuits, sugary soft drinks, butter, ghee and ice cream.

They're not needed in our diet, so should be eaten less often and in smaller amounts.
Get tips on cutting down on sugar

Water, lower-fat milks, lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks and tea and coffee all count.

Fruit juice and smoothies also count towards your fluid consumption, but they contain free sugars that can damage teeth, so limit these drinks to a combined total of 150ml a day.
Find out more about water, drinks and your health

How does the Eatwell Guide work?

The Eatwell Guide divides the foods and drinks we consume into 5 main food groups.

Try to choose a variety of different foods from each of the groups to help you get the wide range of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

It's important to get some fat in your diet, but foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar have been placed outside of the main Eatwell Guide as they're not necessary as part of a healthy, balanced diet and most of us need to cut down on these.

Unsaturated fats from plant sources (for example, vegetable oil or olive oil) are healthier types of fat.

But all types of fat are high in energy (calories), so they should only be eaten in small amounts.

On average, women should have around 2,000 calories a day (8,400 kilojoules) and men should have around 2,500 calories a day (10,500 kilojoules). We all need different amounts of energy (or calories) from food to be a healthy weight. How much you need depends on lots of things, including how active you are.

Find out how food labels can help you choose between foods and pick those lower in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

Combination foods

Many foods, such as pizzas, casseroles, pasta dishes and sandwiches, are combinations of the food groups in the Eatwell Guide.

With these meals, check the ingredients and think about how these fit with the sections on the guide to help you achieve a balanced diet.

Does the Eatwell Guide apply to everyone?

The Eatwell Guide applies to most of us, whether we're a healthy weight or overweight, whether we eat meat or are vegetarian, and no matter what our ethnic origin.

Anyone with special dietary requirements or medical needs might want to check with a registered dietitian on how to adapt the Eatwell Guide to meet their individual needs.

Children under the age of 2

The Eatwell Guide does not apply to children under the age of 2 because they have different nutritional needs.

Between the ages of 2 and 5, children should gradually move to eating the same foods as the rest of the family in the proportions shown in the Eatwell Guide.

Read more about babies, toddlers and young children's nutritional needs in Your baby's first solid foods.

Download the Eatwell Guide booklet

For more information, including details of which foods are included in the food groups, download GOV.UK's The Eatwell Guide.

Healthy eating support

Food and diet advice on the NHS website includes:

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Read about the interactive Eatwell Guide, which shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

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Are you struggling to get your kids to eat veg?

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Are you struggling to get your kids to eat veg?

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Don’t worry, 48% of parents say they struggle. If you are one of the many parents whose children eat little or no vegetables, we are here to help, please read on…

Launch into Veg by Simply Veg from Veg Power is our new online programme specifically designed to help parents whose children eat little or no vegetables.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Don’t worry, 48% of parents say they struggle. If you are one of the many parents whose children eat little or no vegetables, we are here to help, please read on…

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At some point or another pretty much everyone has to take tests, assessments or exams at school or college. These sometimes happen without us really noticing or paying too much attention as they become a normal part of life. Towards the end of secondary school or sixth form, exams can become a more formal process, with a longer build-up and pressure to attain certain grades. If the pressure becomes unmanageable, it can affect your mental health and wellbeing.

This guide offers some simple tips and reminders of how to take care of yourself when exam season approaches, and how to reach out for help and support if things get too much.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Managing your mental health during exams

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Managing your mental health during exams

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This guide offers some simple tips of how to look after your mental health during exam season, how to reach out for help and support.

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Life Leisure community activities for kids

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Life Leisure community activities for kids

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Our Life Leisure Kids classes are designed to inspire the next generation to adopt a healthy lifestyle by providing children with opportunities to enjoy sport in a fun and inclusive environment.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Kids classes Life Leisure Kids classes are all about getting active, having fun, and loving movement! We give children the chance to enjoy sport and exercise in a friendly, inclusive environment while building healthy habits for life. Under the guidance of our friendly fitness pros, kids can try everything from junior gym sessions and racquet…

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The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of children in Reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11), to assess overweight and obesity levels in children within primary schools.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of children in Reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11), to assess overweight and obesity levels in children within primary schools.

The data can be used nationally to support local public health initiatives, and locally to inform the planning and delivery of services for children. The programme is recognised internationally as a world-class source of public health intelligence and holds UK National Statistics status.

The programme was set up in line with the government's strategy to tackle obesity, and to:

inform local planning and delivery of services for children

gather population-level data to allow analysis of trends in growth patterns and obesity

increase public and professional understanding of weight issues in children and

be a vehicle for engaging with children and families about healthy lifestyles and weight issues.

Heights and weights are measured and used to calculate a Body Mass Index (BMI) centile. The measurement process is overseen by trained healthcare professionals in schools.

Defining overweight and obesity in children

Defining children as overweight or obese is a complex process, given that children of different ages and sexes grow and develop at different rates.

This means that a different method is used for children than for adults.

BMI is calculated by dividing their weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres), and for children, this is then compared to a reference sample of measurements gathered in 1990, which takes age and sex into account.

Further information is available in a guide to classifying body mass index in children produced by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which is part of the Department for Health and Social Care.

Taking part in the programme

Before the programme starts each school year, local authorities write to the parents and carers of all children eligible for measurement to inform them of the programme.

Parents or carers can choose to withdraw their child from the process by responding to the letter.

How the data is collected

Local authorities are asked to collect data on Reception Year and Year 6 children's height and weight from all state maintained schools within their area.

Prior to a legislation change in 2013, this role was fulfilled by NHS primary care trusts.

The data is submitted to NHS England, and all of the returns are collated and validated centrally.

OHID provide operational guidance to local authorities and schools on how to undertake the exercise, which states:

local authorities will take steps to ensure that parents receive a letter explaining the purpose of the programme, and provide them with the opportunity to withdraw their child from it

if local authorities are routinely feeding back results to parents, they aim to do this within 6 weeks of measurement

the privacy and dignity of the child must be safeguarded at all times, and the measurement is to be done sensitively in a private setting

individual children's results will not be shared with school staff or other pupils, and suppression and disclosure controls will be implemented when the data set and publication is released to ensure that individual children cannot be identified

How the data is used

NHS England use the data to produce National Statistics Reports showing trends at national level, differences between groups of pupils and the latest local authority level data.

The data is also shared with the OHID Obesity Risk Factors Intelligence team (OHID Obesity RFI) but in a form that in no way could lead to an individual child being identified. OHID present the data in an online tool that enables the user to examine patterns and trends at local authority level.

No information is ever published by NHS England or OHID in a way that could lead to individual children being identified.

The information may also be linked with previous height and weight measurements and other data, such as dental survey or hospital episode statistics, or provided to other organisations, such as universities for research into health and social care. Any linkage or sharing with other organisations is subject to approval from an independent group of experts.

