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NHS advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

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NHS advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

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Whether you want to understand more about how you're feeling and find ways to feel better, or you want to support someone who's struggling, Young Minds can help.

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Very Well Health information regarding cosmetic procedures

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Cosmetic surgery, like any type of surgery, is not without risks. Plastic surgery procedures can result in complications ranging from an unattractive or unnatural final result to scarring or even death.

Many people mistakenly assume that elective (optional) procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, aren't as serious as other types of surgery. But all surgeries, even simple dental procedures, present the possibility of serious complications. In addition to the general risks of surgery, there's always the possibility of issues arising due to anesthesia.

Risks of Plastic Surgery

Poor Cosmetic Outcome: This may be the greatest fear of a plastic surgery patient: a result that not only fails to improve appearance but actually makes one's appearance worse than before the surgery.

Scarring: One of the greatest risks to achieving an attractive outcome, scarring is not always predictable, but can be controlled in most cases. Patients can decrease the risk of scarring by not smoking, eating well after surgery and following the surgeon's directions during recovery.​

Nerve Damage or Numbness: In some cases, nerves may be damaged or severed during any surgical procedure. The result is more obvious, however, if it is a facial nerve. When those nerves are injured, the outcome can be the inability to make facial expressions or drooping of the eyes (ptosis) or mouth.

Infection: All surgeries carry a risk of infection. Proper wound care and frequent hand washing can minimize or prevent an infection.

Hematoma: A hematoma is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel. A hematoma can develop after surgery; this typically results in an area being swollen and bruised in appearance, with a pocket of blood beneath. In some cases, this is minor, but a hematoma can be large enough to cause pain and even decrease blood flow through the area. In the case of a large hematoma, the surgeon may choose to remove some of the collected blood with a syringe or other similar method.

Necrosis: Tissue death can be caused by surgery or by issues that arise after the procedure. In most cases, necrosis is minor or completely absent, and normal wound healing removes any dead tissue from the incision area.

Bleeding: As with any surgical procedure, bleeding can and will occur. Bleeding becomes an issue when it is excessive, or continues after the wound should have healed. Post-surgery bleeding can be a sign that the patient is being too active too soon after the procedure.

Death: Every surgery has a risk of death. While that risk may be less than 1% it's possible for death to occur during the most minor of surgeries.

Seroma: A seroma is similar to a hematoma: it's a collection of lymphatic fluid around the site of injury. In a seroma, clear fluid builds up in a pocket near the surgical site. If a large amount of fluid accumulates, the surgeon may choose to reduce the pocket by removing the fluid with a syringe. Seromas are common with more invasive cosmetic procedures, such as a tummy tuck.

Blood Clots: A blood clot is a common risk of many procedures, not just cosmetic surgeries. The most common type is a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot that develops in the leg. Most DVTs require medical attention but are not life-threatening unless the clot begins to move through the veins toward the heart and lungs. A clot that moves to the lungs is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately.

Reducing the Risk

With any surgery, the patient has the ability to reduce the risk of complications. The best way to reduce the risk of a bad outcome is to choose a board-certified surgeon who performs the procedure frequently. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, are extremely important before surgery, as non-smokers heal faster and have less scarring. Some plastic surgeons will not perform surgery on current smokers because the final outcome may not be as good. In addition, eating a healthy diet before and after the procedure can speed healing and improve wound closure, which also minimizes scarring.

By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN
Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine.

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Understanding the Risks of Plastic Surgery

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Every surgery has risks, including cosmetic and plastic surgery. Learn more about the risks of having plastic surgery.

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Information for young people about confidence and self-esteem, what can affect you, and tips to help you feel better about yourself.

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Example

When Matt's self-esteem was low, he didn't feel like he was clever and he worried about the way he looked. He stopped trying in Maths lessons, as he thought he'd never be any good at Maths. He also stopped wearing clothes he liked, because he thought no-one would be interested in him.

Matt then found a couple of new friends who dressed how he liked to. When he told them he was struggling with Maths, they offered to help him with any problems he was stuck on.

Now Matt dresses how he wants, and feels good about it. He also finds it easier to keep trying in Maths lessons, even when he's finding things difficult.

