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Speak to James to discuss talking about accessing the School Wellbeing Service

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Every day, hundreds of people risk everything by trespassing on the railway.

The railway is full of hidden dangers. When you trespass on the railway there are serious and catastrophic consequences for you, your loved ones, rail staff, and communities as a whole.

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The railway is full of hidden dangers. When you trespass on the railway there are serious and catastrophic consequences for you, your loved ones, rail staff, and communities as a whole.

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From special journeys to everyday commutes, the rail network helps get us where we need to be.

Switched On is a suite of curriculum linked, age targeted resources covering three key age groups: 3-6, 7-11 and 12-16. With more than 13,000 trespass incidents a year, the programme explores the entire rail environment - from level crossings to tracks - and teaches students how to be switched on to the risks it can pose.

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Switched On is a suite of curriculum linked, age targeted resources covering three key age groups: 3-6, 7-11 and 12-16. With more than 13,000 trespass incidents a year, the programme explores the entire rail environment - from level crossings to tracks - and teaches students how to be switched on to the risks it can pose.

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The Rail Safe Friendly Programme - Rail Safe Friendly

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The Rail Safe Friendly Programme Improving rail safety awareness in all schools across the UK Businesses Schools Individuals Delivered to you by The Rail Safe Friendly Programme is proudly supported by: Spotlight Rail Awards 2025 We have been shortlisted in the CSR category at the upcoming SPOTLIGHT Rail Awards 2025 What’s New? Read our latest ... Read more

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Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS UK )

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Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) is one of the most extensive summer water safety campaigns across the UK and Ireland. Save the Date: Drowning Prevention Week returns 13-20 June 2026 Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) is our biggest campaign of the year, targeting families, carers, teachers and instructors of children aged five to fifteen to educate them about water safety. No child should drown, and with the right water safety education—such as knowledge of the Water Safety Code—accidental drownings are preventable. Drowning Prevention Week is deliberately timed ahead of the school summer holidays, when children spend more time outdoors and when vital water safety skills can help keep them safe. Please help spread the word and encourage everyone to have the water safety conversation with children. DPW is critical in raising awareness and encouraging the public to enjoy water safely. Venues that got involved in 2025! Drowning Prevention Week 2025 achievements: In 2025, the following outcomes were achieved during Drowning Prevention Week. Thank you for your support! 2.4m+ children were educated in water safety using our free resources (almost double the number compared to 2024). There was nearly a 600% increase in SEND resource downloads. There was a good overall geographical spread across the UK of school provider locations. Over 1000 leisure operators across the UK and Ireland downloaded our new resources this year! Participation across the Leisure sector increased by 97% for Drowning Prevention Week 2025. RLSS UK and Drowning Prevention Week were featured in 605 press articles and broadcasts across the UK. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water Safety was launched at Westminster. YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Co2Eb3oyg

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Sex without consent is rape - it’s as simple as tea!

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Quit Smoking and Vaping Animation Short Version

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We are a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health

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A range of self help resources to support 16-25 year olds

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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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Whether you're worried about yourself or someone else, you can find information about drug and alcohol use and smoking below to help.

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Shout 85258 free and confidential text support service is there for moments when you are dealing with self-harm and need support to get to a calmer place.

If your life is at imminent risk, please call 999 immediately.

What is self-harm?

Self-harm is when someone deliberately hurts or injures their body, without the intent to die. In general, it is a way of coping or dealing with severe emotional distress and managing distressing and unwanted thoughts and overwhelming feelings.

Self-harm can translate emotional pain into physical pain, which people sometimes find easier to cope with.

It's always important to bear in mind that some people who self harm can also feel suicidal and it must always be taken seriously.

If you are self-harming, you might not have felt able to talk to anyone about what you are going through, and it can feel very hard to ask for help. Asking for support is the first courageous step in finding alternative and healthier ways to manage painful feelings.

What are some of the reasons someone might self-harm?

Focus, distraction or control: wanting to distract themselves or regain control over their minds when experiencing overwhelming thoughts or feelings.

Tension or release of anger

Physical sensation: wanting to feel something physical when you are feeling numb.

Expression or documentation: wanting to express themselves or document strong emotions that they are feeling but cannot articulate. This can often also mean that the individual may want to see the physical evidence of their pain: blood, scabs and scars.

Punishment

Euphoria

Support for self-harm:

There are a number of strategies that can help ward off urges to self-harm and whilst these won't address the underlying problem, they are hugely important in the journey towards safer means of expressing feelings.

Communicate:

Talking to someone about self-harm can help relieve difficult feelings and reduce the urge to hurt yourself.

Text SHOUT to 85258 to start an anonymous, free conversation with a trained volunteer who will listen to and support you.

Talk to someone about what is triggering you to self-harm or about anything that's on your mind.

There are a number of ideas you can try to distract yourself from urges to self-harm.

Get some play-dough or blu-tack: stretch or squeeze it to relieve tension.

Hold ice in your hand - the intense feeling can be a helpful distraction.

Use a pillow or cushion to vent your anger and frustration.

Listen to music you like or watch a film you enjoy.

Scribble on a large piece of paper with a crayon or pen.

Go for a walk to take yourself away from your triggers - being in the open air can be a distraction in itself too.

Listen to music or immerse yourself in Netflix or a game on your phone.

Sometimes leaning in to your problem can help you to be less afraid of it. Allow yourself to experience the thought or feeling and express it by trying the following:

Use plasticine, crayons, pens, paint or collage materials to make artwork to express your feelings. Creativity helps us to see things from a different perspective.

Write down thoughts and feelings that are distressing you on a piece of paper; crumple the page up, rip it up and throw it out as a way to rid yourself of those thoughts and feelings.

Use mindfulness or meditation apps to relax your mind and body.

If you need help with self-harm, our text line is available 24/7. Text SHOUT to 85258 to start a conversation with one of our volunteers.

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The free Shout 85258 text support service is there for moments when you are dealing with self-harm and need support to get to a calmer place. If your life is at imminent risk, please call 999 immediately.

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Our site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more here

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Mental Health Support for Young People | The Mix

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Struggling with your mental health? The Mix offers youth-led advice, real-life stories, and expert support on anxiety, depression, stress, and more.

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Calm Harm is an award-winning app funded by teenage mental health charity stem4, to help manage the urge to self-harm. It was developed by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Nihara Krause MBE, in collaboration with young people and uses principles from an evidence-based psychological treatment called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

The urge to self-harm is like a wave. It feels the most powerful when you start wanting to do it.

Learn to ride the wave with the Calm Harm app by choosing activities from these categories:
, , Express Yourself , , and .

There is also a breathing exercise to help you be mindful and stay in the moment, regulate difficult emotions, and reduce tension.

When you ride the wave, the urge to self-harm will fade.

The Calm Harm app provides some immediate activities and techniques to help you break the cycle of self-harm behaviour and explore underlying trigger factors; the app supports you in building a 'safety net' of helpful thoughts, behaviours, and access to supportive people, as well as providing the opportunity to journal and self-reflect. The Calm Harm app also signposts to help.

The app is private, anonymous, and safe.

Please note that the Calm Harm app is not a substitute for the assessment and individualised treatment by a health or mental health professional.

Our app is for young people over the age of 13.

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Calm Harm is a free app to help teenagers manage the urge to self-harm. Available on Google Play & App Store.

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If you're supporting people who self-harm and feel suicidal and your services are under strain, you can now provide easy access to wellbeing information, self-help tips and links to support with the award-winning distrACT app.
distrACT is a trusted FREE resource for any health and care provider in the UK - from NHS organisations to universities, local authorities, health charities, and the private mental health sector.

Use the app at no cost to provide reliable health information at scale, promote safe self-care, address harmful misinformation, give options, and direct people to available services - all in one safe place.

Customise the app for your area or organisation (as an optional extra) to increase your reach and make local information more accessible.

Free download

Search for 'distrACT' on your phone's app store, or visit:

The story of distrACT

In 2016, the Director of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Psychiatric Liason Team asked us to create a digital alternative to their printed information for people who self-harm and felt suicidal. Producing and distributing the leaflet was costly and ineffective. It could hold only limited information and went out of date quickly.

Inspired by talking with people attending the local A&E department for self-harm or suicidal thoughts, the team felt an app would enable staff to provide patients with reliable, up-to-date information in seconds.

Their patients wanted a one-stop-shop app that was easy to use, worked offline, held reliable information, and could be customised for local areas. A resource that people could download discreetly and that could become a 'good friend' at times of crisis and during recovery.

We partnered with the Bristol Health Partners Self-harm Matters Health Integration Team and developed distrACT with mental health professionals, people with lived experience of self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and mental health charities. The app launched in October 2017 and undergoes regular review.

distrACT has 100,000+ downloads and over 4,000+ monthly page views. It won the British Medical Association Patient Information Award for Wellbeing in 2019 and was 'highly commended' at the Healthwatch #NHS70 Awards.

distrACT has become a national UK resource for self-harm support and suicide prevention. In 2024, it was the first app to be added to the new MIND App Library. It has been integrated into NHS service pathways as the primary information resource for self-management of self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Use distrACT to support your mission.

