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The course this term will run 11 November 2025 to 16 December 2025 at Dunstable Grove View Hub at 10.00-11.30am.

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Parenting workshops for families with children/young people who are neurodiverse

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Parenting workshops for families with children/young people who are neurodiverse

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Children’s Centres (0 - 12 Family Service) | Central Bedfordshire SEND Local Offer

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Children’s Centres offer families with children from 0-12, services that are developed in line with the needs of their local community so no one centre is the same. Children’s Centres work with partners to offer a range of services to meet your child’s needs all…

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CHUMS Workshops for Children and Young People, and Parents/Carers

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CHUMS Workshops for Children and Young People, and Parents/Carers

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CHUMS are offering workshops on a series of topics such as sleep, resilience, behaviour, parental anxiety, self-esteem, exam stress, and mental health and stigma.

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CHUMS - Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Service

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Online Workshops for Parents and Caregivers delivered by CBC CAS

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Online Workshops for Parents and Caregivers delivered by CBC CAS

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Welcome to Beacon House

Beacon House is a specialist, innovative and creative therapeutic service for young people, families and adults. With a special interest in working with individuals of all ages who have experienced trauma and loss, we are passionate about offering safe and effective therapies in a way that enables people to re-build their lives following stress and adversity. We also take pride in supporting individuals and teams to develop their trauma informed practice through training, supervision and consultation.

Our Cuckfield Clinic periodically closes to new child and adult referrals to prevent long waiting times. Please do get in touch with us to find out if we have spaces currently.

We have some specific capacity for child and family referrals at our Chichester Clinic. Please do get in touch with us to find out if we are able to allocate your referral at this time.

Find out more about us

Our Services

How can Beacon House help you?

Educational Psychology

Get In Touch

Get in touch today to find out more.

We have clinics in Cuckfield and in Chichester.

Please note: We are not able to accept any walk-ins. All meetings are by appointment only. Office hours are: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

To ask any questions, please contact us on admin@beaconhouse.org.uk

We use cookies to help improve your experience of this website. By using this website, you agree to accept cookies from this site.

Accept

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Beacon House | Chartered Clinical Psychologist Trauma Specialist

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Childhood Trauma, the Brain, and the Social World

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Childhood Trauma, the Brain, and the Social World

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In this guide, we share some of the latest research looking at how brain changes following trauma can affect a child’s social world. We consider how adults and systems can help build a better social world.

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In this guide, we share some of the latest research looking at how brain changes following trauma can affect a child's social world. We consider how adults and systems can help build a better social world.

Guidebook

Why is the social world key to everyone's mental health?

How trauma can impact a child's social world

Two pathways to mental health problems

The role of the brain in building our social world

What can we do to help children build a more supportive social world?

Deep dive: The importance of trust

FURTHER READING

GLOSSARY

Icon chevron up

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Childhood trauma, the brain and the social world

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A guide to the latest research looking at how brain changes following trauma can affect a child's social world. Suggestions on what to do to help.

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We are a small group of dedicated parents and teachers, many of us with specialist dyslexia training, who offer practical help and guidance to children and adults. We are an independent registered charity, run by volunteers and entirely self funded. We have been providing the services below, for over 30 years.

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We are a small group of dedicated parents and teachers, many of us
with specialist dyslexia training, who offer practical help and
guidance to children and adults. We are an independent registered
charity, run by volunteers and entirely self funded. We have been
providing the services below, for over 30 years.

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Childhood Trauma, the brain and the social world 

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Childhood Trauma, the brain and the social world 

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Please note that specialised services will be under their corresponding sections e.g. Couselling services 

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Please note that specialised services will be under their corresponding sections e.g. Couselling services 

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Straight-talking mental health support for teens and young adults. Real questions, honest answers—no mess, no therapy speak. Learn how to deal with fear, burnout, guilt, people pleasing, self-sabotage and more—one episode at a time.

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Supporting Teen Mental Health | Headstraight Podcast

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Headstraight Podcast explores mental health challenges for teens and young adults, including managing stress, overcoming guilt, and building self-confidence.

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A FREE Family Course In Houghton Regis

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Support Hub - Are you frightened by somebody who you are in a relationship with?

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Support Hub - Are you frightened by somebody who you are in a relationship with?

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Young people experience abuse to.

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How and where to get help in Bedfordshire

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Sleepio - An Evidence-Based app for sleep concerns 

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Sleepio - An Evidence-Based app for sleep concerns 

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iPhone Screenshots

Sleepio is an online sleep improvement programme proven to help you clear your mind, get better sleep, and have better days.