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Example When Matt's self-esteem was low, he didn't feel like he was clever and he worried about the way he looked. He stopped trying in Maths lessons, as he thought he'd never be any good at Maths. He also stopped wearing clothes he liked, because he thought no-one would be interested in him.

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Very Well Mind resources to support self care, build resilience and self confidence

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Confidence is a feeling of trust in your abilities, qualities, and judgment. The American Psychological Association defines self-confidence as "a belief that one is capable of successfully meeting the demands of a task."

It can refer to a general sense of trust in your ability to control your life, or it might be more situation specific. For example, you might have high self-confidence in a particular area of expertise but feel less confident in other areas. Research suggests that confidence is important to health and psychological well-being.

Having a healthy level of self-confidence can help you become more successful in your personal and professional life. Research has found, for example, that more confident people tend to achieve more academically. Your level of confidence even affects how you present yourself to others.

Ways to Be More Confident

Fortunately, there are several ways you can increase your self-confidence. Whether you lack confidence in one specific area or struggle to feel confident about anything, these nine tips can help you be more confident.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Do you compare how you look to people you follow on Instagram? Or maybe you compare your salary to what your friend earns. Social comparison theory explains that making comparisons is natural. But it isn't likely to help boost your self-confidence. It may even have the opposite effect.

A 2018 study published in Personality and Individual Differences found a direct link between envy and the way we feel about ourselves. Specifically, researchers noted that when people compare themselves to others, they experience envy. And the more envy they have, the worse they feel about themselves.

How do you build self-confidence when you notice that you are drawing comparisons? First, remind yourself that doing so isn't helpful. Everyone is running their own race and life isn't a competition.

If you're feeling envious of someone else's life, it's also helpful to remember your own strengths and successes. Keep a gratitude journal to better recall the areas in life where you are blessed. This can help you focus on your own life versus focusing on the lives of others.

Surround Yourself With Positive People

Take a moment and think about how your friends make you feel. Do they lift you up, or do they bring you down? Are they constantly judging you, or do they accept you for who you are?

The people you spend time with can influence your thoughts and attitudes about yourself, perhaps more than you realize. So, pay attention to how others make you feel. If you feel bad about yourself after hanging out with a particular person, it may be time to say goodbye.

Instead, surround yourself with people who love you and want the best for you. Seek out others who are positive and can help build your confidence. Self-confidence and a positive attitude go hand-in-hand.

Take Care of Your Body

This tip for how to be more confident is based on the idea that it's hard to feel good about yourself if you're abusing your body. When you practice self-care, you know you're doing something positive for your mind, body, and spirit-and you'll naturally feel more confident as a result.

Here are a few self-care practices linked to higher levels of self-confidence:

Diet: Healthy eating comes with many benefits, including higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. When you fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods, you feel healthier, stronger, and more energized, which can result in feeling better about yourself.

Exercise: Studies consistently show that physical exercise boosts self-confidence. For instance, a 2016 study found that regular physical activity improved participants' body image. And when their body image improved, they felt more confident.

Meditation:More than just a relaxation practice, meditation can help boost self-confidence in several ways. For one, it helps you to recognize and accept yourself. Meditation also teaches you to stop negative self-talk and disconnect from unhelpful mental chatter interfering with your confidence.

Sleep: Skimping on sleep can take a toll on your emotions. Conversely, good-quality sleep has been linked with positive personality traits, including optimism and self-esteem.

Be Kind to Yourself

Self-compassion involves treating yourself with kindness when you make a mistake, fail, or experience a setback. It allows you to become more emotionally flexible and helps you better navigate challenging emotions, enhancing your connection to yourself and others.

A 2015 study connects self-compassion with self-confidence. So the next time you're in a challenging situation, recognize that being imperfect or falling short at times is a part of being human. Do your best to navigate these experiences with compassion toward yourself.

Practice Positive Self-Talk

Negative self-talk can limit your abilities and lessen your self-confidence by convincing your subconscious that you "can't handle" something or that it is "too hard" and you "shouldn't even try." Self-talk that is optimistic, on the other hand, can foster self-compassion and help you overcome self-doubt and take on new challenges.

The next time you begin to think that you have no business speaking up in a meeting or that you are too out of shape to work out, remind yourself that your thoughts aren't always accurate. Then find a way to turn those thoughts around into more positive self-talk.