NHS England has shared the data with OHID for linkage to their dental survey data. The data shared with OHID was in a form that no child be identified. A link to the report from this study will be included here when it becomes available.

NHS England has also shared the data with the University of Essex to assess the impact of the Universal Free School Meals programme for children in Key Stage 1 on child weight. A report will be published and a link made available here in due course. The data shared did not include any child level data.

Last edited: 9 November 2023 2:44 pm

internal IT system - overview and requirements
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) system offers a range of approaches to record data at the point of measurement. Organisations need to choose which approach is best for them and any providers collecting data on their behalf.

internal IT system
Find out about the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) IT system, including how to access it and guidance documentation.

internal User access controls
Access to the new National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) IT system is controlled at a local authority level. Access is given if there's a clear business need and in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 - the UK's implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

internal National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP): GDPR information
Why and how we process your data in the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and your rights.

Annual NCMP OHID guidance (external link, opens in a new tab)
Annual Office for Health Improvement and Disparities guidance that advises local providers of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) on how to implement it.

National slide set on child obesity and regional child obesity slide sets (external link, opens in a new tab)
Slide sets presenting the latest data on child obesity in England and the 9 English regions.

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National Child Measurement Programme - NHS Digital

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The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of children in reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11), to assess overweight and obesity levels in children within primary schools.

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Advice for parents of overweight children

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Advice for parents of overweight children

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Children can become overweight when they get more energy from food and drink than they use through activity.

Overweight children are more likely to become overweight as adults. This could lead to long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

Making changes to their diet and activity levels can help them reach a healthy weight.

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It can be difficult to tell if a child is overweight as they're still growing.

You can check by calculating their body mass index (BMI).

The result will be given as a centile (or percentile).

You'll need to know their date of birth, height, weight and when you measured them.
Calculate your BMI for children and teenagers

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Advice for parents of overweight children

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It can be difficult to tell if a child is overweight as they are still growing. Find tips on how to help your child reach a healthier weight.

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Advice for parents of underweight children

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Advice for parents of underweight children

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There could be several reasons your child or a child you care for is underweight. If it's because they're not getting enough calories there are things you can do to help.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Children need the right amount of calories to help support growth. If your child is underweight there are things you can do to help them gain weight.

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Eating a varied diet is good for your health, but many people don't achieve this. Some autistic people have a restricted diet, eating only a limited range of food. Others may over-eat. This guide explores common issues, including pica, and ways you can help.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Our guidance aims to help you address common eating difficulties for autistic people.

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Our FAB (Food, Activity, Balance) programme is a Family weight management service that supports the whole family.

We support families to make healthy food choices and provides fun, interactive and engaging physical activity for children.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Healthy Families (FAB) - Your Health Stockport

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Healthy Families FAB – Food, Activity Balance Our FAB (Food, Activity, Balance) programme is a Family weight management service that supports the whole family. We support families to make healthy food choices and provides fun, interactive and engaging physical activity for children. Our friendly advisors are here to support you with encouragement and advice to […]

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Beautiful Relaxing Music for Stress Relief • Sleep Music, Study Music, Meditation Music. Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Planet Earth: Stunning Scenery From Around the Globe & Beautiful Meditation Music

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A print of guide of baseline interventions to be implemented to help with nocturnal enuresis

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Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Calming strategies

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Worried about images or videos that have been shared?

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Worried about images or videos that have been shared?

# data[].attributes.body
'So you got naked online...' is a resource that helps and advises young people who may find themselves in a situation where they (or a friend) have put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over that content and who it's being shared with.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Designed and Developed by Will Earp, South West Grid for Learning Trust Ltd

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A resource that offers children, young people and parents advice and strategies to support the issues resulting from sexting incidents.

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Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today. | FRANK

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We support anyone up to the age of 26 who's experiencing issues with drug or alcohol use.

We also support children and young people affected by a parent or caregiver who is using substances. We work with these parents and carers to help them understand the impact of their drug or alcohol use on their children.

We also provide support to parents or carers of young people who use substances.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Mosaic provides support to anyone aged up to the age of 26 who is experiencing issues with drug or alcohol use.

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By the time they start school, it is possible for most children to be confidently wearing pants and independently managing all aspects of toileting, including wiping. This can only be achieved through timely potty training.

Potty training is a huge milestone in any child’s life, and preparation for it starts the day the child is born.

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Internet Watch Foundation is an organisation to help make the internet a safer place for children and adults across the world.

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Internet Watch Foundation is an organisation to help make the internet a safer place for children and adults across the world.

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TALK checklist is a resource for parents to support online safety

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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TALK Checklist by Internet Watch Foundation

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TALK Checklist by Internet Watch Foundation | Home

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Make sure your home doesn't have an open door to child sexual abusers. Follow the TALK checklist to help keep your child safe online.

# data[].attributes.body
'So you got naked online...' is a resource that helps and advises young people who may find themselves in a situation where they (or a friend) have put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over that content and who it's being shared with.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Pennine urgent 24/7 helpline: Call 0800 014 9995

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Pennine urgent 24/7 helpline: Call 0800 014 9995

# data[].attributes.body
Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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If you are in crisis and you feel that you need support urgently then you should do one of the following:

Talk to an adult, friend or somebody that you trust as soon as you can.

The following sources of support might also be helpful:

If you are already being seen by CAMHS and it is during office hours (Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm), call your CAMHS worker.

You can also call NHS Emergency & Urgent Care Services by dialling 111

If you do not currently have a CAMHS worker, or it is outside of office hours, or if you need urgent medical attention you should attend A&E. When you get to A&E you will be seen by a mental health professional as soon as possible.

If you are already open to CAMHS and have a Crisis Plan, please follow the plan. You should have a written copy of it. If not, contact your case manager and ask for a new copy of the plan.

If you are open to CAMHS and do not have a Crisis Plan, please ring your local CAMHS and ask to speak to your case manager. If he or she is not available, ask to speak to the duty worker.

If you are NOT already open to CAMHS and are feeling suicidal please either go to A&E or access emergency services.

You are not alone. Please reach out for help.

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If you are in crisis and you feel that you need support urgently then you should do one of the following: Talk to an adult, friend or somebody that you trust as soon as you can.

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The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ youth charity empowering young people to be proud of who they are. The Proud Trust delivers youth work and one-to-one support across Greater Manchester.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ organisation that supports LGBT+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs and the Proud Connections chat service.

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Every day we are looking at what screen time looks like, what is appropriate, and how to keep our kids safe online. Parents and kids alike are utilizing technology more and more, especially as schools turn to online learning.

Last reviewed June AR MM

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Tell me if this sounds familiar. You’re in the middle of a project and the preschooler is given a tablet with age-appropriate games and the elementary-aged

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We spoke to parents and carers across the UK with the aim of better understanding what questions they had about Kooth. We collated the most commonly asked questions that came up and have outlined everything parents wanted to know about us in this FAQs guide. But first, here’s a little bit of information about us: Kooth is an online, mental health and wellbeing service for children and young people.