Sleepio isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. It incorporates your unique needs to create a personalised six-week programme that you complete at your own pace. Each session builds on the last, guiding you step-by-step through methods proven to help you quiet your racing mind, reshape your behaviours, and get better sleep - all in about 20 minutes per week.

The programme uses cognitive behavioural techniques that are backed by decades of clinical research, and has undergone more testing than some of the most common sleep medications. In 12 randomized controlled trials with over 13,000 people, Sleepio was proven to help participants fall asleep 54% faster, spend 62% less time awake at night, and have 45% better functioning the next day. You'll have access to all of this clinical evidence from directly within the app.

KEY FEATURES:

- A personalized programme of clinically proven cognitive and behavioural techniques, designed to get your sleep schedule, thoughts, and lifestyle into shape over six tailored sessions.

- A comprehensive onboarding approach with an in-depth questionnaire that shapes your tailored programme experience.

- A Sleep Diary to track your progress and monitor your sleep efficiency as you work towards your sleep goals.

- Instant, bite-sized support through the "Help Me Now" feature to get back on track after a long night or rough morning.

"The most effective, long-term solution for poor sleep is a cognitive and behavioural approach, which addresses the mental and behavioural parts of the individual's sleep pattern," shared Professor Espie. "These approaches help the person to think and behave differently in relation to their sleep, which encourages good sleep to return. Sleepio is a clinically proven digital sleep improvement programme that uses cognitive and behavioural techniques to help users with persistent sleep problems."

Note: In the UK, Sleepio is a CE marked medical device available for the treatment of Insomnia Disorder.

Thank you for using Sleepio. We update our app regularly. This release includes recent bug fixes and performance improvements.

A good app accompanying a good programme

Face to face CBT for insomnia is well established as the most effective way of dealing with chronic insomnia. But it's often expensive and difficult to access.

Sleepio makes it available on line with a quality programme that doesn't cut any corners. This accompanying app is very much fit for purpose.

I'm on my fourth week with Sleepio on the recommendation of my doctor. And I'm really getting to grips with my insomnia after years of totally chaotic sleep. (You don't need a doctor's referral though)

A sleep diary is at the heart of the programme. This app makes it very straight forward to fill in. I've also developed (as part of the programme) a personal schedule that will help me improve my chances of sleeping through the night. That's available too on the app and so is always at my finger tips.

In addition there are a whole range of resources to help with the racing mind and the anxiety that so often goes with insomnia. I'm impressed.

The programme requires commitment and a willingness to let go of old and less good habits. We insomniacs need all the help we can get on our journey. This app helps us on our way. And for me? Well, I'm beginning to get results!

Hi V75jason,

Thank you for the kind words and honest overview of the program! We're so glad to hear you're making progress! If there's anything we can do to assist, please don't hesitate to reach out at hello@sleepio.com. We're always glad to help!

All the best,

The Sleepio Team
hello@sleepio.com

Pleasantly surprised

I decided to do this app before recommending it to clients. I'm not a fan of self help apps but this one is different. It's educational, interactive, and most of all it works. I thought I was an expert on sleep hygiene but it appears not. I've learned lots of new techniques and this app is really improving my sleep. You have to put some work into completing diaries and sessions but you have to put effort into anything worth while. This is the only app I recommend and I recommend it highly.

Hello Crabbitwoman - Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad to hear that the techniques you were introduced to in the program are proving helpful to you. We hope you continue to see improvements in your sleep. If we can ever be of help in the future, please email us at hello@sleepio.com. We're always happy to assist!

Helpful and user friendly

I have found Sleepio App is helpful to steer sleep issues in a more positive direction. In particular it's helped me with challenging negative thoughts and feelings about my sleep. It's easy to keep the sleep diary due to simple format in app.

I look forward to the weekly sessions, hearing feedback on my progress and while there are some obvious factors (like bedroom environment), surprising science backed ideas and techniques that are not so known.

I would like option to have the session available the same day/time each week, but if you access it a bit later, eg Tues pm, the app doesn't give you that option to access before Tues am the following week. I would also prefer if there was a short mid-week check in with assessment, reminders and encouragement.

Recommend employers to support their staff with this app and will help mindset and productivity, as many people have sleep issues either in short or long term. My sleep hours and efficiency have objectively increased in just a few weeks of use, even though I have some physical health reasons for poor sleep.