Here are a few examples of ways to challenge pessimistic self-talk and reframe your thoughts into a more positive way of thinking, increasing your self-confidence along the way:

"I can't handle this" or "This is impossible" becomes "I can do this" or "All I have to do is try."

"I can't do anything right" becomes "I can do better next time" or "At least I learned something."

"I hate public speaking" becomes "I don't like public speaking" and "Everyone has strengths and weaknesses."

Face Your Fears

Stop putting things off until you feel more self-confident-like asking someone on a date or applying for a promotion. One of the best ways to build your confidence in these situations is by facing your fears head-on.

Practice facing some of your fears that stem from a lack of self-confidence. If you're afraid you'll embarrass yourself or think that you're going to mess up, try anyway. A little self-doubt can even help improve performance. Tell yourself it's just an experiment and see what happens.

You might learn that being a little anxious or making a few mistakes isn't as bad as you thought. And each time you move forward, you gain more confidence in yourself. In the end, this can help prevent you from taking risks that will result in major negative consequences.

Do Things You're Good At

What happens when you do things that you are good at? Your self-confidence starts to soar. Your strengths become even stronger, which helps improve your belief in yourself. Taking this approach also has another benefit: it can increase how satisfied you are with your life.

One study found that believing in your ability to build on your personal strengths is moderately related to life satisfaction levels. This starts with identifying what those strengths are. Then, work to make them stronger by engaging with them regularly.

If you're good at a certain sport, for instance, make it a point to train or play at least once a week. If you're good at a particular task at work, try to do that task more often. Building on your strengths can also help you build your self-confidence.

Know When to Say No

While doing things you're good at can give your self-confidence a boost, it's equally important to recognize situations that can cause your confidence to plummet. Maybe you find that every time you participate in a certain activity, you feel worse about yourself instead of better.

Saying no to activities that tend to zap your self-confidence is okay. Certainly, you don't want to avoid doing anything that makes you feel uncomfortable because discomfort is often part of the personal growth process. At the same time, there's nothing wrong with knowing your boundaries and sticking to them.

Setting social and emotional boundaries enables you to feel safer psychologically. It can also help you feel more in control. Self-confidence is, in part, feeling like you have control over your life. Boundaries help establish this feeling of control.

The next time someone suggests doing something that you know will lower your self-confidence, respectfully decline. You don't have to avoid that activity forever either. Once you learn how to be more confident, you may feel strong enough to try it again-without hurting the confidence you have in yourself.

Set Realistic Goals

Pursuing your goals often involves failing several times until you figure out what works. This can make you wonder if you have what it takes to succeed. It can also leave you questioning how to be more confident while still achieving your dreams. The answer lies in setting realistic goals.

Setting high-reaching goals and failing to achieve them has been found to damage confidence levels. Conversely, realistic goals are achievable. And the more you achieve your goals, the greater your confidence in yourself and your abilities.

To set realistic goals, write down what you want to achieve. Next, ask yourself what chance you have of attaining it. (Be honest!) If the answer is slim to none, the goal may be a bit too lofty. Dial it back so it is more realistic and more achievable.

This may require doing a bit of research on your part. For instance, if you have a goal to lose weight, experts recommend losing one to two pounds per week for healthy, long-term weight loss. Knowing this helps you set a goal in line with this guideline, boosting your self-confidence when you hit it.

Press Play for Advice on Confidence

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Confidence vs. Insecurity

When learning how to be more confident, it can be helpful to understand how someone with self-confidence is different from someone who is more insecure. Here are just some of the differences between the two.

Benefits of Confidence

Being confident in yourself just feels good. That said, having self-confidence can also bring many additional benefits at home, at work, and within your relationships. Here's a look at a few of the positive effects of learning how to be confident:

Better performance: Rather than waste time and energy worrying that you aren't good enough, you can devote your energy to your efforts. Ultimately, you'll perform better when you have more self-confidence.

Healthier relationships: Having self-confidence not only impacts how you feel about yourself, but it helps you better understand and love others. It also gives you the strength to walk away from a relationship if you're not getting what you want or deserve.

Openness to try new things: When you believe in yourself, you're more willing to try new things. Whether you apply for a promotion or sign up for a cooking class, putting yourself out there is a lot easier when you have confidence in yourself and your abilities.