Self-help techniques: Give people instant access to a wide array of methods to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and uplift mood.

Crisis intervention: Provide quick links to emergency contacts and crisis resources for immediate support, while waiting for care, or during recovery.

Customisation: Customise distrACT (entirely optional) with an organisational homepage and local service directory. Customisation allows your organisation to make people more aware of available support in your area and relieve avoidable service pressures.

CUSTOMISE APPS FOR YOUR LOCAL AREA
Intended key outcomes

Through public health eductation, distrACT app aims to:

Reduce self-harm

Prevent crises and suicides

Lessen avoidable pressure on mental health and emergency services

Give people people hope

Facilitate a better experience of care

Who created distrACT

distrACT was co-created by practising UK health professionals together with people with lived experience of self-harm and experts in self-harm and suicide prevention.

Development partners include Bristol Health Partners, Self-Injury Support, Self-Injury Self Help, the University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Bristol, with additional input from other local and national organisations.

Feedback and testimonials

"I'm blown away, it's brilliant. Thank you for helping restore my faith back into human kindness with this non-judgemental app."
User feedback via Twitter (direct message)

"Self-harm often occurs at times of great psychological distress, so it's nice to see that there is help out there in the form of this new app. I like that it's sensitive, easy to navigate, and promotes emotional wellbeing no matter where you are in your journey."
L.T., Public Contributor with personal experience of self-harm

"The app can help people understand why they're using self-injury and then they're better equipped to talk to someone in 'real life'. It's something that's discreet, private and you can access at any time and that's what people who contact our services tell us they want."
Naomi Salisbury, Director of UK charity Self-Injury Support

"The distrACT app is a safe alternative to put in people's hands. So if they're thinking about self-harm or have self-harmed they can have a resource at their fingertips."
Dr Dominique Thompson, Student Mental Health Expert and GP

"This app is professional, well-thought out and structured and is a must if you are concerned about self-harm or feeling suicidal and don't know what to do next. I highly recommend it."
Anonymous app user

"Will definitely recommend to my friend. Beautiful app with extremely useful information!"
Anonymous app user

How the app is funded.

Expert Self Care funded the app's development. The app generates revenue from (entirely optional) subscriptions to local customised pages for provider organisations.

Feel reassured.

distrACT was developed and is regularly reviewed in line with our robust editorial standards and quality assurance processes.

PIF Tick: Certified by the Patient Information Forum PIF Tick, the only independently-assessed quality mark for print and digital health information.

ORCHA App Libraries: Evaluated by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA) and listed on ORCHA app libraries.

NHS DTAC: The app complies with the NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC), which give staff, patients and citizens confidence that the app meets NHS clinical safety, data protection, technical security, interoperability, and usability and accessibility standards.

How to implement distrACT

Easily integrate distrACT into your service pathways. Simply make people aware of the app. Cost-free, without organisational or user registration.

Customising the app for your local area allows you to add local home and signposting pages to raise awareness of your organisation and signpost support.

CUSTOMISE APPS FOR YOUR LOCAL AREA
Get in touch

Please get in touch with us to learn more about distrACT or to discuss customising it for your organisation or local area.

Page last reviewed: 4 July 2024

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The distrACT app enables organisations to offer trusted information and support to people who self-harm and feel suicidal.

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Child refugees and asylum seeker | Childline

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A refugee is someone who has been given the right to stay in the UK because they’re unsafe in their home country. If you’re a child refugee or asylum seeker or, if you know someone who could be, we can help.

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Keeping your feelings to yourself can leave you feeling upset, angry or alone. It's OK to feel down but it's also important to talk about what's going on and make sense of things.

Try talking to an adult you trust about what's scaring you. If you feel like you're not being taken seriously or you feel more worried or unsure after talking to them, try talking to one of our counsellors or another adult you trust.

It can often help to get advice from different people you trust and then decide what makes sense for you.

If you're worried about telling someone, why not try sharing how you feel on our message boards?

The news you see or read isn't always going to be accurate. Something you see or read on social media might be trying to get your attention by scaring you. Or it might only be showing one side of a story.

When you see something online or in the news that makes you upset, angry or scared, there are things you can do:

Don't react straight away. Sometimes headlines or stories are designed to make you have a reaction, so make sure that you've read the information in the article or check that you've heard what's been said properly

Be careful of 'fake news'. This is news and stories on the internet that aren't true. There are lots of places online that aren't that reliable or accurate and it's important to find trustworthy news sources, such as Newsround (which also has useful information on how to spot 'fake news')

Look for evidence. Ask yourself whether the news you're looking at has facts to confirm what it's saying and whether it's got all of the information

Think about why the news exists. Some news and sites will try and convince you about something. Look for lots of different views so you can make a decision for yourself

Get a second opinion. This could be from different sites or an adult you trust.

If you're confused or upset by something you've seen in the news you can always speak to a counsellor.

Try using our mood tracker to write down what you're grateful for, things that you're happy about, what good things have happened in your life or what great stuff you'd like to happen.

If you don't feel like writing, you can create a collage or picture in our Art box. When you feel down or angry, try looking at these words or pictures to remind yourself of positive and good things.

Some things that happen in the world are done because of hate or because people have bad thoughts. It can help to focus on good thoughts and get more people involved in things that have a positive effect.

For example, if you or someone you know has been bullied or experienced racism, you could raise money for an anti-bullying charity, speak out about treating people equally or help other young people in similar situations. A good place to start could be on our message boards or getting involved with Childline events.

Terrorism is when someone or a group of people use violence and fear to try to scare other people.

A person who does this is called a terrorist. A terrorist can look like anyone. They could be male or female, young or old and from any race or religion. They might use politics, religion or culture to make it seem like violence and hate are OK.

Any kind of terrorism is wrong. If you're worried about anything, you can talk to a Childline counsellor.

When people have very strong opinions, these could become extreme.

People who have certain beliefs about politics or religions which are hateful, dangerous or against the law are often known as extremists. This harmful behaviour is called extremism.

Extremists might use violence and damage to express their views. And extremist racial or religious groups might use hate, fear or violence to control and influence people. You may have heard different groups mentioned, like Daesh, also known as ISIS or IS, but there are other groups like Combat 18 who are also considered to be extremists.

It's important to remember that the likelihood of a terrorist attack in the UK is very rare. But being scared about an attack can make it difficult to feel safe. If you're worried about staying safe when you're going out, remember to:

plan where you're going and if you're unsure, speak to someone you trust or a staff member of a public place

pay attention to what's going on around you and speak to a police officer or a member of staff if you see anything suspicious

look around for things like emergency exits

stay calm and remind yourself that attacks or emergencies are very rare and that security is there to protect you

keep your mobile phone with you so you can contact friends and family if needed.

It can be hard to control your anxiety when you're scared. But we can help. Find out more about managing your anxiety or contact our counsellors.

The police and security services are always working to help keep everyone safe. And professionals across the country are doing things to prevent violence or terrorism.

There's more security in public spaces like concerts, football matches and events.

Police have made sure there are more officers in towns and public places like train stations.

Airports have strict security checks and more security staff.

Local communities are trying to teach people about world issues and safety.

The government and police have specially trained workers who are always finding new ways to protect the UK.

Security services are successfully working to prevent terrorism before it happens.

Radicalisation is when someone starts to believe or support extreme views. They could be pressured to do things illegal by someone else. Or they might change their behaviour and beliefs.

This could happen if they feel:

isolated and lonely or wanting to belong

unhappy about themselves and what others might think of them

embarrassed or judged about their culture, gender, religion or race

stressed or depressed

fed up of being bullied or treated badly by other people or by society

angry at other people or the government

confused about what they are doing

pressured to stand up for other people who are being oppressed.

Someone who has been radicalised might believe that sexual, religious or racial violence is OK. They may be influenced by what they see online. And they might have links to extreme groups that preach hate like Nazi groups or Islamic extremists like Daesh, also known as ISIS or IS.

Having extreme views can be dangerous. And this can often lead to harmful and illegal activities involving violence, attacks, discrimination or hate - which you could be arrested or sent to prison for. This can affect you and your future. If you're worried, you can talk to us.

Finding that your views are changing can be normal. And it's OK to make new friends or spend time with different people. But if these things are making you change your behaviour and how you treat others, it could mean you're being radicalised.

When you're being radicalised it can be hard to know who to trust. It can help to ask yourself questions like:

do I only see or read info that I already agree with?

do I get angry or defensive if someone questions what I think?

am I being pressured to change my opinions or beliefs?

are people promising me that they can make me important or put me in control as long as I do what they say?

do I feel like I want control even it means doing something harmful?

do I agree with the things extremist groups are saying or doing?

do I or the people around me feel hate or anger towards certain people or groups - and want to hurt them or get revenge?

do I think the way to change the world is by using violence or doing something illegal or dangerous?