Hello - Thank you for taking the time to review Sleepio! We're glad to hear that the techniques you were introduced to in the program are proving helpful to you. We hope you continue to see improvements in your sleep. For assistance with your suggestions/preferences, please email us at hello@sleepio.com. We're always happy to help!

The developer, Big Health Ltd, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Age Rating

17+ Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content and Nudity Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References Frequent/Intense Medical/Treatment Information

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‎Sleepio is an online sleep improvement programme proven to help you clear your mind, get better sleep, and have better days. Sleepio isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. It incorporates your unique needs to create a personalised six-week programme that you complete at your own pace. Each session bui...

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THE HUB People often complain there is nothing for young people to do – in Flitwick it’s quite the opposite. As well as the different groups and organisations for young people to get involved with we also have the Youth Hub by Millennium Park. VIEW LOCAL GROUPS The Hub in Dunstable Road is a great […]

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Healthy, unhealthy & toxic relationships

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Gaming is fun but comes with risks – protect yourself. — Everything OK?

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Explore ways that you and your mates can stay safe as you unwind online. Support is also available, to read more visit Everything OK?

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Free stop smoking support

Our friendly and experienced advisors offer free advice and support across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes. We will help you overcome the challenges of quitting smoking. As well as support you to create positive habits. We can also recommend nicotine replacement therapy options to suit your individual needs.

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Free stop smoking support in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes with expert advice, quit aids and flexible options.

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Free stop smoking support

Our friendly and experienced advisors offer free advice and support across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes. We will help you overcome the challenges of quitting smoking. As well as support you to create positive habits. We can also recommend nicotine replacement therapy options to suit your individual needs.

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Free stop smoking support in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes with expert advice, quit aids and flexible options.

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Our services enable children and young people build lifelong coping skills and thrive.

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Supporting children with bespoke interventions BrightPaths

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We build bespoke intervention plans to suit individual circumstances and abilities, including emerging mental health concerns, self-esteem and challenging behaviour.

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SNAP Parent Carer Forum events calendar 

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SNAP Parent Carer Forum events calendar 

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Events Calendar - SNAP PCF - Central Bedfordshire

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SNAP Parent Carer Forum - Central Bedfordshire

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Caudwell Youth supports young people at-risk aged 11 to 24. Through person-centred volunteer mentoring for up to 18 months and our short term intervention program.

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A young person might show they are struggling immediately after a traumatic experience, or those thoughts, feelings and behaviours may emerge over time.

There is no specific list, but some of the things a young person may experience after a trauma are detailed below.

You may notice a change in the patterns of a young person's behaviour, such as doing more or less of something, or this being out of character.

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Understanding trauma and adversity | Resources

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A young person might show they are struggling immediately after a traumatic experience, or those thoughts, feelings and behaviours may emerge over time. There is no specific list, but some of the things a young person may experience after a trauma are detailed below.

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Events Archive - Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS

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We provide free and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers in Bedfordshire.

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Learn from the experts at our free webinar Childhood Trauma, War and Conflict taking place 4th December. Register now!

More than one in three children and young people are exposed to at least one potentially traumatic event by age 18.¹ The right support can make a substantial difference to the extent that traumatic events impact on their lives.

The UK Trauma Council (UKTC) creates evidence-based resources to improve professionals and carers' understanding of the nature and impact of trauma. We aim to better equip all those supporting children and young people exposed to trauma.

¹Reference: Lewis, S. J., Arseneault, L., Caspi, A., Fisher, H. L., Matthews, T., Moffitt, T. E., Odgers, C. L., Stahl, D., Teng, J. Y., & Danese, A. (2019). The epidemiology of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in a representative cohort of young people in England and Wales. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(3), 247-256.

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Creating a world that nurtures and protects children and young people following trauma

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The UK Trauma Council's mission is to radically improve the help children and young people receive across the UK following traumatic events and experiences.

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"Out of Vulnerability...Strength"

Skills training for self-regulation

MINDFULNESS SKILLS

learning to stop, reflect and stay in the moment

increasing a person's self-awareness to help them cope

​

Mindfulness underpins DBT skills and is taught at the start

of each module, rather than being a module in its own right.

INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS SKILLS

* learning how to communicate with people more effectively

* learning to understand personal priorities in problem situations

EMOTION
REGULATION SKILLS

* learning how to understand emotions and how they affect behaviours

* finding ways to feel less emotionally vulnerable and ways to increase helpful and pleasurable emotions

DISTRESS
TOLERANCE SKILLS

* increasing ability to tolerate feelings of distress and to cope more effectively in a crisis

​* learning how to reduce impulsive and self-harming behaviours

OPENING HOURS

Monday - Friday
8.30 am to 3.30 pm

Who is eligible for involvement?

aged 10 - 13 years old

at risk of, or experiencing, social and academic exclusion and/or mental health challenges

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DBT Child Therapy | The Regulation Station (trs) | England

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The RegulationStation addresses and provides tools for young people to manage, Our services include: DBT Self-regulation skills training group 1:1 DBT therapy Group training for parents CPD for Professionals Students: English, Maths, and Life Skills Students: Cognitive/ Attitudinal assessments

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Our vision is of a world where everyone can live free from exploitation

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Link to Change, Supporting Children and Young People around Exploitation

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Your questions answered accurately and without judgement within 24 hours

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cool2talk provides a confidential service. When you use the site you do not have to provide personal information that identifies you.

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I’m thinking about suicide - The OLLIE Foundation

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Your Content Goes Here I’m having thoughts of suicide and am scared of what I will do. Lots of people have moments when they wonder if life is worth living. This is more common that you might realise.
But thoughts are not actions. You can notice them and explore what brought

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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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Information plays an important role in helping people understand and come to terms with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

We're here to educate, offer hope and support people through the difficult times, right through to recovery and everything in between, we are OCD-UK.

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OCD-UK | A national OCD charity, run by, and for people with lived experience of OCD

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Information plays an important role in helping people understand and come to terms with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). We're here to educate, offer hope and support people through the difficult times, right through to recovery and everything in between, we are OCD-UK.

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Wanted Fun is a fortnightly youth club group which provides social opportunities for autistic young people aged 10-17 years accessing mainstream education with lower support needs. Each group has a variety of different activities available depending on the interests of the young people.

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Wanted Fun is a fortnightly youth club group which provides social opportunities for autistic young people aged 10-17 years accessing mainstream education with lower support needs. Each group has a variety of different activities available depending on the interests of the young people.

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Our helpline service is available Monday – Friday 09:00-17:00 for parents, carers and professionals.

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Copyright © Autism Bedfordshire 2019. Charity number: 1100722

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Our helpline service is available Monday – Friday 09:00-17:00 for parents, carers and professionals.

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Copyright © Autism Bedfordshire 2019. Charity number: 1100722

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Events Archive - Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS

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We provide free and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers in Bedfordshire.

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We all want the best for our children, but being a parent is not always easy! Life is often complicated, difficult, and sometimes unfair. We’re here to offer advice in your good times and support when you need it most. Home-Start Bedfordshire runs free courses to help with the challenge of parenting and provides free, confidential and non-judgemental support if you need a hand or when times are hard. See our list of free services and courses for Bedfordshire parents, families, survivors of domestic abuse and schools below.

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Home-Start Bedfordshire offers free, confidential, non-judgemental support and courses for local parents. Visit us now to find out more.

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We all want the best for our children, but being a parent is not always easy! Life is often complicated, difficult, and sometimes unfair. We’re here to offer advice in your good times and support when you need it most. Home-Start Bedfordshire runs free courses to help with the challenge of parenting and provides free, confidential and non-judgemental support if you need a hand or when times are hard. See our list of free services and courses for Bedfordshire parents, families, survivors of domestic abuse and schools below.

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Home-Start Bedfordshire offers free, confidential, non-judgemental support and courses for local parents. Visit us now to find out more.

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We all want the best for our children, but being a parent is not always easy! Life is often complicated, difficult, and sometimes unfair. We’re here to offer advice in your good times and support when you need it most. Home-Start Bedfordshire runs free courses to help with the challenge of parenting and provides free, confidential and non-judgemental support if you need a hand or when times are hard. See our list of free services and courses for Bedfordshire parents, families, survivors of domestic abuse and schools below.

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Home-Start Bedfordshire offers free, confidential, non-judgemental support and courses for local parents. Visit us now to find out more.

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Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council

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Family Fun Events - Children and Teenagers Pages - The Virtual Library

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The Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council Virtual Library

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We all want the best for our children, but being a parent is not always easy! Life is often complicated, difficult, and sometimes unfair. We’re here to offer advice in your good times and support when you need it most. Home-Start Bedfordshire runs free courses to help with the challenge of parenting and provides free, confidential and non-judgemental support if you need a hand or when times are hard. See our list of free services and courses for Bedfordshire parents, families, survivors of domestic abuse and schools below.