Resilience: Believing in yourself can enhance your resilience or ability to bounce back from any challenges or adversities you face in life.

Recap

A Word From Verywell

Everyone struggles with confidence issues at one time or another. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to boost self-confidence. In many cases, learning how to act confident can actually help you feel more confident.

Sometimes low self-confidence is a sign of a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. If your self-confidence interferes with your work, social life, or education, consider talking to a mental health professional. A therapist can help you better understand the issue, recommend treatment, and work with you to develop skills to build your self-confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How to Be More Confident: 9 Tips That Work

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Confidence is important for mental well-being and can boost resilience and motivation while lowering anxiety. Here are nine tips for how to be more confident.

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Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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Information and Support on a variety of topics. Childline are available to offer support online, on the phone, anytime.

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

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

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Self Care and developing confidence - BBC Bitesize

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Self Care and developing confidence - BBC Bitesize

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Helpful advice in addition to a short film, where coaches give their tips on how to up your self-care and self-confidence game.

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You should always tell someone about the things you're worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you're doing.

If you're in need of in-the-moment support you can contact , where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on BBC Action Line .

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You should always tell someone about the things you're worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help.

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The National Careers Service provides careers information, advice and guidance. They can help you to make decisions on learning, training and work at all stages in your career.

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Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

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The National Careers Service can help you with your career, learning and training choices. Find out more about us and the different ways we can support you. This service is available to people who live in England.

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Access your personalised account and keep your careers journey up to date.

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Everything you need, in one place.

Our platform helps students with the whole progression process - from exploring their interests, to recording the great things they've done, to finding education and training opportunities, to drafting their applications.

Unifrog also helps teachers and counselors to manage the process - from delivering engaging lessons using our off-the-shelf teaching resources, to tracking careers interactions, to drafting References, to submitting applications.
More about International schools More about UK schools + colleges

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We help students compare every opportunity, then apply successfully. We also empower teachers and counselors to manage the progression process effectively.

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Excellent links to a range of resources for further guidance and support.

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Careers advice | Who else can help | The Prince's Trust

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Our courses will equip you with the skills and confidence you need to get into work. If you're looking for some extra careers advice, check out these useful organisations.

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Covering different types of qualifications, access routes and providers, this is a great resource to help with understand what is available.

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Careerpilot : Plan your future work & study

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The Mix is here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to them via their online community, on social, through their free, confidential helpline or their counselling service.

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Essential support for under 25s

The Mix is the UK's leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you're facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via our online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or our counselling service.

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The Mix. Registered charity number: 1048995

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Welcome to The Mix, the online guide to life for young people in the UK.

Your Voices is a community-focused section of The Mix where you can share stories about your experiences on a specific issue. Upload your own videos, images, blog posts, and playlists to Your Voices and share them with your friends.

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The Mix - Essential support for under 25s

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The Mix: 0808 808 4994 - Free information and support for under 25s in the UK. Get advice about sex, relationships, drugs, mental health, money & jobs.

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Provides information, help, and support and options for young people thinking of running away or already away.

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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.
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Provides support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.

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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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Free and confidential support and information to help people cope with the effects of crime.

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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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Refuge - Domestic Abuse Helpline and Support 

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Refuge - Domestic Abuse Helpline and Support 

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Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds
Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline 'Transcript'

[Background music plays]

Soft down beat music

[Animated sequence]

Animation in hand-drawn style showing a woman in a house standing behind a man on a sofa. The woman looks worried and the man appears angry, a speech bubble comes out of the man's mouth.

[Text displays]

!*!!*!!

[Female voice over]

I was walking on eggshells around my partner didn't know where to turn.

[Animated sequence]

The door in the background slams shut. We zoom in on it and it turns into a smart mobile phone in the women's hand. The phone displays the details of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline Number and a green phone icon. Her finger hovers over the phone icon.

[Text displays]

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

[Female voice over]

I'd read about refuges National Domestic Abuse Helpline, but I was hesitant to call.

[Animated sequence]

The scene transitions to the woman sitting on a couch to the left of the screen, and another woman, the Helpline adviser, sitting on the right on a computer. They are facing each other. The screen is split into two different backgrounds with a window in the background that crosses over both.