It's not always easy to tell if you're being radicalised. It could be that you feel some of these things and it's just part of growing up and changing your views. But if you've answered yes or maybe to any of these questions it could also mean that you're at risk.

You're not alone and it's important to get help. Speaking to someone outside the situation like a teacher or a friend can help you to get a second opinion.

Our counsellors can also help you make sense of your thoughts and feelings. And help you find ways to get support and make decisions. It's confidential and you don't have to give us your name if you don't want to. Find out how you can get in touch.

You might be unsure if something is wrong or not. So it can help to think about the person you're worried about. Ask yourself how well you know them. How do they usually behave? What kind of things do they usually do? And are you noticing anything different.
If someone is at risk of being radicalised they might:

talk positively about dangerous groups or people who promote hate, or make it seem like these groups are OK

spend time with people or on websites that promote violence, hate, racism, homophobia or islamophobia

become secretive and not want to talk to anyone about where they spend time or what they're doing online

refuse to talk to people from a certain country or who have a different sexuality or belief

be rude, aggressive or violent towards a particular group of people, for example, Jewish, Muslim or gay people or someone who supports a certain political party.

If you're worried about someone, it's always better to get support, even if you aren't sure.

You could try:

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Supporting a friend who's being bullied

If you see someone being bullied or singled out because of their race or religion there are ways to support them.

Tell someone. You could speak to an adult you trust, a teacher or police officer.

Don't join in. If someone is saying something racist or offensive, staying and watching can make it seem like you agree. If it's safe you could disagree or walk away.

Help your friend. You could show them that you're there to support them, ask them how they're feeling or help them to do something they enjoy.

Share your views. It can be scary to disagree with someone. But if you feel safe to it's okay to say that you don't agree with someone if they're being racist or offensive.

What if you were someone else?
Imagine what it would feel like to be someone who might not fit in, or who seems different.

It can feel confusing if you don't understand someone's religion, culture or beliefs. You might be told things by other people or see stuff online. But it's important to remember that these are other people's opinions. Try finding out for yourself so you can have a better understanding.

This can help you decide what feels right and wrong and see what it's like for that person.

If you think someone might be planning an attack or be involved in something dangerous, call us free on 0800 1111 or get in touch online. If you think someone is in serious danger, you can call 999 for urgent help.

You might feel silly or unsure about reporting something if you don't know for certain. But it's always OK to tell us, even it turns out to be nothing serious.

Find out more about our confidentiality promise.

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Keeping your feelings to yourself can leave you feeling upset, angry or alone. It's OK to feel down but it's also important to talk about what's going on and make sense of things. Try talking to an adult you trust about what's scaring you.

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Terrorism is when someone, or a group of people, uses violence, threats and fear to try to scare other people. A person who does this is called a terrorist. It might be politics, religion or culture that make terrorists believe violence and hate are OK.

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Radicalisation and extremism | Childline

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People who have unreasonable and unacceptable beliefs which are hateful, dangerous or against the law are often known as extremists. Extremists might use violence, fear or hate to express their views and control and influence people. This harmful behaviour is called extremism.

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Online issues Archive - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Online Safety Tips, Advice and Resources

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We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.

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We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.

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Having a mobile phone and going online is great for lots of reasons. But it's important to be aware of the dangers too. Learn how to stay safe online.

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If you've experienced or witnessed harm online we can help. Report Harmful Content can help you to report harmful content online by providing up to date information on community standards and direct links to the correct reporting facilities across multiple platforms

Under 18?
Click here for child friendly advice Get advice on how to report abuse and harassment in sport
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Report Harmful Content - We Help You Remove Content

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Helping anyone who comes across harmful content online

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Content warning: This section includes graphic sexual descriptions.

A nude image must include one of the following to be removed:

nude or semi-nude sexual posing

someone nude or semi-nude touching themselves in a sexual way

any sexual activity involving a child

someone hurting someone else sexually

sexual activity that includes animals.

Where possible, it is better if you can upload the original image or video, or a copy of it, rather than a photograph of it on another screen. This helps IWF find the image more accurately.

If you want to report something that isn't a nude image or video to see if it can be taken down, you can see more information from Childline about deleting things shared online here. You can make a report to CEOP, the part of the police who are there to support children and young people online. You can always speak to a Childline counsellor.

Confirming your age with ID gives us more legal powers to remove images from as many places as possible. If you don't have ID or feel comfortable using it, we can still take down images, but from fewer places.

You can use the following ID to confirm your identity using Yoti:

passport or biometric residence permit

driving licence and provisional licence

Young Scot Card (Yoti app only)

CitizenCard (Yoti app only).

If you don't have any of these, you can get a young person's ID card. You'll be able to get this for £5 with the promo code NSPCC5. Make sure you choose 'Yoti CitizenCard' on the first page.

Whatever ID you use, please make sure that it is valid and in-date.

IWF will read all reports within one working day, from Monday to Friday. The time it takes to get your image removed from the internet can be different depending on where the image is hosted.

If the image is on a UK-based website it can often be removed within 2-3 hours. Unfortunately, in some countries it can take longer - sometimes days or weeks. But IWF analysts will always try to make sure it happens as soon as possible.

We'll do our best to let you know once your image has been removed by sending a message to your  Childline locker.

We recommend you check your locker every few days after you make a report. This is so you can see if your image has been removed, and so Childline can let you know if IWF need more information to be able to remove it. Remember, IWF can't contact you directly.

If you need support to help you cope while you're waiting, you can also speak to a Childline counsellor any time.

When you use Report Remove, your image or video is shared with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). They'll work to get your image removed from the internet. See 'Who are the IWF?' to learn about how that happens.

Most of the time, nobody will know that you've made a report and your report won't be shared with anyone else.

If the police already have the image or video you report, then they might investigate what's happened. Only the police can decide if they'll need to tell someone else.

The police might already have your image or video if:

someone has reported it on another website and that website passed it to the police

they're investigating someone who had or has the image or video already (if someone is found to have your image and is breaking the law - regardless of how, it may be included as evidence in a criminal case against that person

someone else reported the image to them directly.

Remember that the police are there to protect you, not to get you into trouble. If the image has been reported somewhere else and you're worried, you can always  speak to a Childline counsellor.

If you have parental controls on your phone your parent or carer might see when you want to download a new app, so they might get a notification if you try to download Yoti and want to know why. To avoid this, use the second option to prove your age (called 'ID verification').

The IWF can remove images that are public or available to anyone on the internet. However, they won't be able to remove images or videos on encrypted networks like WhatsApp, or which are saved on a person's phone or computer.

If you're over 13 and you've made a report without using ID, then there may be some sites the IWF can't take images down from.

If you don't use ID the IWF can help by removing your image or video from most sites. If you do use ID, the IWF can remove from all sites

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a UK charity, are there to help remove illegal nude images of under 18s posted online.

Once the IWF has confirmed your nude image is against the law and can be removed from the internet they give it a digital fingerprint called a 'hash'. The hash can be used to find your image online even if it has been cropped or slightly changed.

Sharing just the hash with certain trusted companies and organisations, means that technology can be used to find online matches of the image - this is key to trying to stop it appearing in different places on the internet. Even though the hashes and images are shared with UK police, this is so that if they came across the image some other way, they'd know that you also reported it yourself. Report Remove was developed with the full support of the police and no one involved wants to get you into trouble for sharing the image so it can be removed.

Different companies use the hash in different ways. For example, if an illegal image match is found to have been shared by an online account holder, a company may decide to close that person's account as posting illegal images will be against the company's terms and conditions. If your image(s) are found on or are linked to your online user account(s) it may be possible for the company to associate your profile with the images.

The companies that take the hashes trust the Report Remove process, however if they have significant concerns that the person in the image may not be the person who was age verified, they may get in touch with the IWF to raise their concerns.

There are 3 organisations that help you report your image using Report Remove. These are Childline, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and also Yoti if you are 13 or older and choose to prove your age using ID. All of them have a responsibility to keep all of your personal information safe.

1. We'll ask you to choose your age range (under 13, 13-15, 16-17, 18 and over). If you're under 13, you'll go straight to step 3. If you're aged 13 or older, us at Childline will ask you if you have access to ID to prove your age. If you do, you'll be asked to visit Yoti. The only information we will share with Yoti is that you are wanting to prove your age to use Report Remove.

2. Once you prove your age using Yoti, you will come back to Report Remove on Childline. The only information Yoti will share with Childline is confirmation that you're younger or older than 18.

3. We'll then ask you to create or sign in to a Childline account. Then you'll go to the IWF website to share the content you want removed. Childline will only share the information below with IWF:

that you're younger than 18 (either confirmed by Yoti, or that you told us you are younger than 18),

the age range you selected at the start,

a unique number that is created when you use Report Remove.