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How to fall asleep faster and sleep better

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How to fall asleep faster and sleep better

# data[].attributes.body
The mental health benefits of good sleep include boosting our mood, reducing stress and helping with anxiety.

If you're having trouble sleeping, knowing how to sleep better can make a big difference.

Find out more about ways to help you sleep, including sleep hygiene, and expert video advice from a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Oxford.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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The mental health benefits of good sleep include boosting our mood, reducing stress and helping with anxiety.

If you're having trouble sleeping, knowing how to sleep better can make a big difference.

Find out more about ways to help you sleep, including sleep hygiene, and expert video advice from a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Oxford.

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How to fall asleep faster and sleep better - Every Mind Matters

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Find out what can help you fall asleep faster and sleep better, including using sleep hygiene to improve sleep.

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Managing worry - young peoples fact sheet

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Managing worry - young peoples fact sheet

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Fact sheet and activities to help manage worry

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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Everyone gets angry sometimes. But there are ways to show your anger without harming yourself or others. If you’re finding it hard to control your behaviour, we’ve got tips that can help.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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What is anger?

We all get angry - it's just a part of being human. And it's not a bad emotion to feel. Sometimes, feeling angry can be a helpful sign that something's not right. And it can motivate us to create positive change. But if you find yourself losing control, anger can also be harmful.

If you're struggling to control your behaviour, and your anger is hurting you or other people, it's a good idea to reach out for some support. You might need help for your anger if you're:

hitting or physically hurting other people or yourself

shouting a lot at other people

breaking stuff or throwing things

feeling angry all the time at yourself, others or what's going on in the world

If anger is starting to affect your everyday life like this, there are lots of things you can do to manage it. We're here to help you learn how.

Anger can come out in lots of different ways. Here are three common ways that people express it:

We all show our anger differently. Recognising how you usually let your anger out can help you better understand it. Once you know, it's easier to spot yourself doing it and find better ways to deal with the situation.

Feeling angry is entirely normal; it's a human emotion that helps us to understand who we are, what we like and what we don't like. So, when you tell yourself that you are not allowed to use that emotion, it can be damaging to your own wellbeing.

Why do I get angry?

There are lots of reasons why people get angry. Sometimes it's easy to know what triggered you. Other times you might not know why you feel that way. Everyone has different experiences, opinions and perspectives, so what makes you angry might not make someone else angry at all. That doesn't mean it's wrong that you're angry. Your anger is valid, no matter what triggers it. But thinking about why you feel that way can help you express it safely.

Here are some common reasons why people get angry.

The way you're raised plays a big role in how you handle all sorts of situations. If you've always been told that it's okay to respond aggressively when you're angry, you might not know how else to manage your anger. Or maybe you've seen your parents or other adults lose control of their behaviour, so you do too.

If you've had something traumatic happen to you in the past that made you angry, you might still be carrying that feeling with you. Perhaps you've experienced racism or Islamophobia, abuse, bullying, or discrimination against your disability, sexuality or gender. Discrimination is never okay, so it's understandable and valid if you're angry. But even when your anger is justified, it's still important to express it in a healthy way. And understanding why you're angry can help you find safer ways to respond.

If you're going through something tough, it can be harder to manage your emotions. You might find that even the little things trigger your anger.

You might be going through:

If you're going through anything like this and it's impacting your mental health, contact a helpline for support.

It's natural to feel frustrated or upset about what's going on in the world right now. Sometimes we see things happening that we know aren't fair. And we're not always happy with the decisions that people in power make. This can leave you feeling powerless and angry, and that's okay.

It's frustrating, but the anger you're feeling can be a good thing if it's expressed in the right way. Lots of people find that activism and campaigning is a healthy outlet for their anger. Whether it's joining up with a local action group or raising your voice for a cause you're passionate about, there are plenty of ways to turn that anger into positive change.

If you want to make a difference but don't know where to start, take a look at Today Do This. Their weekly newsletter looks at one major headline from the week and offers simple, practical suggestions for how you can take action in response.

If you want to raise your voice about mental health, we have ways you can get involved.

Anger serves a purpose when something we're experiencing is unjust. I like to use my anger in a positive way - such as fighting for change.

Nicole, 19

Your health affects how you're feeling every day. If your health has taken a dip, it can be much harder to manage your emotions.
Here are a few things that can impact your everyday health:

having a mental health problem, like anxiety or depression

not getting enough sleep

an unhealthy diet or not enough exercise

changes to your hormone levels, like during your period or if you take certain types of contraception

Ben talks about understanding his triggers. #ListenToAnger

"It just boiled over" - Wesley on taking his anger out on himself. #ListenToAnger

Charlotte on that moment you just explode. #ListenToAnger

Managing your anger in the moment

Feeling angry doesn't mean you have to be aggressive. There are lots of other ways to let it out.

The same young person wearing a black t-shirt holds three signs. The signs read:

Here are things I do when I feel myself getting angry.

1. First of all, take a breath
2. Exercise helps me get some built-up frustration out of my system

The same young person wearing a grey jumper holds three signs. The signs read:

Here are things I do when I feel myself getting angry

1. I talk about how I am feeling
2. I try and recognise I'm angry and listen to others

The same young person has long brown hair and wears a yellow jumper, they hold three signs which read:

Here are things I do when I feel myself getting angry

1. Putting on my favourite music really helps
2. Doing an action that helps me feel something different, like walking my dog

Managing your anger long-term

When you're in a calm headspace, that's a good time to think about how to manage your anger next time. Here are some things to think about.

If someone else's actions are what's making you feel angry, it can help to try and understand why they're behaving like that. Often people behave in difficult ways because they're going through something tough themselves. If you feel you can, try talking to the person about it. Really listen to what they have to say and try your best to understand their point of view.

For years I suppressed my anger toward someone who had hurt me and my family. The aftermath of what they caused was so difficult for me and my family to deal with, the thought of someone telling me to try and forgive them made my blood boil. Why should I forgive them? Why should they just get away with it? Having a passive voice, I never said anything. Instead I pushed my feelings towards the pit of my stomach and hoped I'd soon get over it.

If you feel angry all the time and you're finding it hard to control your behaviour, it's a good idea to get help. Here are some ways you can get support, and the treatment you might be given.

Changing your behaviour is tough, but you don't have to do it alone. Talking about how you feel can help to understand your behaviour, find ways to cope and feel less angry in the future. If you don't want to talk to someone you know, there are helplines you can contact.

If anger is affecting your day-to-day life and you need help finding ways of coping, speak to your GP. They can refer you to a specialist who can help. If you're under 18, they'll refer you to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for support.