[Female voice over]

The woman I spoke to really understood my situation though, it was such a relief just to talk.

[Animated sequence]

The woman begins to smile. The blinds in the window open up to show a sun and both rooms become brighter.

[Animated sequence]

Scene transitions to a top down view of the Helpline worker writing on lined paper.

[Female voice over]

I was reassured that it was a confidential and non-judgmental service run by a charity.

[Text displays]

Confidential

Non-judgemental

[Female voice over]

She said I could ring at any time, even if I just wanted to talk about what I was going through

[Text displays]

Any time

Just talk

[Female voice over]

It's free and open 24 hours a day.

[Text displays]

Free

24 hours

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show a group of five women of mixed races and ages including the Helpline adviser from the earlier scene.

[Female voice over]

It was comforting to know that the helpline is staffed by an all female team of experts,

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show smart mobile phone showing an animation of the live chat page on nationaldahelpline.org.uk. The women's finger begins to type.

[Female voice over]

and that I can also contact them using live chat.

[Sound effect]

Keys tapping

[Animated sequence]

The phone fades away and four framed picture swing into view. They show four women of various ages and races, one of who is pictured with a child, including the women from the first scene.

[Female voice over]

I was told that the helpline is open to any woman who is afraid of her partner,

[Sound effect]

Glass cracking

[Animated sequence]

The glass in one of the picture frames cracks

[Text displays]

[Female voice over]

whether you're being physically abused or not

[Animated sequence]

The picture of the woman from the first scene is zoomed in on. She picks up her mobile phone as the frame turns into a circle. Another circular frame, showing the Helpline adviser, comes into view and begins to merge with the woman's frame. The woman and the Helpline worker turn to face each other and hold hands.

[Female voice over]

The Helpline advisor helped me realise I'm not alone and reassured me it wasn't my fault.

[Text displays]

I'm not alone

[Animated sequence]

Scene scrolls across to show the woman looking in a mirror and hugging herself. She begins to smile.

[Female voice over]

That was really empowering and I began to believe in myself again.

She made me feel like I had choices.

[Background music plays]

Music becomes more upbeat

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms in on mirror until the frame is not visible. The background transitions to show a countryside scene with rolling hills, trees and butterflies. The woman lifts a hot drink to take a sip and closes her eyes.

[Female voice over]

From that moment on, I could see a life free from violence and fear.

That phone call was the beginning of the rest of my life.

[Animated sequence]

The woman opens her eyes and looks up.

[Animated sequence]

Scene fades to show black text on a white background below the Refuge pink and black logo.

[Text displays]

Refuge's Freephone, 24 hour, National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Call us on 0808 2000 247
Or visit wwww.nationaldahelpline.org.uk for information and support, including our live chat and secure online contact form.

We know our lines are often busy but we really want to hear from you.

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Home | Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline

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Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

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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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Let's talk about gambling

BigDeal is a place for young people to find information and support related to gambling, either for themselves or for someone they care about.

I need to talk to someone

How we can help right now

Are you worried about your gambling?

Are you worried about someone you know?

Are you a parent or professional?

At BigDeal, we help young people like you find out more about gambling and gaming, so everyone can make their own decisions and stay safe. If you are worried about your gambling, or have concerns about someone you care about, we can help.

Find out more about gambling

Resources for parents & professionals

BigDeal also offers support to parents and training to those who work with young people, such as teachers, youth workers and social workers. Visit our parents' and professionals' hub for information on how gambling-related harm can affect young people.

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Let's talk about gambling BigDeal is a place for young people to find information and support related to gambling, either for themselves or for someone they care about. I need to talk to someone At BigDeal, we help young people like you find out more about gambling and gaming, so everyone can make their own decisions and stay safe.

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GamCare’s Young People’s Service can support anyone aged 18 and under across the UK who is either ‘at risk’ of or experiencing harms because of gambling. This can be if they are gambling themselves, or if they are affected by someone else’s gambling.

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GamCare recognises that gambling can be harmful to both physical and mental health, and can also have a variety of impacts for family members and friends which extend far beyond financial concerns.