4. After your report has been passed to the IWF, they will tell Childline if they were able to work to take the images or video down from the internet, and why. This is so Childline can let you know what happened. IWF may also tell Childline some information about what you reported, to help them know how best to support you and keep you safe. IWF will never share an image or video that you report with Childline.

Information you give to Childline
Any information you give Childline will always be treated carefully and in line with our  Privacy Policy. This means that any information you give us as part of Report Remove will only be used to help the IWF review your report and to keep you safe. This will include the age range that you select and a unique number that's created when you go onto the IWF website. We will not share any of your information with Yoti.
Information you give to IWF
The only information you will give to the IWF are the images, videos or URLs you report. There is space to add information such as where the image or video is on a webpage.

They will process this in line with their privacy policy.

Nude images and videos that IWF decide are illegal may be kept by the IWF for up to 2 years. This is because there is an agreement with the Police and CPS (Crime Prosecution Service), called a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MOU). Illegal images are given a hash (a string of numbers that are like a digital fingerprint). The hash is shared with organisations such as technology companies who host online content, so that they can look for the image and take it down. The actual image is not shared with these companies. The image and the hash are shared with the police who store it on their Child Abuse Image Database. Any images or videos that they decide are not illegal may be kept for a maximum of 6 months for quality checking and any follow up questions. They will then be deleted. Sometimes, even if it's decided that the content isn't illegal, IWF can share the content URL with some industry members to see if they can take the content down.

If you report a URL (link to a webpage), and choose not to prove your age using ID, IWF will still check to see if the content is something they can take action on. If so IWF may share the URL with South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL), who are a charity who help people who have had intimate images of them shared online. SWGfL will never view the content on a URL that is shared with them. SWGfL send a notice to internet companies that host the webpage you reported, to tell them to take it down. This is because IWF can only send a notice to companies to take a specific webpage down when it is confirmed it is of a child. SWGfL can also send notice to take down content, but they do not need to prove it is of a child. This helps get your images or videos from even more places.

Childline will never see what pictures, videos or URLs you share with the IWF. The only information the IWF shares with Childline apart from your case number is whether or not they could take down your images or videos, and why, so we can let you know, as well as information about the image or video that you reported that will help Childline to support you and keep you safe.

Information you give to Yoti
You can choose to use Yoti to confirm your age if you're over 13. This may involve taking a selfie, so Yoti know it is you who are proving your age, and uploading a picture of some ID. Any personal data you send Yoti - like your photo, date of birth or address - is scrambled with a high level of encryption so that even if it was stolen, no one could use it to identify you. The only information Yoti shares with Childline is confirmation that you're under or over 18.

You can see Yoti's privacy policy here, and more information about their age portal here, which is what is used in Report Remove to prove your age.

If you're using the Yoti app, Yoti may use the selfie, month and year of birth you add to the Yoti app to improve its age estimation technology. You can opt out from this in the More> My Data> Biometric consent menu of the app.

There are lots of ways to get help with your report:

if you're having problems with Yoti, you can contact them directly in the app.

if you need any support with making your report send a message to Childline with the title 'Report Remove'.

Childline counsellors are always here for you and want to help. And you can  talk to them  about anything you're going through.
I have a technical issue, what should I do?

Try using your default browser and close private browsing if you're using the Yoti app.

See if you can log in to your locker and send an email to Childline explaining your problem and the team will be able to help.

Make sure the ID you're using is valid and in-date (not expired).

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Use Report Remove to remove a nude image shared online

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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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This service is one step you can take to help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18.

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Information and advice for young people aged 11 to 18 about sex, relationships and the internet from CEOP Education at the National Crime Agency.

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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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Getting help with your mental health can involve developing new coping mechanisms, speaking to your GP, finding the right therapy for you, or seeking help in a crisis. This page provides you with a range of options, separated into the following categories:

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Article from the MHF on how to get help for you mental health.

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Includes stress, anxiety, depression and eating disorders.

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We improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through our network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. Our goal is to make sure everyone severely affected by mental illness has a good quality of life.

Get advice and information

About mental illness

1 in 4 people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. People can, and often do, recover with the right treatment and support. Our advice and information pages can help you learn more about conditions, symptoms and diagnoses, so you or a loved one can get the help you need.

Living with mental illness

Living with a mental illness should not be a barrier to a good quality of life. Our advice and information pages contain all you need to know about getting the proper treatment and support for you or a loved one and what you can do if you feel the help you are getting is not right.

Rights and restrictions

If you experience mental illness or care for someone who does, it is essential to know your rights. Our information pages has advice on mental health laws, rights and restrictions, social care, welfare, and resources about the police, courts & prison service.

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No matter how bad things are, we can help.

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1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem in their lifetime - we are here to support them when they do.

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If you are feeling depressed, 24/7 mental health text support service Shout 85258 can provide support in the UK. Text Shout to 85258 to start a free, confidential conversation.

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Shout is a free and confidential text support service, there for moments when you are dealing with anxiety and need support to get to a calmer place.

If your life is at imminent risk, please call the emergency services on 999.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is the feeling of being worried, afraid, uneasy or nervous, particularly about things we think are about to happen, or might happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we think we might be under threat.

In today's world, threat can come from many different places, such as social anxiety, health scares, to financial worries. It can be different for everyone.

It's normal to feel anxious at times. From going back to school, to starting a new job, to worrying about exam results, or falling out with a friend, these are all situations that throughout our lives can trigger feelings of anxiousness or worry. We worry about the worst thing that can happen, and convince ourselves that it's about to happen.

If you feel anxious, you are not alone. In the text conversations our volunteers take at Shout 85258, around 32% of texters mention anxiety as an issue.

And you don't have to face your problem on your own. Shout Volunteers are trained to listen and support you, without judgement. You can talk through your problems and how you are feeling in a safe, confidential space, for free.

Symptoms of anxiety

The symptoms of anxiety will be different for everyone and you might not have all of the symptoms listed here. Some mental symptoms of anxiety include:

Not being able to control your thoughts; overthinking

Difficulty concentrating

Feeling irritable

Disrupted sleep patterns

Feelings of dread, panic or a sense that something bad is going to happen

Heightened awareness

Wanting to escape your current situation

Wanting to avoid a certain situation

Some physical symptoms of anxiety include:

Rapid heartbeat

Feeling very tired or having a lack of energy

Sweating

Heavier, faster breathing

Hot flushes

Dizziness and fainting

Headaches

An upset stomach

Loss of appetite

Support with anxiety and stress

Check out our range of resources, grounding exercises and self-help tips for anyone struggling with anxiety and/or stress.

If you are struggling and need support, you can text SHOUT to 85258 for free, 24/7 confidential support with a trained volunteer.

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If you are experiencing anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, the Shout 85258 mental health text support service is available 24/7.

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If you need help right now

If you feel like you are about to self-harm now, there are things you can do to help keep your mind off it. Watch the video about the TIPP technique - a simple technique you can use to help you in the moment.
If you are in an emergency or worried for your life you should call 999.

Self-harm is when you intentionally cause harm to yourself as a way of dealing with difficult feelings, traumatic experiences or memories, neglect, or situations that you find overwhelming. People sometimes self-harm when life feels hard to cope with.

Self-harm can look different for different people. You might find yourself doing things which are harmful, but not think of them as 'self-harm'. But that doesn't make your experience any less valid.

Self-harm can look like:

cutting yourself

using drugs or alcohol to cope with your problems

not eating, over-eating, or forcing yourself to throw up

spending all your time on addictive behaviours like gaming, social media or gambling

over-exercising and/or exercising when you are injured

biting, hitting or burning yourself

hitting walls

getting into situations on purpose where you risk getting hurt, including fights or risky sexual behaviour

Often self-harming only brings temporary relief. You might also have negative feelings after self-harming, such as guilt, shame or fear. When difficult feelings start to build up again, you might feel like you have to harm again. It can be really hard to break out of this cycle. Self-harming can become a habit and it can be upsetting to think that this is your only way to cope. But there are things you can do to stop self-harming and get better. And with support, you can learn other ways of coping when things feel too much.

People self-harm for many different reasons. Some people find it hard to explain why they do it, but often it's a way for people to let out feelings that are hard to explain or control.

There are many reasons why you might self-harm and these reasons will be different for everyone. You might be dealing with lots of intense thoughts and feelings and hurting yourself might feel like the only way to let those feelings out. Or you might feel numb and want to hurt yourself so that you can feel something.

For some people, self-harm feels like a way to show the feelings they have inside on the outside. It can be a way of:

People often start self-harming due to something stressful or upsetting that is going on in their life that is difficult to deal with . This could be something like:

suffering abuse

experiencing a traumatic incident

family problems like a divorce

money worries

bullying

a sudden change in your life, like a death, a relationship ending or moving school

exam stress or extreme pressure or criticism from family, friends, teachers or at work

low self-esteem or issues with body image

difficult feelings like loneliness, anxiety, depression or anger

an illness or health problem

feelings of guilt, failure, or being unloved

experiencing discrimination against your race, religion, sexuality, gender or disability

These are just examples. Whatever the reason you started self-harming, your feelings matter and you can get through this.