Talking therapies and counselling is when you talk about your problems with a trained professional. They can help you find the root of your anger and ways to manage it.

The most common type of therapy for anger is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This type of therapy looks at your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and teaches you the skills to change negative patterns.

Supporting someone experiencing anger

If someone you know is having problems with anger, this can be tough. Especially if their anger is ever directed at you. Below are some things you can do to support them while also looking after yourself.

If you're a parent or carer and need support for a child dealing with anger, take a look at our parent guide.

In the heat of the moment, try to keep calm. It's tough, but it can really make a difference in stopping their anger from spiralling out of control. If things do feel like they're spiralling, or you find yourself getting angry too, try giving them some space by going to another room or spending some time apart.

It's not always easy, but showing that you're there to listen without passing judgement can go a long way. Let them know you're really hearing what they're saying, and resist the urge to jump to conclusions. When people feel heard, they're more likely to listen in return. And sometimes just letting them express their anger can be enough to help them calm down.

When they're feeling calm, try setting some boundaries together. Let them know what behaviours are not okay for you, and come up with a plan for when they cross that line. You shouldn't have to put up with anything that makes you feel unsafe.

When they're feeling calm, encourage them to get support for their anger. You could suggest they see their GP or let them know about the helplines they can contact.

Here are some organisations and helpline services that can support you with what you're going through.

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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What To Do If You Are Struggling With Anger

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We all feel angry sometimes, often for a good reason. But sometimes, we might be feeling angry a lot, or find it becomes uncontrollable or harmful.

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Anger is a perfectly normal human emotion, but it can be frightening if it escalates into physical violence. In this video, Ortis Deeley shares guidance from NHS Mental Health professionals for parents wondering what to do if their child becomes aggressive, with five tips that may help.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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It's normal to feel strong, negative emotions when faced with aggression, but try to avoid fighting fire with fire. Think about what message your words and body language are sending and focus as much as you can on modelling calm behaviour.

Tips for keeping calm

Taking a deep breath and counting to ten can help you to avoid saying or doing something you might regret. Your heart rate will slow and you'll begin to feel calmer.

Some people find that repeating things like 'Just try to relax' or 'It's going to be okay', to themselves, helps them to calm down and refocus.

Gentle stretching exercises like neck and shoulder rolls can also help.

Remind yourself that your feelings are towards the situation and not the child.

Some things to avoid

As much as you'll want them to calm down, telling people to do so tends to have the opposite effect as it suggests that you think they're overreacting, when what they probably want is to be heard and taken seriously.

Avoid speaking or shouting over them as this will make them feel undermined and is likely to increase their anger,

Finger pointing or closing the space between you and them is likely to be interpreted as aggression and may cause them to retaliate.

You may feel you're in the right, but you need to pick your battles. You can't reason with someone who's being led by strong emotions, and anger is unpredictable and difficult to control. The priority in the heat of the moment is everyone's physical safety.

Tips for staying safe

Put any arguments to one side and focus on de-escalating the situation.

Walk away if you feel it necessary, but try to provide reassurance and let them know that you're giving them space to calm down without shutting them off.

Don't be afraid to call the police if necessary. They have experience of dealing with these types of situations and will focus on a peaceful resolution.

3. Try to be understanding

All behaviour is communication and anger is always a secondary emotion to some kind of distress. Underneath the aggressive behaviour is something else that they're trying to tell you. Try to understand and acknowledge their feelings of anger and don't take it personally, as it's not a reflection on you or your parenting.

4. Move on together

Letting go and forgiving can be hard, and it's quite likely that there'll be some feelings of shame and guilt on both sides. although it's a delicate situation, it's really important to get past it and move on together.

Tips for moving on

You'll both be feeling emotionally drained and hurt, so be patient and allow the reconnecting process to take as long as it takes.

As the adult, you probably need to be the one leading the way towards reconciliation.

Try to prioritise restoring the relationship over apportioning any blame for what happened.

5. Plan ahead

The best way to cope with anger and aggression is to avoid it or to channel it elsewhere, so work together and maybe keep a diary to explore the triggers, responses, the process of calming down and reconnecting. Think also about what acceptable expressions of anger might look like and agree consequences for crossing the line.

Some ways to avoid aggression

Having an outlet for any frustration and anger, such as a punch bag or some kind of physical activity, can help to let off steam in a healthy way.

Learning Nonviolent Response techniques together can help you to get better at communicating peacefully.

Some additional resources that may help
Download a printable version of this advice

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How to de-escalate your child's anger and aggression | ThisMayHelp

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Watch an informative video and read tips for parents on dealing with aggressive behaviour from children. Watch the video.

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Sleep hygiene and good mental health go hand in hand, so it can be really worrying if your child’s struggling to get the amount of sleep they need. In this video, Konnie Huq she shares expert advice from NHS Mental Health Professionals for parents wanting to know how to improve sleep hygiene, with five tips that may help.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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1. Try to set their body clock

The body and mind work best when important activities like waking up, eating meals and going to bed all happen at regular times and are in sync with the brain's internal body clock.

How to set the body clock for better sleep

Try to prioritise waking up, eating meals and going to bed at the regular times and avoid making plans that might disrupt the routine unless absolutely necessary.

Encourage them to do outdoor or physical activity in the day and relaxing activity in the evening. This will help them to feel sleepy towards bedtime.

As tempting as it can be, sleeping in at weekends tends to disturb the body clock, so many parents find it helpful to plan weekend activities that are worth getting up for.

2. Help them to unclutter their mind

Getting to sleep while the mind's racing or emotions are running high is virtually impossible, so help them to go to bed with a clear head.

Tips for turning off the brain

Save any disagreements or difficult conversations for the daytime and make sure to reach some form of agreement, as anything unresolved is likely to play on their mind at night.

If they are stressed, encourage them to talk or write down what's on their mind. Keeping a notepad and pen by the bed might help.

If they do want to talk, don't worry about having all the answers. Instead, just try to listen and be supportive as getting things off their chest will be a big help.

3. Create the conditions for sleep

The body clock responds to signals, so it's important to create the right conditions for sleeping and that let the brain know that it's time for bed.

Some things that might help them to sleep

People have found that sleep management apps, the warmth of a bath or a hot drink, sleep sprays and herbal essences like lavender can help.

Different things work for different people so you may need to experiment a little to find what works and what doesn't.

If the obstacle to sleep is a sensory one, simple adjustments to things like noise, light, smells and textures can make a huge difference.

Some things that make sleeping difficult

Energy drinks, caffeine, nicotine and activities on electronic devices are well-known to have a negative effect on sleep, so avoid them in the run up to bedtime

4. Research, remedy and review

The more you understand what's causing the problem the more chance you'll have of fixing it. To do this effectively you'll need to collect data, experiment a little and monitor any effects, so starting a sleep diary can help.