For young people who are affected, this could mean a detrimental impact on their education, their home life, and beyond.
GamCare's Young People's Service can support anyone aged 18 and under across the UK (including Northern Ireland) who is either 'at risk' of or experiencing harms because of gambling. This can be if they are gambling themselves, or if they are affected by someone else's gambling.
Our service is free, flexible and confidential, and will ensure that each young person receives the most appropriate support for them. We can provide a menu of options for young people so they can find the right support at the right time, including:

Information, advice and guidance through our National Gambling Helpline (over the phone or via live chat)

Brief or Extended Brief Interventions (this can be just one call, or a series of calls to check in on how they are doing)

Self-help tools

Structured Interventions tailored to the young person's needs

We will ensure:

we listen to and understand the needs of every young person who is worried about gambling

young people are directed to the most appropriate support to suit their needs

each young person is at the centre of their support plan

we work collaboratively with family members and other support networks wherever possible

we signpost and refer to other services as needed, and we work alongside other agencies supporting each young person

Young people, and anyone worried about a young person and gambling, can get in touch:

via the National Gambling Helpline - 24 hours a day on Freephone 0808 80 20 133, or via live chat - this can be accessed here, or via our dedicated website for young people, parents and teachers at BigDeal.org.uk

by emailing [email protected] (we aim to respond by the next working day)

by calling 020 3902 6964

through the brief referral form below

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Young People's Support Service - GamCare

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GamCare's Young People's Service can support anyone aged 18 and under across the UK (including Northern Ireland) who is either 'at risk' of or experiencing harms because of gambling. This can be if they are gambling themselves, or if they are affected by someone else's gambling.

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Switchboard - LGBTQ+ Support and Helpline

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Switchboard - LGBTQ+ Support and Helpline

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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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News, events and support for the LGBTQ+ community

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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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CALM stand together with everyone who’s struggling with life, no matter who they are, where they’re from or what they’re going through. They do it through life-saving services, national campaigns, and by building communities to help prevent suicide.

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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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Free support, advice and educational resources on money matters.

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MoneyHelper joins up money and pensions guidance to make it quicker and easier to find the right help. MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.

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Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government | MoneyHelper

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Free, impartial information on money, pensions, benefits and more. Get government-backed guidance, tools and calculators at MoneyHelper, incl Pension Wise.

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Free and Confidential sexual health and wellbeing advice

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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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The internet is a fantastic resource for playing, sharing, and learning. But if you find yourself spending a lot of time online, or thinking about it when you could be doing fun 'real world' things, maybe it's time to back off a bit. There's a whole world out there. It's about striking a balance.

For information about organisations which can offer more advice on a range of issues, check out the Don't Panic page.

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The internet is a fantastic resource for playing, sharing, and learning. But if you find yourself spending a lot of time online, or thinking about it when you could be doing fun 'real world' things, maybe it's time to back off a bit. There's a whole world out there.

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Online safety issues - advice to support children| Internet Matters

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Advice and support on a range of internet safety issues including cyber bullying, fake news, online grooming, privacy and radicalisation.

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Get advice on a range of harmful online safety issues such as cyberullying and grooming to keep children safe online and give them a safer experience.

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Advice, information and resources for 11-18 year olds as you enjoy the online world.

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Skip to content

Guidance and handy tips to help young people navigate and enjoy the online world

Get help

Find help for specific concerns including reporting, responding to disclosures and safeguarding queries.
Need help?

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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In The Childnet Hub for young people aged 11-18 you'll find top tips, competitions, blogs andadvice to help you to use the internet safely, responsibly and positively.

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Report online sexual abuse and get support and advice on internet safety including relationships and socialising safely.

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If you are under 18, report online sexual abuse to one of our Child Protection Advisors at the CEOP Safety Centre.
Report now
If you're over 18, call 101 to speak to your local police.

If you're ever in immediate harm or danger:

Call the police on 999 straight away

Tell an adult you trust who will be able to support you through a difficult time

The Mix is a charity that provides free information and support for under 25s.
www.themix.org.uk
Use their crisis messenger by texting THEMIX to 85258.

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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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NHS Scotland resilience resources

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Youth Wellbeing Directory - Online Directory (Anna Freud)

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Youth Wellbeing Directory - Online Directory (Anna Freud)

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Provides details of over 1,300 free mental health services across the UK who offer support to children and young people up to the age of 25. The site can be searched by location, topic or name of service.