You may not always know the reason why you are self-harming. If you're unsure why, or don't understand the reasons, you are not alone and you can still get help.

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Artwork credit: @the_mini_ADHD_coach

An illustration of a face with eyes closed. Text reads: 'It's ok to feel overwhelmed.'

Things can happen in life that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, angry and hurt. Instead of finding ways to express those feelings to the world, we might start to take this pain and anger out on ourselves.

We might self-harm because we have learnt that in order to be accepted or loved we have to be 'perfect'. When we don't live up to this 'perfect' image we can feel like a 'failure'. The constant guilt, or worry about disappointing people, can make us feel like we need to punish ourselves for not being 'good enough'. If this resonates with you, you're not alone. With the right support, you can stop feeling this way, and learn to love yourself for who you are.

Sometimes people make comments about self-harm being attention-seeking. Comments like this can be hurtful and make you feel judged, alone or misunderstood. Those who self-harm actually often keep this private. However, if you do self-harm as a way of bringing attention to yourself, remember that there is nothing wrong with wanting people to notice you more and wanting to have your feelings taken seriously. You deserve to feel loved by those around you and you deserve support.

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Artwork credit: @ohhappydani

An illustration of six arms all of different skin tones. On each arm reads the word 'worthy'.

Overall, the most important thing which I hope everyone knows is you don't have to go through this alone.

I was only 14 when I started to self-harm. I was never intending to hurt myself. I was doing it for the sense of relief it provided. I felt like the only way I could function and leave my room was if I had that release.

Ways to keep yourself safe now

It's really important to keep yourself as safe as possible and reduce your risk of serious self-injury. Even though you want to stop self-harming, you might not feel able to stop straight away. Sometimes it can take time to find new ways to cope, and that's normal.

If you are unable to stop self-harming right now, make sure you are at least doing it as safely as possible. This means using sterile equipment, keeping your wounds clean, and avoiding mixing drugs and alcohol with other forms of self-harm. You can also call Samaritans at any time - whether you're thinking about self-harm or have already harmed yourself.
If you are in an emergency or worried for your life you should call 999 or go to A&E.

Things you can do to help

There are also lots of things you can do in the moment to help you not self-harm.

When you feel the urge to self-harm building, you could try to:

go for a walk or do some gentle exercise

distract yourself by focusing on your breathing

text a friend and let them know you need them to help you take your mind off things

play music and sing or dance along

hold an ice cube

write down your thoughts

hit a cushion or pillow

tear up a magazine or newspaper

make a self-soothe box

go to a public place like a park or a cafe

You might find the TIPP technique helps to stop your urge to self-harm.

This video explains how to use the TIPP technique to help you feel calmer.

Ways to keep yourself safe in the long term

There are also a number of ways to help yourself in the long term and support your recovery journey.

Talking about self-harm can feel difficult. It is understandable that you might feel nervous to talk to someone, feel like you'll be judged or feel you won't be understood. But talking about how you're feeling with someone you trust can help you to get the right support.

Try talking to someone you feel comfortable and safe with, like a friend or family member. If you don't feel like you can talk to friends or family, you could talk to someone in your wider community, such as a teacher, a school counsellor/nurse, a faith leader or a youth worker. Think about who you would feel most comfortable communicating with and how, whether it's face to face, over the phone, by text or email.

In some communities it can feel more difficult to reach out for help because of certain stigmas around mental health. If you reach out for help and the person you talk to does not react the way you hoped, remember that this reaction is about them, not you. Don't let their reaction discourage you from reaching out again. If you don't feel like you can reach out to someone you know, remember that there are still lots of people who can help. You may prefer to get support from a professional, a helpline or through a charity. Take a look at our list of organisations that can help, and don't struggle on your own.

Speaking to a professional about self-harm can feel scary, but it's often an important step to recovery. You may be worried that you'll be misunderstood or judged, but there are lots of trained people that you can talk to who understand and really care. That's because they speak to lots of young people who are going through this too. They are there to listen and support you.

It is helpful to tell the GP exactly what you are doing and what your worries are. If you need medical treatment for injuries, do make sure you get it. Don't be afraid or embarrassed to go to your GP or hospital for this - they are there to help you get better and it is not their job to judge you.

Your GP will listen and discuss the best options to support you. They might offer you an assessment with a local community mental health team, or if you are under 18, they can refer you to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for an assessment. These assessments are so they can help you to find the right treatment, such as counselling or talking therapy, where you can talk with a trained mental health professional about what you are feeling and ways you can cope.

The types of talking therapy you might be offered include:

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - a type of therapy that focuses on how your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes affect your feelings and actions

dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) - a type of CBT adapted specifically for people who experience emotions very intensely

mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) - a type of therapy that focuses on helping you to make sense of your own and other people's thoughts, feelings and actions

Find out more about counselling and therapy in our guide.

Sometimes the first person you speak to won't help, but that doesn't make your feelings invalid. If you are finding it hard to get the right support from your GP, you may find it helpful to turn to other support, such as your school nurse or a specialist organisation such as Samaritans. For more tips and advice getting the right support from your GP, including information about your rights as a patient, visit our guide on how to speak to your GP about mental health.

Journaling can be a helpful way to let out your emotions. It can also help you to recognise what is bothering you and any patterns in what triggers you or causes you to feel bad.

Take a few minutes every day to write down how you are feeling. If you don't like writing, try doodling, drawing or recording a voice note. Remember this is just a way to express yourself - there's no right or wrong way to do this and nobody has to see it but you.

If you want to, you could show your journal to any mental health professionals who are supporting you, to help them understand what you are going through.

Sometimes just making small changes to your daily routine can help improve your mood. Consider trying some of these changes:

Make sure you get enough sleep and stay hydrated - staying physically healthy can help you to feel happier.

Take time out when you need to - this could be going for a walk, doing some drawing or relaxing however you like to.

Think of three things you are proud of each day - you could do this when you first wake up or just before you go to sleep.

Be as kind to yourself as you would be to your best friend - think about the advice and support you would give someone else if you heard they were struggling.

The internet can be a helpful space for those who self-harm. It offers a lot of information, advice and support. You may also find that it's easier to speak openly about your feelings through social media, rather than face-to-face. However, there is also a lot of content about self-harm on the internet that can be distressing or make you feel worse. We also know that those who have peers that self-harm are more likely to self-harm themselves. Think about how your use of social media is affecting your mood and what content is best for you. Make sure to only follow accounts that make you feel positive and safe.

Some people find it really helpful to create a 'safety plan' that they can use when the urge to self-harm is really strong. This can include whatever you think would be helpful, but generally it includes ideas of what you can do to distract yourself, who you can speak to, and what else you can do to keep yourself safe. Papyrus have a useful guide to creating a safety plan, which might help if you'd like to create your own. Although the focus of their guide is for suicidal feelings, you can use it for self-harm as well.

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Artwork credit: @crazyheadcomics

An image of a bendy road titled 'the road to recovery'. Text along the road reads: 'start', 'progress', 'hope', 'relapse', 'second attempt', 'setback', 'growth', 'change', 'calm'.

If you have self-harmed by cutting or wounding yourself in some way, you are likely to have scars on your body from this. You may find that you have a number of emotions and feelings associated with these scars, such as guilt, regret or difficulties accepting your body image. This can be particularly difficult if you are experiencing stigma around your self-harm.

For advice on how to manage stigma around self-harm within your community, take a look at Louisa's blog.

If you're really struggling with the scars left on your body, you may be able to find treatment that can help. You can find information about scar treatments on the NHS website. Scars will look different for everyone depending on skin tone, where the scar is and the type of wound that caused the scar, and this will lead to different treatment options. Not everyone will want to do this and that is completely okay - it is your body and you should only do what feels comfortable for you.

It can be really difficult if you know a friend or loved one is self-harming. It's hard to see someone you love hurting themself in that way, and it can be difficult to know how best to support them.

Just being there and letting them know they're not alone can be very helpful, but it's also important to remember that you may not be able to help them on your own.

Remember there is always support available.

Recognising the signs and symptoms of self-harm

There are lots of different ways that someone might self-harm and this can make it difficult to spot the signs. Your loved one is likely to be in both physical and emotional pain during this time. Here are some signs to look out for.