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Home-Start Bedfordshire offers free, confidential, non-judgemental support and courses for local parents. Visit us now to find out more.

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We help people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning.

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Skip to content

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"Over the next 50 days, we need to raise £500,000 to ensure we can keep our services running for years to come." Lucy Harmer, CEO

Find out more

How are you feeling today?

Get tailored advice and information

Run, walk, cycle, swim or even roller-skate 149 km in a month and pledge to raise £149 to support grieving people.

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Grief can be overwhelming - you don't have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support is here. Call our helpline or chat online.

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Providing emotional support for families to prepare for the death of a parent.

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Supporting families facing the death of a parent & driving the need for more research into non-smoking lung cancers.

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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

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We're the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and we're uniting the UK against suicide.

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Our helpline is open 5pm - midnight every day. Our helpline staff are here to help you explore how you're feeling.

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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

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Practical information on what you're going through. Our guides cover some of the stuff that can leave you feeling down or like you've hit a wall - like anxiety, breakups, money worries and loads more. Friendly, practical info that can help you find help and move forward.

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If you feel suicidal or are thinking about taking your own life, talk to CALM. We can help you feel better and find a way forward.

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Local children and young people's health services

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Local children and young people's health services

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Home - Bedfordshire Luton Children’s Health

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NHS Bedfordshire and Luton Health Hub, NHS help, advice and information for local families.

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Events Archive - Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS

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We provide free and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers in Bedfordshire.

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Women and Men's Recovery Groups in Luton

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Women and Men's Recovery Groups in Luton

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A guide written by SNAP PCF is designed to support parents and carers of young people with disabilities aged 14 to 25 years as they support their child to navigate their way towards and into adulthood.

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A guide for parent and carers of young people with disabilities aged from 14 to 25 years, as they prepare for and move into adulthood

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Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event 

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Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event 

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The Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS magazine, created by service users

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Some children and young people will not speak in pre-school or school, even though they will happily talk at home. This is referred to as situational mutism, selective mutism or reluctant speakers. 'Selective mutism' is the medical term for the condition. We use the term 'situational mutism' as service users have said they prefer this term.

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Discover strategies to help your child overcome anxiety and become more comfortable with speaking in different settings.

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Self-harm is a term used when someone injures or harms themselves on purpose rather than by accident. Common examples include 'overdosing' (self-poisoning), hitting, cutting or burning oneself, pulling hair or picking skin, or self-strangulation. Self-harm is always a sign of something being seriously wrong.

Unfortunately some young people use self-harm as a way of trying to deal with very difficult feelings that build up inside. This is clearly very serious and can be life threatening. People say different things about why they do it.

Some say that they have been feeling desperate about a problem and don't know where to turn for help. They feel trapped and helpless. Self-injury helps them to feel more in control.

Some people talk of feelings of anger or tension that get bottled up inside, until they feel like exploding. Self-injury helps to relieve the tension that they feel.

Feelings of guilt or shame may also become unbearable. Self-harm is a way of punishing oneself.

Some people try to cope with very upsetting experiences, such as trauma or abuse, by convincing themselves that the upsetting event(s) never happened. These people sometimes feel 'numb' or 'dead'. They say that they feel detached from the world and their bodies, and that self-injury is a way of feeling more connected and alive.

A proportion of young people who self-harm do so because they feel so upset and overwhelmed that they wish to die by suicide. At the time, many people just want their problems to disappear, and have no idea how to get help. They feel as if the only way out is to kill themselves.

An episode of self-harm is most commonly triggered by an argument with a parent or close friend. When family life involves a lot of abuse, neglect or rejection, people are more likely to harm themselves. Young people who are depressed, or have an eating disorder, or another serious mental health problem, are more likely to self-harm. So are people who take illegal drugs or drink too much alcohol.

Many young people who self-harm with a wish to commit suicide also have mental health or personality difficulties; often the suicide attempt follows a stressful event in the young person's life, but in other cases, the young person may not have shown any previous signs of difficulty.

Sometimes the young person is known to have long standing difficulties at school, home or with the police. Some will already be seeing a counsellor, psychiatrist, or social worker. There has been an increase in the suicide rate in young men over recent years.

The risk of suicide is higher if the young person:

is depressed, or has a serious mental illness

is using drugs or alcohol when they are upset

has previously tried to kill themselves, or has planned for a while about how to die without being saved

has a relative or friend who tried to kill themselves.

Notice when the young person seems upset, withdrawn or irritable. Self-injury is often kept secret but there may be clues, such as refusing to wear short sleeves or to take off clothing for sports.