Tips for keeping a sleep diary

Try to monitor the times they get to sleep, any waking up times during the night, the time they wake in the morning, any times they sleep or feel sleepy during the day, what they do and how they're feeling in the run up to bedtime and anything else you think might be relevant.

The more information you collect the easier it will be to see any patterns and identify what helps them and what doesn't.

5. Reach out

Problems with sleep and insomnia are more common than you might think, which means there are a lot of other people who have been in similar situations whose experiences may help.

Advice on where to reach out for help

Your GP or local health centre will be able to refer you to specialist professionals, useful resources and support groups in your area.

Some additional resources that may help
Download a printable version of this advice

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How to help your teenager sleep better | ThisMayHelp

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Support, tips and guidance on optimal sleep hygiene for children and teenagers from medical professionals. Watch the video.

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The transition from adolescence to independent adulthood is a journey of discovery with lots of risks and rewards attached. It can be hard for parents to stand back without the fear that the teenager might get into trouble or do something that puts them in danger.

In this video, Rickie Haywood-Williams shares advice from NHS mental health professionals for parents concerned about a teenager’s behaviour with five quick tips that may help.

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Rickie Haywood-Willams shares advice from Mental Health Experts on how to create trust & boundaries with a teen. Watch the video here.

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What to do if you think your child has an eating disorder

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What to do if you think your child has an eating disorder

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Coming to the realisation that your child might have an eating disorder is upsetting and has probably got you asking yourself all kinds of questions about why or how long it’s been going on.

In this video, Laura Hamilton shares some guidance from NHS mental health professionals for parents concerned about that their child might have an eating disorder and offers five tips that may help.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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1. Identify the signs

The onset of an eating disorder won't always be obvious or sudden, but there are certain behavioural changes that might indicate that something's up.

Behaviours that may signal an eating disorder

They've stopped eating meals with others or have become obsessive about portion sizes and calorie intake.

They've begun taking a bit too much interest in their body weight or shape and other people's perception of it.

They regularly go to the bathroom after a meal, have started wearing baggy clothes or are exercising excessively.

They feel stressed at mealtimes or guilty afterwards, have become more socially isolated or have become more secretive about what they're accessing online.

Physical signs that may point to an eating disorder

Abnormally high or low weight.

Stomach pains, exhaustion, feeling cold, dizziness or feeling faint.

Mouth infections, tooth damage or decay, bad breath.

Scarred hands or fingers from making themselves sick.

2. Start a conversation

The first step to resolving any problem is to get it out in the open. However, it's unlikely to ever be a conversation they'll welcome having, so try to approach it in a way that places you on their side, facing their issues together rather than as adversaries.

How to talk to your child if you suspect they have an eating disorder

Tell them what you've noticed or what you're concerned about and ask how they're doing.

Let them know that you're there to support them and want to help.

If they don't want to talk to you, encourage them to talk to someone else with whom they perhaps have less of an emotional connection but can trust.

Text messages and emojis can help to ease you in if conversation is difficult at first.

Things to avoid when having a conversation about an eating disorder

Sentences that start with the word 'you' can put people on the defensive. It's better to start with 'I', such as 'I've noticed', or 'I'm concerned'.

Their behaviour may seem irrational to you but it's important to take them seriously and avoid undermining the importance of the issue or their feelings towards it.

Don't dismiss it as 'just a phase' or think that the problem will go away if you ignore it.

It's surprising how much we casually talk about dieting, body shape and weight, and how judgemental we can be about other people's appearance. It's a very sensitive subject for anyone with an eating disorder so, wherever possible, try to steer the conversation away from such topics.

3. Try to be supportive

The first step towards recovery is coming to terms with the issue, which can be difficult if you don't understand what's behind it. As parents, our role is to provide support to our children, so it's important to learn how we can best do that.

Tips for supporting someone with an eating disorder

Remember that adolescence is a challenging time, so try to be patient and understanding.

Focus on listening to what they have to say rather than trying to have all the answers.

Learn about eating disorders. This will help you to better understand their behaviours and needs, and make you better equipped to recognise signals. It will also show them that you care. It's important too that the whole family understands and is supportive.

Try to stay positive. Difficult times are when we tend to learn the most. Try to view challenges and mistakes as part of a learning curve where each experience is making you better prepared for future challenges.

And don't beat yourself up for getting things wrong. You're only human after all.

4. Help them to get professional support

While their fears will be mostly surrounding food and body image, there's almost certainly an emotional component hiding beneath the surface, so it's really important that you help them to get professional support as early as possible, whilst reintroducing healthy nutrition and normal eating habits.

Where to go for professional support

For information on how to access NHS Mental health services click here

To find services for someone with an Eating Disorder click here

5. Reach Out

With mental health issues it can sometimes feel like you're battling alone, but you're not. There are plenty of people ready and willing to help. There are a number of online resources that offer excellent advice in navigating the difficulties associated with supporting someone with an eating disorder.

Advice on where to reach out for help help

Your GP or local health centre will be able to refer you to specialist professionals, useful resources and support groups in your area.

Visit our dedicated page for advice on building a support network

Young Minds is a charitable organisation focused on young people's mental health, offering training resources, support and advice.

Some additional resources that may help
Download a printable version of this advice

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What to do if your child has an eating disorder | ThisMayHelp

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Laura Hamilton shares advice from NHS Mental Health Experts for parents concerned their child may have an eating disorder. Watch the video.

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As parents, it’s natural to be concerned about children and teenagers spending long periods at their computer or video gaming console. As it’s a fairly new phenomenon for most of us, we can’t rely so much on comparisons with our own childhood experiences, and it can be difficult to know exactly what is healthy and what might constitute a video game addiction.

In this video, Vernon Kaye shares guidance from NHS mental health professionals for parents concerned about their child’s video gaming and internet usage with five quick tips that may help.

Last reviewed June 26 AR MM

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1. Try to see the positives

Although young people are spending more and more time online is a concern, they are also learning valuable skills that will serve them in their adult life.

Some positive aspects of video gaming

Video gaming may seem pointless, but it puts the brain to work in a variety of ways that can improve perception, muscle control, memory, and spatial navigation.

Many games are designed like complex puzzles and solving them can help young minds to develop problem-solving skills that will benefit them in the real world.

The video games that people tend to enjoy most are those that are mentally challenging, which can help young people to learn to become more persistent in the pursuit of a goal and learn from mistakes along the way.

2. Moderation is key

As much as they might resist them, young people need boundaries, as they provide a sense of protection from harm but also allow them a degree of independence.

Guidance for setting boundaries on video gaming

Experts struggle to agree on what limits should be set, but most agree that more than four hours without a break can be harmful to both mental and physical health.

Research has shown that the brain operates in cycles, with each cycle lasting around 90-120 minutes. Focusing on one activity for longer than one cycle can cause fatigue and, over the longer term, reduce the brain's productivity. This fits with many experts' recommendation of a daily limit on video gaming of between one and two hours.