If your loved one is self-harming by cutting or wounding themself, you may be able to notice some physical signs. This could include:

keeping their body fully covered all the time, even when it is hot, like wearing long sleeves to conceal scars (this is only a sign of self-harm if they do not normally wear long sleeves or clothes that cover the whole body)

having cuts, bruises or burn marks on their body that are unexplained

unexplained scarring on their skin

unexplained blood stains on clothing or tissues

any signs that they are pulling out their hair, for example hair loss or large clumps of hair lying around

Self-harm takes lots of different forms, not just physically hurting yourself. So it's important to also be aware of the emotional signs. These might include:

becoming very withdrawn and talking less than usual to others

unusual changes in mood, such as feeling low, teary or demotivated

making suicidal comments e.g. talking about not wanting to go on

expressing feelings of self-blame, hopelessness or failure

Supporting a loved one with self-harm now
If a friend or family member has self-harmed and has injuries that need medical attention, you should take them to A&E to seek medical help.
The most important thing you can do to support someone is be there to listen. Talking about self-harm is difficult, but having that conversation can help your loved one take the first step to recovery.

Take a look at our tips below for having a sensitive conversation.

Supporting a loved one with self-harm in the long term

Here are some tips on how you can give ongoing support to someone in your life who is self-harming.

Recovery can only happen when your loved one takes steps towards this for themself. You can't force someone to get better. It can be very difficult to see someone you love struggle with self-harm, but letting them be in control of their decisions will support their recovery in the long term. But remember you should always get them medical attention if needed.

You may find it helpful to develop a 'safety plan' with your loved one. This is a tool you can use to help communicate with each other and keep your loved one safe. Samaritans have advice on this as well as a safety plan template you can use.

Speaking to a GP about self-harm may be a scary thought for your loved one, but encouraging them to do this is important so they get the right support. If they really don't want to talk to a GP, there are also lots of charity services and helplines that can help.

This page was reviewed in June 2023. It was co-created by young people with lived experience of self-harm. We will next review the page in 2026. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
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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Self-harm | Advice for young people | Get help

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Self-harm is when you intentionally harm yourself as a way of dealing with difficult feelings or experiences. Find out about self-harm and how to get help.

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Compass Phoenix (North Yorkshire) - Compass

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The aim of Compass Phoenix is to improve outcomes for children and young people in relation to their emotional wellbeing and mental health.

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Support for young people's mental health in York. Understanding mental health services and honest options. Chat chit podcast and guidance

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Are you feeling distressed, frightened, overwhelmed, or that things are too much for you?
Don't know where to turn to get mental health support?
Are your usual sources of support closed for the night?

Phone: 07483 141 310.
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6pm-10pm and Saturday-Sunday 2pm -10pm.
Address: 30 Clarence Street, York, YO31 7EW (Opposite the Union Terrace Coach Park, next to York St. John University)

Calls and emails will be monitored by staff during Safe Haven opening hours. You may call and leave a message, or send an email, at any other time of day, and these will be picked up and responded to as soon as possible during opening hours.

What can you expect from us:

This is a walk-in service - there's no need to be referred by your GP or Care Coordinator. The Haven @ 30 Clarence Street offers a welcoming, safe, comfortable, non-judgmental and non-clinical environment. At the Haven, we will be able to provide information and emotional support if you are in crisis or feel you are heading towards a crisis situation.

You can come just for a chat, or you can access one-to-one emotional support from trained mental health professionals. We also offer virtual support via video call.

We also offer help in creating staying well and crisis plans, and support visitors to access other services and organisations that may be useful to them.

We work closely with GPs, Community Mental Health Teams, Crisis Teams, A&E Mental Health Liaison Teams, Police and Ambulance Services, Street Triage, and other front-line healthcare professionals to ensure that people in emotional distress have a safe, supportive Haven to go to, with appropriate mental health support available.

People using The Haven will also be supported by our 24/7 helpline, which offers access to emotional support and information even when The Haven is closed.

Who is this service for?

Anyone aged 16 and over who is experiencing a mental health crisis, is in distress, or their carers, can come to The Haven - you don't need a formal referral or appointment.

Please note: York Safe Haven is not suitable for people needing urgent medical attention (for example, after self-harm) - for urgent medical care please attend your nearest A&E or call 999.
Please also be aware that, for the safety and wellbeing of others using the service, York Safe Haven cannot accept people who are very intoxicated, aggressive or abusive.

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The Safe Haven offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 16+ in the York and Selby area.

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If you're affected by mental health in any way, it's important to know the facts. We're here to help.

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Find out more about emotional health and how we can support you.

What is Emotional Health?

Emotional health is about the way we think and feel, and the ability to manage our feelings and deal with difficulties. Having good emotional health is not the same thing as being happy all the time.

Everyone experiences difficult feelings from time to time, and often we don't know what to do to help us get back on track.

How we can help you

Anyone can contact Samaritans, no matter how old you are. Find out more about how to contact a Samaritan.

Other sources of support

If you're looking for specific advice or support for a particular problem, it may be useful to talk to different organisations. You can find a list of helpful organisations here.

Have you been affected by a suspected suicide?

Suicide is a tragedy. The loss of a life through suicide has a ripple effect on everyone that had a connection with the person who has died - even if you didn't know them very well.

It's important to know that there's no right or wrong way of feeling.

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Everyone experiences difficult feelings from time to time, and often we don't know what to do to help us get back on track.

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Get help - free, 24/7, confidential mental health text support service

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Feeling anxious, stressed, or need support? Shout is free, confidential and available 24/7. Text SHOUT to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer.

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Just as your body can become unwell, your mind can become unwell too. And just like with physical illnesses, treatment and support is available. Use our guides to find out more about different mental health conditions, how to cope with your feelings and what support is available to you.

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Mental Health Conditions | Signs and Symptoms | YoungMinds

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Use our guides to find out more about different mental health conditions, how to cope with your feelings and what support is available to you.

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Self-care is about the things we can do to look after our own mental health. Young people told us that when they are struggling they are usually told to see a professional. They don't often get much advice about how they could help themselves.

We spoke to professionals and looked at academic research. Then we drew up a list of strategies young people use (you can see the process in this self-care infographic). We also published a report following a consultation with young people and their families online.

We're sharing these strategies with you to help you to manage your wellbeing. It's up to you to decide what helps. If it works, keep doing it. If it doesn't, stop and try something else. And you can help us build an evidence-base for these activities by letting us know what works by clicking on the 'Did this activity help your mental wellbeing' button on each page. This will help us decide which ones to research further. We've also created a booklet to help you create your own self-care plan as part of our and another booklet with advice for young parents and carers on looking after their wellbeing.

These activities are not a substitute for seeing a mental health professional. Sometimes we need outside help and advice. Getting help is good. No-one should feel bad about it. That's what this site is about.

This self-care section was developed by Common Room and young people from mental health support group Hearts & Minds.

These strategies were identified by young people aged 11-25 though some strategies might not be appropriate for all ages without support or guidance of a trusted adult.

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Resources to enable the prioritisation of mental health and wellbeing

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

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Mental Health Support for Young People | The Mix

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Struggling with your mental health? The Mix offers youth-led advice, real-life stories, and expert support on anxiety, depression, stress, and more.

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akt – providing safe homes & better futures for young lgbtq+ people

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24% of 16-25 year olds experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ+. We provide vital services to support LGBTQ+ young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.

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A national voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay, bisexual and Trans sons and daughters

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We'd love to show you how your support is helping LGBTQ+ people everywhere to thrive. We need your consent to keep you up to date with our campaigns and events, and what you can do to help make life better for LGBTQ+ people.

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At Stonewall, we stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full.

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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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Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone,
by email and through Instant Messaging.
Find out more here.

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Guns and knives can cause serious injury or even death. People who carry guns or knives may not ever plan to use them or hurt anyone. But they may find themselves in a situation that gets out of control.

Someone might want to carry one because they:

are scared and worried about their safety or the safety of friends

want to show off and scare people

want respect from other people

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Gun and knife crime isn't as common as some people think. But it does happen, guns and knives can affect everyone. Not just people in gangs.

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Please give details of the crime or incident

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Carrying a knife doesn’t protect you, it increases your risk of being hurt

It’s never too late to make a safer choice

If you’re scared, there are safe adults who can help you

Speaking up can save lives, including your own

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Click4Assistance UK Live Chat Software

© 2023. Missing People | Registered charity in England and Wales (1020419) and in Scotland (SC047419).

All rights reserved. The words Runaway Helpline are registered trademarks of Missing People Ltd.

Runaway Helpline is a service for 11-17 year olds run by the charity Missing People

a: PO Box 28908, London, SW14 7ZU

t: 020 8392 4590 e: supporters@missingpeople.org.uk

These phone and email details are not 24/7. If you are looking for support please call 116 000 or email 116000@runawayhelpline.org.uk.
Privacy, policies and terms of use

It looks like you're accessing this website from outside the United Kingdom.

The Runaway Helpline can only provide services to children and young people within the United Kingdom, and information and advice on this site relates to the UK only.

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We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent.

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Whatever you tell us at Runaway Helpline we'll listen and offer support. Not judge or tell you what to do. It's your call.

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For urgent support if you’re experiencing homelessness or advice to help prevent you becoming homelessness

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Resources and support for coping with break ups, relationships, grief and loss.