Encourage them to talk about their worries and take them seriously. Show them you care by listening, offer sympathy and understanding, and help them to solve any problems.

Buy blister packs of medicine in small amounts. This helps prevent impulsive overdoses. Getting pills out of a blister pack takes longer than swallowing them straight from a bottle. It may be long enough to make someone stop and think about what they are doing.

Keep medicines locked away.

Get help if family problems or arguments keep upsetting you or the young person.

If a young person has injured themselves, you can help practically by checking to see if injuries (cuts or burns for example) need hospital treatment and if not, by providing them with clean dressings to cover their wounds.

As a parent, it's really hard to cope with a child/young person with self-harming behaviour or who attempts suicide. It's natural to feel angry, frightened or guilty. It may also be difficult to take it seriously or know what to do for the best. Try to keep calm and caring, even if you feel cross or frightened; this will help your child/young person know you can manage their distress and they can come to you for help and support.

This may be difficult if there are a lot of problems or arguments at home. Or, you may simply feel too upset, angry or overwhelmed to effectively help your child/young person. If so, you should seek advice from your GP.

If you are a teacher, it is important to encourage students to let you know if one of their friends is in trouble, upset, or shows signs of harming themselves. Friends often worry about betraying a confidence and you may need to explain that self-harm is very serious and can be life threatening. For this reason, it should never be kept secret.

Everyone who has taken an overdose, or tried to kill themselves, needs an urgent assessment by a doctor as soon as possible even if they look OK.

Usually, this means an examination at the nearest Emergency Department (also known as A&E). If you are unsure whether the young person was suicidal or not, it is best to act cautiously and take them to hospital. With overdose, the harmful effects can sometimes be delayed, and treatment with medication may be needed. Paracetamol is the most common medicine taken as an overdose in Britain. It can cause serious liver damage, and each year this leads to many deaths. Even small overdoses can sometimes be fatal.

If the young person is self harming by cutting themselves or other ways, it is still important that they have help. Do speak to your GP who can refer you to your local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

All young people who attend hospital following attempting suicide or harming themselves should also have a specialist mental health assessment before leaving.

It is often difficult to work out what prompted the young person to self-harm or whether they actually wished to attempt suicide or not; mental health professionals have the expertise to make sense of these complicated situations.

It is usual for parents or carers to be involved in the assessment and any treatment. This makes it easier to understand the background to what has happened, and to work out together whether more help is needed.

Assessments in Emergency Departments (also known as A&E) which include a short 'talking therapy' session have been shown to help young people come back for ongoing help and support. A lot of young people self-harm or make another suicide attempt if they do not receive the help they need.

Usually, treatment for self-harm and attempted suicide, other than any immediate physical treatment, will involve individual or family 'talking therapy' work for a small number of sessions. They will need help with how to cope with the very difficult feelings that cause self-harm.

Clear plans on how to help and how to keep the young person safe will also be made. Some people who find it very difficult to stop self-harming behaviour in the short term will need help to think of less harmful ways of managing their distress.

Families often need help in working out how to make sure that the dangerous behaviour doesn't happen again, and how to give the support that is needed. This is something your local CAMHS should have on offer.

If depression or another serious mental health problem is part of the problem, it will need treatment. Some young people who self-harm may have suffered particularly damaging and traumatic experiences in their past. A very small number of young people who try to kill themselves really do still want to die. These two groups may need specialist help over a longer period of time.

I've always been the tallest girl in my class and my so-called friends regularly bitch about me behind my back and bully me. I hate being different, but the harder I try to fit in, the more they reject me.

My parents are divorced and I lived for many years with my mother but it was my grandmother who really looked after me. My mother was always busy at work or with her friends or boyfriend; she travelled a lot. I never felt that she was really there for me. My father remarried to a much younger woman who hated me and I hated her - I still do.

A couple of years ago, I was changing for PE and noticed that one of my friends has bright red lines all the way down her arms; she usually wore long sleeved tops, even in the summer, so I had never noticed them before. I was shocked and she confided in me that she regularly cut herself. I couldn't understand why - she had everything, rich parents and wonderful holidays all over the world. She told me that her parents were never around and that she spent a lot of her time by herself. She felt that when she cut herself, she got rid of the pain and the loneliness.

I am now sixteen and have been regularly cutting myself for more than a year. I hide the knife or the scissors under the mattress and when my mother goes to bed, I cut my arms and the top of my thighs. Some days are worse than others, particularly when I get upset.