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The Youth Wellbeing Directory provides a list of free local and national organisations for anyone up to the age of 25, along with important information you may find helpful.

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Kooth - Online Mental Health for Central Bedfordshire Schools

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Kooth - Online Mental Health for Central Bedfordshire Schools

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Kooth, a new online counselling and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people, in partnership with other local authorities and the NHS. The service is provided by XenZone, an online mental health pioneer.

Kooth is available for young people aged 11-19 living in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Children and young people can chat online to professional counsellors, read articles written by young people, join forums to receive peer-to-peer support, access self-help materials and keep a daily journal.

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

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Navigating exam season resources - Place2Be

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Coping with exam stress

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Exam season can be a challenging time for young people. Many feel stressed in the lead-up to their exams and worried in anticipation of their results.

As adults, it can be difficult to know what we can do to support children and young people during this time. We've created some tip sheets full of practical advice to help young people, schools and families manage stress during exam season.

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Every £1 spent on Place2Be support for primary school children generates £8 in benefits to society

Place2Be's counselling service generates £8 in benefits for every £1 spent, according to a new study by Pro Bono Economics.

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Navigating exam season resources - Place2Be

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Exam season can be a challenging time for young people. Many feel stressed in the lead-up to their exams and worried in anticipation of their results. As adults, it can be difficult to know what we can do to support children and young people during this time.

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Place2Be Improving children's mental health

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Place2Be Improving children's mental health

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Young people can also text P2B to 85258 to speak to one of Shout’s trained volunteers who provide support to students who may have emotional or mental health concerns about themselves or someone else.

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Place2Be is a children and young people's mental health charity with almost 30 years' experience working with pupils, families and staff in UK schools.

We provide mental health support in schools through one-to-one and group counselling using tried and tested methods backed by research. In addition, we also offer expert training and professional qualifications.

Why it's important

1 in 5

children and young people have a probable mental health condition, and many continue to have these problems into adulthood.

50%

of those with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14.

1 in 10
boys aged 5-19 with a mental health condition are suspended in some form from school.

Find out more about our work

How we help

Mental health support in schools

Our in-school mental health service supports the wellbeing of pupils, families and staff.
Find out more

Our mental health services in schools

We provide mental health services in schools that contribute to a whole-school approach to mental health.
Find out more

Counselling training and placements

Gain experience and skills with our child counselling training and placements.
Find out more

Place2Be is part of our school family. It is more than an office, more than a therapy room and more than a collection of counsellors.

Glyn Ellis - Headteacher, Haslingden Primary School

My daughter had become a different person - one we didn't recognise - but since counselling we see signs of our old loving daughter coming back.

Parent

If you have problems or worries you get a chance to talk to a person you trust. When I grow up I want to help children like Place2Be helps children.

Eight-year-old girl

Your support makes it possible

Thousands of vulnerable children and families depend on our work every single day. We simply cannot reach them without your help. There are so many ways to lend your support.

Place2Be's counselling service in primary schools has the potential to return £8 to society by improving long-term outcomes for each child.

Make a donation

How you can help

Fundraise for us

Raise money to transform children and young people's mental health. Browse ideas, tips and advice.

Get fundraising inspiration

Take part in an event

Run, cycle, walk. Trek to great heights or tackle some muddy obstacles. Take a look at our fundraising events.

Take on an event

Partner with us

See how your organisation can help us to support more children, families and school staff across the UK.

Find out more

Our impact

In the last school year

6,901

pupils were supported through one-to-one counselling.

33,327

pupils booked their own appointments o speak to our mental health professional.

After one-to-one counselling with Place2Be

76%

of children with severe difficulties show an improvement in mental health, according to parents.

64%

of pupils whose difficulties impacted their learning in class improved, according to teachers.

75%

of children and young people found it easier to make and keep friends, according to parents and carers.

Place2Be: mental health support in schools

Hear from children and teachers about the impact of Place2Be.

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Read more

The BAFTA Roadshow with Place2Be arrives in North-West London

BAFTA and Place2Be team up to bring the BAFTA Roadshow to North-West London.

Read more

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Improving children's and young people's mental health - Place2Be

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Place2Be provides mental health counselling support and training to schools to improve the emotional wellbeing of children, young people, families, teachers and staff.