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Explore Kooth - All kinds of articles, stories and content to help you through tough times

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Transform your relationship problems. Try Kooth now -

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If you could use some help with relationship problems, Kooth is here for you. Our range of support options can really help

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Relationships can have an extremely positive impact on our lives - support, trust and love are some of the best parts of a healthy relationship. However, from personal experience, establishing a healthy relationship isn't always easy, and unhealthy relationships can have a negative impact on our mental health.

I hope that I can share some advice to support anybody who may be struggling with the challenges of dating.

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Tips for Dating and Building Healthy Relationships

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Laura, 24, shares her dating tips on looking after your mental health, feeling confident in yourself, and coping with the pressure to be in a relationship.

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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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Sex and Relationships Advice for Young People | The Mix

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Explore honest, youth-led advice on sex, relationships, consent, dating, and break-ups. No judgment—just real talk to help you make informed choices.

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Sexual Health & Wellbeing - Brook - Fighting for healthy lives

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Brook is the only national charity to offer both clinical sexual health services, education & wellbeing services for young people, plus training & support for professionals.

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Are you aged 25-64 years old and due your Cervical smear?

People are eligible for cervical screening if they have a cervix, and are aged between 25 and 64. It is important that you are registered with a GP and you should have received a letter inviting you to book a cervical screening test. If it has been longer than 3 years since your last test, You know you are overdue, or you are between the ages of 25 and 64, have a cervix and have never had a test then you can book an appointment with your GP practice or sexual health service.
Appointments are available at most of our sexual health services across York and North Yorkshire. (Monkgate York, Selby Hospital, The Mulberry Unit, Northway in Scarborough, Malton Hospital, Sexual Health at Harewood Medical practice and Mowbray House GP practice in Northallerton)
See our latest news feature for more detail. You can contact our booking line on 01904 721111

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Are you aged 25-64 years old and due your Cervical smear? People are eligible for cervical screening if they have a cervix, and are aged between 25 and 64. It is important that you are registered with a GP and you should have received a letter inviting you to book a cervical screening test.

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Galop works with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK

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Homophobic and transphobic bullying can include:

making comments about your gender or sexuality that deliberately make you uncomfortable

calling you names or teasing you

hitting, punching or hurting you

making sexual comments or asking you sexual questions

ignoring you or excluding you

making comments about you online.

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Homophobic and transphobic bullying can include: making comments about your gender or sexuality that deliberately make you uncomfortable calling you names or teasing you hitting, punching or hurting you making sexual comments or asking you sexual questions ignoring you or excluding you making comments about you online.

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True Vision is is a police-funded web site designed to provide you with information about Hate Crime.

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Report in Anti-Muslim Hate or Islamophobia

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Tell MAMA supports victims of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate. You can report in anti-Muslim hate to Tell MAMA & we will provide casework, one to one, emotional support & legal referrals.

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Need help after crime?

Get in touch anytime for independent, free, and confidential advice:

In an emergency you should always call 999.

Our services are confidential. We will only share information about you without your consent if we're concerned about your, or someone else's safety, or if we're required to by law. Read our privacy policy.

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Victim Support is the independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.

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Young People’s Resource Hub - Stop Hate UK

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Welcome to the Young People’s Online Hate Resource Hub At Stop Hate UK we recognise the impact that online hate can have on individuals and communities. We work to reduce it and create a better online environment by increasing understanding of how and why it is important to know the harmful effects…

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It's illegal to treat people differently because of their race or culture. If it happens to you, remember - no one has the right to make you feel bad or abuse you for who you are.

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What you can do

1. Tell someone what's happening. This could be your teacher or your manager at work. They can help to make changes or support you.

2. Follow policies or guidelines. Your school or employer have a duty to protect you from. discrimination. Find out about their discrimination policy so that you can report what's happened.

3. Keep a record. Messages, videos or a diary of what's been happening can help when telling an adult or be used as evidence.

4. Keep telling. You may have to speak out more than once about what's happening. It's okay to tell someone else if you don't feel it's being taken seriously.

5. Tell the police. If you feel threatened or a crime has been committed you can speak to the police on 999 in an emergency or 101 at other times.

This is crime which includes prejudice or discrimination. You might be assaulted or have your belongings damaged. Hate crime is where the person focuses on your:

disability

race or ethnicity

religion or beliefs

sexual orientation

gender identity.

It's still a hate crime if someone makes an assumption about your identity. For example, if someone does something because they think you're Muslim.

Hate crime can happen online, in the street, at school, college, work or at home. You might feel frightened, threatened or angry about the abuse. Remember, hate crime is wrong and is never your fault. If you think you may be the victim of hate crime you can report it to the police on 999 in an emergency and 101 at other times.

Facts about hate crime

Race hate crime includes all countries within the UK.

Refugees and asylum seekers can get support if they experience hate crime.

Both majority and minority groups are covered by the law.

There can be an increase in racially or religiously aggravated crimes after incidents like terrorist attacks. Remember, the police are there to protect you.

People can get a longer sentence for hate motivated crime.

A stereotype is an idea or assumption about a group of people. Stereotypes are not based on fact. Instead, stereotypes are based on opinions or feelings. Stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination.

Stereotypes are often negative and assume everyone in a certain group is the same or acts the same way. All groups are made up of people who have different personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

Being treated differently because of a stereotype, like someone assuming your sexuality based on the clothes you wear, is a type of discrimination. Even when the assumption isn't true it's still discrimination. Discrimination can also happen through someone you know, like not being able to access a shop with a family member who is disabled.

Everyone makes assumptions and your views are influenced by the opinions of your family, friends, community and the media. The opinions you hear a lot can have a big effect on what you believe and you might not question them.

You may not be aware of the assumptions that you make. Try listening to other views by talking to people outside of your social group at school or college, talking on the message boards or searching for information online that you wouldn't normally look for.

Prejudice is having a biased or unfair opinion about a group of people which isn't based on fact. Prejudice could be against a certain ethnicity, young or old people, men, women, people with religious beliefs, people who don't have a religion, or people with a disability.

A person who doesn't want a certain group of people living near them is showing prejudice.

Sometimes bullying includes discrimination, like if someone picks on you because of your race or sexuality. Sometimes people discriminate without realising what they're doing, like making racist jokes or calling someone insulting names. Whether it's done on purpose or not, bullying and discrimination is always wrong.

Harassment is behaviour which frightens you and causes you distress or alarm. You might experience unwanted phone calls, broken windows or online abuse and feel humiliated, offended or threatened.

You can be harassed by a stranger or by someone you know. There needs to be 2 or more incidents by the same person or group of people to be classed as harassment.

If you think you're being harassed because of your disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation, you can report it to the police as a hate crime.

Watch: Women's Rights ft. Candysomething

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What you can do Tell someone what's happening. This could be your teacher or your manager at work. They can help to make changes or support you. Follow policies or guidelines. Your school or employer have a duty to protect you from. discrimination. Find out about their discrimination policy so that you can report what's happened.

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Professional help

friendly staff

Need to talk? Whatever's on your mind, we can help. Even if you just need someone who understands or want advice for a friend.

The teams we work with help lots of people like teenagers in schools, parents of young children and mums with new born babies.

Health professionals

start messaging

Set-up a messaging service and support more people, more easily with the resources you already have.

You'll start conversations earlier, stop problems escalating and make connections where it's hard to reach.

I thought it would be awkward or embarrassing but it's actually not. Thanks for helping. ANONYMOUS USER

Happy with the quick and professional response and that my worries are being addressed and taken seriously. YOUNG PERSON, YEAR 10

I was struggling so much today but having someone at the end of a text that's willing to help is great. FIRST TIME PARENT

hello

I love being part of this service!
It's a valuable addition. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

It's a great tool to provide a service to our client group in an accessible way. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

We are excited to have this opportunity to engage with the young people in our area. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

Parents are enjoying having this as an additional way to access advice. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

We've had contacts from young people that would not have contacted us before. STAFF FEEDBACK

hello

Young people can 'park' a question, even out-of-hours, knowing it will be responded to appropriately. STAFF FEEDBACK

Confidential

and anonymous

It can be easier to say something difficult in a discrete message. Your conversation will be confidential, if a health professional is very concerned you're in danger, they may involve other services to help keep you safe.

Trusted

safe and secure

We work with teams across the UK so you will get help from health professionals near you. Staff share secure electronic records of conversations so you never have to repeat yourself and all teams follow strict confidentiality rules.

Convenient

helping everyone

Health professionals say setting-up a messaging service is a safe and manageable way for small teams to speak directly with lots of people. Messaging helps provide support at a time that suits everyone.

Need to talk?

how it works

We'll confirm receipt of your message immediately then you'll speak to a health professional who will listen, ask questions and support you. You only have to share what you feel comfortable with and you can ask questions too.

Most teams reply during normal office hours. If you message out-of-hours they'll reply when they're next in. You should always hear back from someone within 24 working hours at most.