Making agreements that include and prioritise other activities such as homework, exercise or helping with household chores can help you to find the right balance.

Signs that their video gaming may be unhealthy or have become an addiction

Playing every day, devoting long periods or staying up through the night to play

Neglecting schoolwork or other activities and responsibilities

Moodiness and / or aggression, particularly with regard to boundaries

3. Prioritise a healthy lifestyle

Establish a routine that allows them a degree of freedom but also places a high priority on healthy living.

Guidance for integrating video gaming into a healthy lifestyle

Establishing a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday connects us with our natural circadian rhythms, a healthy sleep pattern is the result, ideal for developing brains.

Equally important are daylight and fresh air. Going without them for lengthy periods can have a negative impact on physical and mental health, so try to incorporate exercise and time outside into the daily routine if possible.

Rest periods are also important during video gaming, and a good guide is 5 minutes break for every 45-60mins of play.

4. Be consistent

It's important to include the child in any discussions you have about boundaries, and to make sure that the boundaries are realistic, reasonable and communicated clearly. Hold firm on the boundaries you agree.

Guidance for keeping on top of your child's video gaming

It's important to be clear and explain to the child what the consequences of breaking the agreement will be. Some parents have found that the prospect of a period without the possibility of video gaming acts as an effective deterrent and encourages self-regulation.

If they do break the agreement don't just pull the plug as this might lead to resentment. Try to put your emotions to one side and remind them of the agreement and consequences for breaking it. Be clear about how they have broken it and what you plan to do about it.

It's normal for young people to use different strategies for pushing the boundaries, so try to be consistent and stick to agreements, as failing to do so will communicate that the boundaries aren't important or are flexible.

5. Take an interest

Be aware that there can be predatory or exploitative dangers online. Talk to them about their activity and ask who they are communicating with. Trust your instincts.

Guidance for keeping on top of your child's video gaming

It's important to establish and maintain an open an honest dialogue with your child about their online activity and video gaming from as early an age as possible as it is likely to be harder to do so the older they get.

Try to engage them and get them to teach you about what they are doing. Some games might seem innocent but have a predatory design that encourages gambling type behaviour from an early age, so having an understanding of the mechanics of games can help you to keep on top of it.

If you're concerned about what they're up to, you could move the console/computer into a more public space in the home until boundaries are respected and you're no longer concerned.

For more advice on keeping children safe online, visit our dedicated page

Some additional resources that may help
Download a printable version of this advice

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How to moderate your child's video gaming | ThisMayHelp

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Vernon Kaye shares expert guidance and tips on how to moderate your child's video gaming habits. Watch the video here.

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some helpful breathing and calming strategies to help with anxiety and worry.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Supporting your child with an eating problem

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Supporting your child with an eating problem

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If your child is experiencing difficulties with eating or has been diagnosed with an eating disorder, it can be worrying, isolating and distressing for you as a parent or carer.

Here you’ll find knowledge and skills to support your child from expert mental health trainers, Jenny Langley and Ros Rea. We hope it reassures you that you are not alone and gives you hope that people do recover from an eating disorder.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Supporting a child with an eating problem

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Supporting a child with an eating problem

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This guide provides parents and carers with helpful tips and strategies on how to support a child with an eating disorder or problem.

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Our community eating disorders service provides care and support to children and young people (8-18 years) with an eating disorder.

We also offer advice and support to families, carers, and those who work with, or support, a child or young person.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Community Eating Disorders Service (South)

Our community eating disorders service provides care and support to children and young people (8-18 years) with an eating disorder.

We also offer advice and support to families, carers, and those who work with, or support, a child or young person.

We are cover the south of our patch, which includes people with a GP in Stockport, Tameside and Glossop.

Read our main community eating disorders service page for more information, or contact us.

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Community Eating Disorders Service (South)

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Community Eating Disorders Service (South) Our community eating disorders service provides care and support to children and young people (8-18 years) with an eating disorder. We also offer advice and support to families, carers, and those who work with, or support, a child or young person.

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SHINE Wellbeing Service & Workshops

SHINE is an early help and wellbeing service specially for young people in Stockport aged 11-17 years

Free-to-access service

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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SHINE Early Intervention Support | Beacon Counselling

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Develop your skills to support your own emotional wellbeing, build resilience and confidence with SHINE’s wellbeing and art group. Free to access for For 11-17 years in Stockport.

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Parenting can be difficult even at the best of times, so when mental health issues are involved it can become overwhelming.

In this video, Tamzin Outhwaite shares expert advice from NHS mental health professionals for parents concerned about a child or teenager’s mental health, with five tips that may help.

Last reviewed June 2026- MM,AR

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How to support your child’s mental health | ThisMayHelp

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If you’re worried about your child’s mental health, Tamzin Outhwaite shares advice from NHS Mental Health Experts. Watch the video here.

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Padlet for Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

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Padlet for Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

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Information for parents and carers to help their children to thrive and to access support for mental health and wellbeing

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A printable guide for parents and carers on how to keep children safe online 

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A printable guide for parents and carers on how to keep children safe online 

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Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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Use the code REDROCK to access these courses for free in the Stockport area

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Online courses for emotional health and wellbeing.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach | Online courses for parents

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inourplace | Solihull Approach : Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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This training has been developed by the Stockport NHS Occupational Therapy team. It aims to provide parents or carers and professionals with the knowledge and strategies to help them support the development of their child or young person’s sensory processing.

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The resources on this webpage have been developed by our occupational therapy team to support you to have a greater understanding of the child's sensory processing needs. They will provide you with a reference tool for beginning to implement sensory strategies and make changes to the environment to support the child's participation in everyday activities.

The 'action plan' resource is designed to guide you in your understanding of the child's sensory processing needs. It encourages you to reflect on your learning from the sensory processing training video to consider which sensory system may be causing difficulties, and how it impacts the child's daily life.

By taking the time to complete the action plan and consider the child's sensory processing needs in more detail, you will have a much better understanding of the most appropriate strategies to try with them, and crucially, how to know whether or not the strategies are working!

Remember, that 'Sensory' isn't generally a stand-alone difficulty; it forms part of a bigger picture. When a child shows distress within a particular task or activity, this is generally the tip of the iceberg. We encourage you to spend time observing and reflecting on the child's difficulties as well as paying attention to their environment, the demands placed on them, their motor skills to complete tasks, their mood on the day, how much sleep they've had, as well as their communication abilities.

The action plan is designed to be used with both the early years setting or school and home and we strongly advise you to work together to complete this document. Working together will ensure you are working towards the same shared goals and outcomes for the child, with a sound basic knowledge of the current difficulties that are impacting the child/young person's independence or engagement in tasks at this time.