My mother noticed the marks on my body and took me to the GP who put me on antidepressants, but I never took them. I am now seeing a psychotherapist. I go every week, but I still have a lot of things to sort out and it's taking time. I'm not doing it so often, only when I feel very stressed. I know it's dangerous, but it's a very difficult thing to stop doing.

Childline - Provides a free and confidential telephone service for children. Helpline: 0800 1111.

National Self-Harm Network - UK charity offering support, advice and advocacy services to people affected by self harm directly or in a care role.

The Samaritans - Provide a 24-hour service offering confidential emotional support to anyone who is in crisis. Helpline 08457 909090 (UK), 1850 609090 (ROI); e-mail: jo@samaritans.org

YoungMinds - Provides information and advice on child mental health issue and a Parents'Helpline:0800 802 5544.

Further reading

Understanding NICE guidance: There are versions of all guidance for patients, carers and the public and they summarise, in plain English, the recommendations that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence makes to health and other professionals.

References

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: CG16 Self Harm: NICE Guideline (2004).

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: CG133 Self-harm: Longer term management): of Self Harm: NICE Guideline 2011.

Hawton K, Harriss L. Deliberate self harm in young people: characteristics and subsequent mortality in a 20 year cohort of patients presenting to hospital. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry2007 68:1574-83

Ougrin D et al. Trial of therapeutic assessment in London: randomised controlled trial of Therapeutic Assessment versus standard psychosocial assessment in adolescents presenting with self-harm. Archives of disease in childhood 2011 96 148-153

Credits

Revised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Child and Family Public Education Editorial Board.

Series Editor: Dr Vasu Balaguru

With grateful thanks to Dr Vasu Balaguru and Dr Mona Freeman.

This information reflects the best possible evidence at the time of writing.

About this information

This information reflects the best available evidence at the time of writing. This mental health information for young people was written in 2015.
© 2015 Royal College of Psychiatrists

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Self-harm for parents | Royal College of Psychiatrists

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Self-harm is a term used when someone injures or harms themselves on purpose rather than by accident. Common examples include 'overdosing' (self-poisoning), hitting, cutting or burning oneself, pulling hair or picking skin, or self-strangulation. Self-harm is always a sign of something being seriously wrong.

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A website by students, for students

One in four of us will experience some kind of mental health problem in our lifetime. 1 in 10 will experience depression, or anxiety with depression, in any one year. This statistic holds true for students and young people, who are at even greater risk than the general population. Depression is one of the biggest dangers facing young people today – suicide is the biggest killer of young men under 35 in the UK.

Students Against Depression is a website offering advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking. Alongside clinically-validated information and resources it presents the experiences, strategies and advice of students themselves – after all, who better to speak to their peers about how depression can be overcome?

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The Students Against Depression - Students Against Depression

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Students Against Depression provides you with a calm environment and the resources to help you find a way forward - a website offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.

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The Students Against Depression - Students Against Depression

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Spectrum Gaming is an autistic-led UK based charity that supports autistic young people. We aim to create a world where every autistic young person knows that who they are is ok and they can be themselves, whilst still developing meaningful relationships and achieving their personal goals.

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We do this by providing spaces where they feel safe and accepted, amongst others with similar shared lived experiences, and opportunities to explore who they are.

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We want all autistic young people to have the strength and confidence to find their place in the world that works for them. In many cases this means influencing wider strategic changes to create an environment that is more understanding and equitable.

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Spectrum Gaming is an online community for autistic young people. The aims of Spectrum Gaming are to enable autistic young people to develop meaningful friendships; to help them understand and develop a positive perspective of their differences; and to advocate for the needs of autistic young people

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Pathological Demand Avoidance part of the Autism Spectrum

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Support for families near to Milton Keynes

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WHAT WE DO Rainbow Groups Memory Boxes Therapeutic Mentoring Various group types: structured, peer, youth and young adults.Offered to every bereaved child registering with us.Available to any adult or child within the family home. Also to staff and volunteers. Rainbow Retreat Trips Rainbow Tools Short breaks including contribution towards food and fuel.Annual Christmas and summer

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Self-harm information for parents and carers

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Self-harm information for parents and carers

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Five ways to better wellbeing for families

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Five ways to better wellbeing for families

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Ideas and inspiration on how to make better mental health part of your families conversation.

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We are SAMH, Scottish Action for Mental Health

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Revising for and sitting exams can be a stressful time, but remember it’s normal to feel a little bit of stress.