If you need help in the meantime contact your doctor, visit a NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. If it is an emergency, dial 999 or visit A&E.

Your network provider will charge your usual rate for messages you send.

Start a chat

Health teams

set-up a service

We've been helping clinical teams set-up healthcare messaging services since 2012. As an NHS team we understand how to support you all the way. We will help you take the quickest route to setting-up a safe, secure and successful service so you can stay focused on providing high quality care.

"You have a great enthusiastic team of professional, experienced, supportive people"Zoe Warren, Professional Lead, School Nursing, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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Need to talk? Whatever's on your mind, we can help. Even if you just need someone who understands or want advice for a friend. The teams we work with help lots of people like teenagers in schools, parents of young children and mums with new born babies.

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Our children and young people's wellbeing resources aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health & wellbeing. These pages have been co-produced by young people to help other young people.

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Our children and young people's wellbeing resources aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health & wellbeing. These pages have been co-produced by young people to help other young people.

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I’m a young person - The Go-To | Mental Health in North Yorkshire

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As a young person, life can be challenging. If you need help, we have collected everything you might need to navigate this time better.

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The Raise York website is designed to support parents, carers, children, young people and anyone who works with children, young people and families.

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The importance of friendships for your mental health

Friends can help you with your mental health in lots of different ways. They might check in with how you are feeling, or simply make you laugh with the best TikToks. They might also help you by:

When friends help and support you, they can boost your self-esteem, make you feel good, and remind you that you are loved for who you are. They can help you to look after your mental health.

Advice from young people like you

Our Activists and other young people like you, share how their friends have helped them with their mental health.

Talking to friends about mental health

Talking to a friend about your mental health is one of the first steps on the road to feeling better. But sometimes, this can feel quite scary. You might not know what to say, or you might be nervous about sharing how you are feeling. That's okay! Here are some tips that can help:

Pick a good time when you won't get interrupted and find a quiet space to chat.

Explain how you are feeling.

Be clear about what you want shared. You may not want other friends to know yet, and that's okay. Let your friend know that you are not ready to share with others. However, if your friend is worried that you aren't safe, they will need to tell a trusted adult.

Remember: Good friends will want to be there for you so you don't have to struggle alone. For more tips, have a look at our page on reaching out for help.

It is normal to feel nervous or uncomfortable when it comes to talking about your mental health. This can make you feel like it is not something you want to do, but talking about your mental health with the people you trust is often the first step to feeling better.

If you are struggling with a friendship

Throughout our lives, we might struggle with our friendships. We might argue with friends, no longer speak to friends we were once close to, or we might lose some friendships. You might struggle with a friend because:

one of you moves away, making it difficult to keep in touch

your friend makes new friends that you do not feel comfortable around

you might be left out of the friendship group

you meet new friends and aren't able to spend as much time with your old friend as you used to

one of you might be struggling with your mental health, meaning that you/your friend might be withdrawn and not keeping in touch as much

your friend might not understand how you are feeling or what you are going through - this can make it difficult to chat to your friends, or make it feel like they aren't taking your feelings seriously

you are making the effort to see your friend and stay in touch but they aren't making the effort back

they often ask you for advice and it feels like a lot of responsibility that you are struggling to manage

We might have arguments with friends, and sometimes fall out, but often you can get through those difficult moments together. You or your friend may not have realised how each other were feeling or understood what either of you were going through.

By talking things through and explaining how you both feel, you can both learn to better understand how you can support each other. Overcoming these tough times together can sometimes help make your friendship stronger.

Coping with the loss of a friendship

In some situations, however, your friendship might come to an end. You may have tried to work through an argument and it hasn't worked out, or they may have not been very nice to you.

Friendships can come to a natural end too. There might not be a specific reason, but you might no longer keep in touch. Sometimes people grow apart and that's okay.

When friendships come to an end, it can be really tough. Friends are there through the highs and lows - they can be like our chosen family, meaning that it can feel tough to move on - but things can get better over time.

If someone close to you passes away, it can be extremely difficult. Jacob shares how he coped with the death of his best friend and Nia shares advice on how she coped with losing a friendship.

If you have lost a friend, our page has advice if you're finding it hard to cope.

When I lost my best friend to suicide at 16 years old, I had panic attacks and walked out of lessons at college, flooded in oceans of guilt and upset.

I went from being a very hard-working media student to not caring. I became very distant and didn't put much effort into my work.

I reached out to my GP who was very useful in supporting me. I found a counsellor, which has been a lifesaver for me in getting me back on my feet and learning how to manage my grief while keeping the memories of my friend alive.

Jacob's story: Coping with the death of my best friend

Over the years of hurting and healing, I have unfortunately learnt that there is no magic cure for dealing with the loss of a friendship. You can't ambush a heart into healing or speeding up the process, but the days get less painful and in my experience, you will come through the other side.

Take time for yourself. Don't try and replace them. Learn what it was that you valued in that friendship. Figure out what it is that you feel like you are missing without them. This will help you to look for it in future.

Cherish those friends who are currently around you, hold onto the memories you've made and trust the process.

Nia's story: How to cope with the loss of a friendship

Tips and advice from our Activists

Our Activists share their tips on what to do if you're struggling with a friendship.

Understanding when a friendship is unhealthy

While occasional arguments or disagreements can be normal between friends, there are times when friendships can become unhealthy and affect you in a negative way. This can be things like:

your friends pressuring you to do something you feel uncomfortable with, like taking drugs or drinking alcohol

when jokes or banter become hurtful and disrespectful

you are constantly arguing and falling out

they continue to ask you for help when you have told them you are unable to

they make you feel guilty

they make you feel uncomfortable when spending time with different friends and make you feel like you have to choose between them

they bully you

the friendship feels 'one-sided', where they ask a lot of you but you don't feel like they support you in return

they isolate you from a group on purpose, making you feel lonely

Sometimes, friends might do these things unintentionally or without realising, or they might continue to do them after you've asked them to stop. Ultimately, it's about how you feel about the friendship.

Show/hide caption

Artwork by @thetypewriterdaily. An open sketchbook shows a drawing that represents releasing what isn't for you. The left-hand page shows a hand releasing grey colours from its palm. The right-hand page shows a hand receiving a rainbow into its palm. The text reads, 'release what isn't for you so you can receive what is - Mansi.'

If you're finding a friendship difficult

If you're finding a friendship difficult, you might want to talk to that friend about how they have been treating you. You might be nervous about talking to them, or worried about how they will react. Childline have some tips on how you can talk to your friend and be assertive to explain how you feel.

If your friend is constantly asking you for help but you're not sure what to say, it can make you feel stressed or anxious. Our page on how to support a friend with their mental health has tips on how you can set boundaries and look after your mental health, which you may find helpful.

When a friendship becomes unhealthy, it can impact other areas of your life and how you think and feel. It can make you feel down or anxious, or might lower your self-esteem and how you feel around other people. If you feel like this, it's important that you are able to get help. Even when you disagree with friends, you still deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

You are confused, the world seems scary, and it feels like everyone else fits in and you don't. As if they all have the rule book to life which you forgot to pick up.

Right now, fitting in seems so, so important. But understanding friendships seems impossible and people are just really hard work! Growing up is hard. I know people say this a lot, but it really is true.

I know it feels like nobody gets you - you feel like an outsider looking in. You feel like an alien, born onto the wrong planet and in some ways, I guess you are. But actually, being different isn't a bad thing.

Coping with peer pressure

It's normal for people to compare themselves to their friends and peers, and often the influence of your friends can have a positive role in shaping your identity. Sometimes though, the influence of your friends and peers can be a cause of stress.

If you feel like you're being pressured by friends or peers into doing something that you don't want to do, this is called peer pressure. For example, you might feel pressured to take drugs or drink alcohol, to take dangerous risks when driving, or to have sex before you feel ready. If you are in a situation like this, it's important to say how you feel and that you don't want to take part. If your friends keep trying to get you to take part, speak to a trusted adult about how you are feeling. You need to make sure you are safe, so if you do feel at risk, you should reach out to professional services.

Seek out good friendships

You may worry that by not doing something that your friends are doing, you will be left out, or it will damage your friendship.

But remember, a good friend won't pressure you to do anything you're not comfortable with.

You deserve to have friends that accept your decisions and make you feel as though your feelings are valid.

Below are some tips to help you cope with peer pressure. Rose, 20, also shares her advice in our blog.

Real stories about friendship from young people

Get help now

If you are struggling with a friend and not sure who to talk to, there are people who will help you get through this. Here are some organisations that can provide you with 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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Friends | Tips and Advice about Friendships

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5 facts about FGM:

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Female Genital Mutilation is also called FGM, female circumcision, cutting or sunna is when a girl's external genitals (private parts) are cut away. This is abuse, and it is illegal in the UK.

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FGM and HBV are illegal and a serious violation of your rights. You have the right to live free from harm and fear. Help is available, speak to someone you trust.