The resource pack for the early years setting/school and home have been designed to support your knowledge in relation to some of the common challenges experienced by children who have differences in their sensory processing. The pack should be used alongside the online training video to help deepen your knowledge and act as a reference point.

The advice for the home and early years setting/school resource packs vary slightly in order to suit the setting and environment; however, the outline of the difficulties remains the same.

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The resources on this webpage have been developed by our occupational therapy team to support you to have a greater understanding of the child's sensory processing needs. They will provide you with a reference tool for beginning to implement sensory strategies and make changes to the environment to support the child's participation in everyday activities.

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Find out how to spot head lice, how to get rid of them and how they spread.

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Trusted digital safety advice for caregivers

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A short video about the NCMP programme, healthy lifestyles and common questions.

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Helping you to better protect your children online

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Access information and resources for parents and carers on keeping your child safer online including conversation starters and video guides.

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Because children deserve a safe digital world

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Working with online safety experts, we're here to provide parents & carers with guidance, advice and support to keep children safe online | Internet Matters

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Stockport Neurodevelopmental support for Children and Young People

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Stockport Neurodevelopmental support for Children and Young People

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Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Good quality sleep allows our bodies and minds to regenerate. People who are sleep deprived are far more likely to suffer from physical and mental health issues. Without enough sleep, our brains cannot function properly. Seashell offers free sleep support for children and young people with SEND, from 2 to 25 years and their families. Our Sleep Practitioners are trained in the Sleep Charity's behavioural intervention and have years of experience working with children and young adults with autism, multi-sensory impairment, and learning disabilities.
What type of support do we offer?

The following are some of the courses and workshops designed to support you and your child.

Sleep Success

A half-day course designed to help families understand sleep and consider some helpful tricks and tips that might improve sleep for everyone.

Sleep Better

A 5-week course which offers the content of the Sleep Success course with the added benefit of peer-support and more guidance to introduce new strategies for sleep.

1:1 Clinics

Clinics are available once you have attended a Sleep Success or Sleep Better course. Clinics offer intensive support over 5 sessions to help you identify and make changes to behaviour that are impacting sleep.

Sleep Conference for Practitioners

An insightful conference for practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge in good sleep practice.

Who can access sleep support?

You can access sleep support if you or your child are between the ages of 2 and 25. We can work with parent/carers or the child/young person themselves as appropriate.

Find out more

To make a booking for any of our sleep events or if would like to arrange training or support, contact outreach@seashelltrust.org.uk

For details of all Seashell events, including training and development workshops for parents and professionals check out our Events page

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Sleep Support for Children and Young People with SEND

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Seashell offers free sleep support for children and young people with SEND and provides professional development for sleep practitioners

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Wellbeing resources and mental health support

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Wellbeing resources and mental health support

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We’re working across Greater Manchester to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and their families, supported by resilient communities, inclusive employers and services that maximise independence and choice.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Wellbeing resources and mental health support for children and young people

It's good to talk...

Sometimes all you need is to share how you feel with someone you can trust. Is there anyone you can talk to about how you are feeling?

Maybe:

Your family members or friends.

People at school - teachers, school counsellors, friends?

People outside of school - sports coach, dance instructor, club leader, someone from within your faith community?

There are also plenty of ways you can help yourself to feel better at home. Finding ways to relax and unwind such as listening to music or writing down your thoughts and feelings.

I need information and advice

There's lots of online support and advice available.

Anna Freud is a world-leading mental health charity for children and families. Their wellbeing resources aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health and wellbeing. Their pages have been co-produced by young people to help other young people. Self-Care Resources For Young People | Anna Freud

The Children's Society provide specialist support that empowers young people to make positive changes and rediscover their hope. Wellbeing Activities | The Children's Society

Free online wellbeing programme: SilverCloud - aged 16 years+ Online programmes to help ease your levels of stress, sleep better or to build resilience. You can choose to use any of the programmes. They are self-help, confidential and secure. gm.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/

Free online programmes for parents and carers. Supporting an Anxious Child (for parents and carers of children aged 5 to 11) and Supporting and Anxious Teen (for parents and carers of teenagers aged 12 to 18) instant access to self-help support: gm.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/

NHS Greater Manchester. These resources provide guidance and information that has been quality assured by a Clinical Psychologist in Greater Manchester. There are resources for young children, teens and parents and carers on: Low mood; Anxiety; OCD; ADHD

Eating disorders. NHS Greater Manchester have created a leaflet with advice about eating disorders and the support available across Greater Manchester Eating disorders support in Greater Manchester Beat is the UK's eating disorders charity, their website has lots of information about eating disorders and advice on getting help and how to talk to people Beat - beat eating disorders

Self-harm. NHS Greater Manchester have created this advice for young people, parents and carers about why people may self-harm, how to talk about it and strategies to help young people manage their emotions: Self-harm: A Guide for young people and Self-harm: A guide for parents and carers

Trauma.

1. Greater Manchester Resilience Hub resources: A guide to understanding and managing trauma: This guide is for children and young people. It looks at what trauma is, how you might be feeling, triggers, and some things that can help and Looking after your child following trauma: This guide is helpful if your child, or a child you look after, has been involved in a traumatic situation.

2. UK Trauma Council videos. These videos have been created by UK Trauma Council, a project by Anna Freud to help children and young people following traumatic events and experiences: Coping with scary and distressing memories, Picking up the pieces: young people on trauma and Thoughts about accessing mental health support

I need someone to talk to

Kooth: Free digital mental wellbeing support. Join the community and access free, safe and anonymous professional support online. There are no waiting lists for support and no referral needed. Access to these platforms is available instantly 24/7. Support available includes: Live chat or messaging with qualified mental health professionals; Self-help tools and activities; Online community Kooth (for ages 10 to 25) www.kooth.com

ChildLine is the UK's free helpline for children and young people. It provides confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects. Phone: 0800 1111 (24 hours, 7 days a week) www.childline.org.uk/

Papyrus runs a national helpline, HOPELineUK, including text and email services, staffed by a team of mental health professionals who provide practical help and advice to vulnerable young people (under 35 years) and to those concerned about any young person who may be at risk of suicide. Phone: 0800 068 41 41. www.papyrus-uk.org/

Samaritans volunteers listen in confidence to anyone in any type of emotional distress, without judging or telling people what to do. Call 0116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (24 hours, 7 days a week) www.samaritans.org/

YoungMinds Parents' Helpline is a free, confidential helpline for any adult who is concerned about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25. Phone: 0808 802 5544. www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat/ If you need help speaking to someone Young Minds have produced a useful guide to reaching our for help www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/reaching-out-for-help/

Need more help?