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Understanding and managing stress and anxiety

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A guide for young people

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Create a digital care plan (16 - 25 years)

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Create a digital care plan (16 - 25 years)

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We all have mental health. And just like our physical health, we need to look after it. By engaging in self-care we can help our mental health and wellbeing.

Our Digital Self-Care Plan is tool designed by young people, for young people to guide us.

Create your personalised self-care plan today and take proactive steps to looking after your mental health and wellbeing.

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What is a Digital Self-Care Plan?

We all have mental health. And just like our physical health, we need to look after it. By engaging in self-care we can help our mental health and wellbeing.

Our Digital Self-Care Plan is tool designed by young people, for young people to guide us.

Create your personalised self-care plan today and take proactive steps to looking after your mental health and wellbeing.

"It has been so cool to be part of the design and coproduction of this which could be used in my school to help other young people." Expert Panel Member

Your self-care journey in four steps

Register: Sign up and register to start your self-care journey.

Explore: This self-care plan has been designed by young people, for young people. The plan includes tools to help us better understand self-care, and to help us create our own digital self-care plan.

Engage: While anyone over the age of 16 can use the plan, the plan was designed specifically for 16 to 24-year-olds.

Practise: The plan is completely free of charge, and we encourage you to use the tools and resources as much as you would like. If you find it useful, why not share with your friends or family?

Thank you to the young people expert group panel and to the young people at Toonspeak for helping us to design and develop this Digital Self-Care Plan.

We would also like to thank our charity partner Co-op for funding the creation of this plan.

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What is a Digital Self-Care Plan? We all have mental health. And just like our physical health, we need to look after it. By engaging in self-care we can help our mental health and wellbeing. Our Digital Self-Care Plan is tool designed by young people, for young people to guide us.

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NHS Norfolk and Suffolk parent workshop videos 

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NHS Norfolk and Suffolk parent workshop videos 

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Our Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time. Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube.

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SELF-HARM | 12 ways to get through the next minute when you feel the urge to self-harm

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SELF-HARM | 12 ways to get through the next minute when you feel the urge to self-harm

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BlueIce is an evidence-based app to help young people manage their emotions and to reduce urges to self-harm. It includes a mood diary, toolbox of evidence based techniques to reduce distress and automatic routing to emergency numbers if urges to harm continue.

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‎BlueIce provides a personalized toolbox of strategies based on evidence based treatments for adolescents and young adults who self-harm. The app is password protected, available 24/7, with any data entered by the user being saved on their phone. No data is transmitted or stored elsewhere or is monit…

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BlueIce is an evidence-based app to help young people manage their emotions and to reduce urges to self-harm. It includes a mood diary, toolbox of evidence based techniques to reduce distress and automatic routing to emergency numbers if urges to harm continue.

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A self-help app for adolescents and young adults who self-harm

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Improve and maintain your psychological health with our ‘How Am I’ toolkit. The toolkit contains a range of help within four zones (Red, Yellow, Green and Blue) which relate to the way you are feeling right now – your ‘emotional temperature’.

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South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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How Am I? - South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Improve and maintain your psychological health with our ‘How Am I’ toolkit. The toolkit contains a range of help within four zones (Red, Yellow, Green and Blue) which relate to the way you are feeling right now – your ‘emotional temperature’.

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How Am I?

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This information booklet for children is suitable for primary aged children.  Pip the rabbit will help guide them through what might be behind some of their worries about school.

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Training Courses and Workshops for Parents and Carers

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Training Courses and Workshops for Parents and Carers

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Training Courses and Workshops for Parents and Carers | Central Bedfordshire SEND Local Offer

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Parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) sometimes need additional support and advice through online training or workshops. Usually this training is free through charities or support services, where they tend to focus on specific SEND needs,…

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Emotional Based School Avoidance podcasts and videos

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Emotional Based School Avoidance podcasts and videos

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Emotional Based School Avoidance Archives | Nip in the Bud

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Events Archive - Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS

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We provide free and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers in Bedfordshire.

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Did something sexual happen to you without your consent? Or you're not sure?

No matter when or where it happened, we are here for you – at any time of the day or night.

❗ Please note that this service is for people aged 16+ only.

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We are a service for anyone aged 16+ in England and Wales who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other form of sexual violence - at any point in their life.

This includes people who have experienced sexual violence or abuse themselves, as well as their friends, family or anyone else who is trying to support them.

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We are a service for anyone aged 16+ in England and Wales who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other form of sexual violence - at any point in their life.