NHS Talking Therapies (for anxiety and depression). Psychological treatments, including cognitive behaviour therapy, are effective in treating anxiety and depression and are often recommended first, particularly for mild to moderate anxiety and depression. If you are aged 16+ you can make a self-referral to NHS Talking Therapies (for anxiety and depression).You can find the service in your area here

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are an NHS service that assesses and treats young people (aged 11 to 18) with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. Support covers depression, problems with food, self-harm, abuse, violence or anger, bipolar, schizophrenia and anxiety, to name a few.

1. Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop www.penninecare.nhs.uk/camhs

2. Bolton and Wigan www.gmmh.nhs.uk/child-and-adolescent/

3. Manchester, Salford and Trafford https://mft.nhs.uk/rmch/services/camhs/

CAMHS Resources. This site was created for young people, carers and professionals to pool together lots of helpful resources from across the internet that are available to help support your mental health and well-being. HOME | CAMHS Resources

I need urgent help

Mental health crisis support. Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option if you, or someone you know, is in a mental health crisis. Available 24/7, you'll speak to a mental health professional who can help you find the right support.
If there's an immediate risk to life ring 999 or go to A&E.

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Wellbeing resources and mental health support for children and young people - Mental Health

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Wellbeing resources and mental health support for children and young people

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A parent’s guide to AI

How to get the most out of generative AI

In this guide to AI, learn about the different generative AI tools like ChatGPT and My AI. Then, explore how to support learning, creativity and even bedtime using AI tools at home.

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This guide to artificial intelligence will take you through how you can use AI to support children in different ways. But what is AI?

Artificial intelligence is a field of study in computer science. It deals with creating machines that are 'intelligent' and can perform tasks like a human.

AI uses information from various sources to provide its information. So, while a tool like ChatGPT might seem intelligent, it is really simply following instructions and information given to it to respond.

Informally, someone might use the term AI or artificial intelligence to refer to the tools themselves.

Guide to AI tools

The following are some popular tools from our interactive guide to artificial intelligence. Learn more by exploring the full guide below.

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A parent's guide to artificial intelligence (AI) | Internet Matters

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Learn about popular AI tools and how you can use them to help your child and family build skills, develop creativity and have fun at home.

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Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don’t need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions – you’ll just join in via the chatbox. The website is really easy to navigate as well!

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery."

Max

"If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive"

Abi

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don't need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions - you'll just join in via the chatbox. We want to help you to find your next steps towards recovery, wherever you are on your journey.

IS ALUMINA RIGHT FOR ME?

Are you...

10-17 years old?

Living in the UK?

Someone who self-harms or worries they might?

Looking for support but not wanting to do it face to face?

Wanting to move towards a life free from self-harm?

If so...

Alumina could be a helpful step forward. If you sign up we'll begin a conversation over email to work out if it might be a good fit - and you can ask us any questions you have. The only rule we have in Alumina is that we don't talk about suicide in the groups. If that's something you are struggling with thinking about we recommend getting in touch with our friends at Papyrus who are better equipped to support you.

"I thought it would be all serious and uncomfortable because of the self-harm talk but actually, the staff have made me laugh, we've been given a space that feels relevant to our ages and most importantly we can turn up in any mood and they'll be there for us." Runa

What's a session like?

"Clicking on the link for the first time was nerve wracking and intense with lots of thoughts going through my head. But within only a few minutes of the session I had a smile on my face and felt comfortable with the staff and the group."

Sasha

"Alumina was quite different to what I expected, I thought it would just be an intense 6 weeks and it would be over like other services. But it was nothing like that - instead I felt and still feel very supported by the staff. The group and staff are like a big family who's always there for me."

Samara

"Clicking that link for the very first time was terrifying. But I knew it could be life-changing. The first session I felt welcome, I no longer felt like an outsider. It's fun, believe me!! Most days I find myself looking forward to the next session because Alumina gives me a sign of hope."

Dan

Questions

We aren't a crisis service so if you're in need of immediate support please contact one of the following:

The Mix: Offering essential support for anyone aged 12-25. For their crisis messenger support service text THEMIX to 85258.
Childline: Support for anyone up to age 18. Call, chat online or email their crisis service.
Samaritans: Call 116123 anytime if you need to talk to someone.

We've changed the shape of our support for young people. This website introduces Alumina, our online support groups for young people struggling with self-harm. We've also recently launched beheadstrong.uk offering young people all kinds of information, stories and videos about looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing. You can find links to some of selfharm.co.uk's most popular articles below.

Yes we have! We have worked with 14-19 year olds for many years but we have always heard from people who are younger (or those who care about them) asking if we do anything for younger people. Then from September 2022 we reduced our age range to 11, and found how important it was to support this age range and that our Early Intervention project was great for this age range. Therefore, from October 2023 we will be aiming our work at young people in secondary school or college (or equivalent) and those transitioning to secondary school and our age range has reduced to 10-17 years old. If you're under 13 we will need to get permission from someone with parental responsibility for you, and we will email them to explain how Alumina works and make sure they are happy with you joining a group.

We aim to group similar aged young people into groups together, so 10-13-year-olds will be offered groups together and 13-17 year olds will be in other groups together. We are happy to work with anyone until the end of their full-time education, therefore we will work with 17- and 18-year-olds so long as they are three months or more away from finishing their education at the end of August.

Meet the team

Live Webinars

We have recently started to do live webinars on YouTube on issues related to self-harm and emotional wellbeing

Supporting Young People Who Self-harm

If you're a parent, professional or friend supporting a young person who's self-harming, we recommend taking an hour to watch this webinar with our Alumina Managers. They explore why people self-harm, why young people especially self-harm, why it becomes addictive, how to break the addiction cycle, and what young people wish the adults around them understood about self-harm.

"Alumina is a well thought through support service for young people; it is professional, caring and accessible to all. Signposting a young person to Alumina will help them begin their recovery journey."

DR. KATE MIDDLETON

Our Alumina advisory panel

More information about self-harm

We've moved some of our most popular articles about self-harm over to beheadstrong.uk, and you can use these links to find them:

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Free online Self-harm support for 10-17 year olds

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery." Max "If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive" Abi Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.

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Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Parent guide on how to talk about weight

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Parent guide on how to talk about weight

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The aim of this guide is to help parents and caregivers talk with their children about weight in a positive way. It gives tips and advice on what to say and do to help children be healthy and feel good about their bodies. This guidance is for parents and caregivers of children of all shapes and sizes.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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There are lots of reasons that someone might self-harm, including coping with difficult emotions or experiences.

Whatever you're going through, we're here for you.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM, AR

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Wellbeing toolkits

Autistic young people are experts by experience. They have developed these toolkits to increase understanding and support for other autistic young people, in areas such as mental wellbeing and inclusion. Our toolkits contain resources for young people, parents, and professionals.

Last reviewed June 2026 MM AR

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Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for children and young people with autism. We provide services, raise awareness and understanding, and campaign for change. Through TreeHouse School, The Rise School and Ambitious College we offer specialist education and support.