# data[].attributes.headline
Place2Be: Tips to support your child's mental health 

# data[].attributes.subject
Place2Be: Tips to support your child's mental health 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Parenting Smart offers practical advice for parents and carers of children aged 5-11. All of our content is created by Place2Be’s parenting experts. It’s based on evidence and their experiences working with children, young people and their families.

# data[].attributes.body
Whatever you’re going through, you can call Samaritans free, any time, from any phone. They're here to listen, no judgement. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We do not tolerate behaviours that are threatening or abusive in any way. While we recognise that people who exhibit these behaviours have a right to the support they need, it's not possible for us to provide a safe and supportive space when met with threatening or abusive behaviours.

We act to prevent further contacts from callers who behave in these ways. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
Limiting or withdrawing access to our services
From time to time we may have to use the information collected about you when you contact us to make decisions about limiting access to our services. If we believe you are abusing our service or are abusive towards volunteers, we will use our system to block your calls or messages from getting through.

If you can't get through by phone, you will hear a message that explains how to contact us to discuss our decision to block you from our system.

If we take the decision to limit your access to our systems, we will make every effort to inform you as to the reason why we have restricted your access. We may ask you to give us a contact number so that a member of our Caller Support Team can call you to talk about your support needs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you're going through a tough time, contact us free. We won't judge you or tell you what to do. We are here to listen so you don't have to face it alone.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parenting and Family Support - Family Lives (Parentline Plus) | Family Lives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Parenting and family support from Family Lives (formerly Parentline Plus) through our website, helpline 0808 800 2222, email service at askus@familylives.org.uk, live chat and local services.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Taraki - Mental Health in Punjabi Communities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Taraki works with Punjabi communities to reshape approaches to mental health by focusing on four levers of change: awareness, education, peer support, and research.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Parents and caregivers are heroes: Protecting our children in a crisis

# data[].attributes.body
YoungMinds is a leading charity that offers advice, resources, and a crisis messenger for young people struggling with their mental health. Discover guides on anxiety, self-esteem, and coping with school stress.

There's also an option to get support by texting YM to 85258.

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

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A selection of our information on understanding grief in Urdu

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The page you’re looking for seems to have magically disappeared (404). Feel free to check out these pages below instead.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'HANERI' A SHORT FILM ON MENTAL HEALTH IN THE PUNJABI COMMUNITY

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How does social media affect people with eating disorders?

# data[].attributes.body
Home - KoothKooth provides a safe, confidential online space to access free counselling, peer support, and helpful articles. Available for ages 11-25, you can talk to trained counsellors anonymously.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous

# data[].attributes.body
The MixThe Mix gives practical advice and confidential support for young people under 25, including information on mental health, relationships, and drugs. Chat 1-to-1 or use the group boards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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.

Featured

The Mix. Registered charity number: 1048995

Log in

Welcome to The Mix, offering essential support for under 25s.

Log in to submit your own content on our platform Your Voices.

If you do not have an account with us you can sign up here.
I don't have a login

Forgotten password?

Sign up

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.

Don't have a Your Voices account? Sign up here to submit your own content.

Already have log in, log in here.
I already have a login

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Mix - Essential support for under 25s

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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.

# data[].attributes.body
Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child | YoungMindsYoungMinds offers a special Parents Helpline, practical guides, and tips on supporting your child’s mental health. Book a phone consultation or browse advice on spotting signs and having helpful conversations.
Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4pm)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We support main carers of children and young people, as well as parents. You might be a kinship carer, legal guardian, foster carer, grandparent or sibling. If you are the child or young person's main carer, we want to support you. Our advisers are trained and experienced in supporting carers as well as parents.

If you are a family member or friend, but you are not the child or young person's main carer, see our online information for advice around how you can support them. You can also encourage their parent or main carer to contact us.

If you are a professional looking for information about supporting the young people you work with, see our resources for professionals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The YoungMinds Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email provide support and help for parents and carers worried about their child's mental health and wellbeing.

# data[].attributes.body
MindEd For FamiliesMindEd is a free educational resource on children’s mental health, offering short guides, videos, and learning sessions for adults supporting young people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to MindEd for Families, Children and Young People. We hope you like our new design. If you are a regular user you might find that some of the topics have moved, or the titles have been changed slightly. But we still have all the same great content, and we hope it will be easy to find what yo…

# data[].attributes.body
The Anna Freud Centre provides expert advice and downloadable guides for supporting children and teens’ mental wellbeing, including dealing with anxiety, exam stress, and low mood.

# data[].attributes.body
Calm Harm is a free NHS-approved app developed for young people to manage the urge to self-harm using evidence-based distraction techniques.

# data[].attributes.body
MeeToo is a safe, UK-based app that lets young people anonymously share what's on their mind and get support from trained moderators and peers.

# data[].attributes.body
Every Mind Matters provides evidence-based tips, quizzes, and self-care plans for young people and parents to support mental wellbeing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are you ready to explore your treatment options with Joon? Our clinical team is here to help guide you and match you with one of our therapists. Schedule a free consultation to get started.
Get your therapist recommendation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guided Meditations for Teens and Young Adults | Joon

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our guided meditations for teens help achieve calm, focus and well-being. Led by Dr. Shannon Albarelli, psychologist and certified mindfulness instructor.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are the UK's only charity dedicated to raising awareness and furthering information about ARFID. A not-for-profit, we work to provide individuals, parents, carers and medical professionals with up-to-date relevant information, research and support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to The Mix’s LifeSkills, our new self-paced learning topics. No pressure, no deadline. They’re designed to give you control, offering guidance in a way that feels light, easy to follow, and actually helpful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children, body image and the media | The Children’s Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Children often grow up thinking there are popular and unpopular ways to look. Is media’s portrayal of body image to blame?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Female genital mutilation is illegal. We've got advice to help you keep children and young people safe.

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

Max

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

Abi

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

IS ALUMINA RIGHT FOR ME?

Are you...

11-19 years old?

Living in the UK?

Someone who self-harms or worries they might?

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

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

If so...

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

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

What's a session like?

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

Sasha

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

Samara

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

Dan

Questions

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

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

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

Meet the team

Live Webinars

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

Supporting Young People Who Self-harm

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

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

DR. KATE MIDDLETON

Our Alumina advisory panel

More information about self-harm

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

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free online Self-harm support for 11-19's Working with 11-19s from September '22

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

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to content

Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our latest news

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

Our upcoming events

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

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After the death of someone close, like a parent or a sibling, memories become more important to us all, especially children, as a way of continuing the bond between them and the person. Keeping those memories alive are a crucial way to validate a child’s emotions and help them express their thoughts and feelings.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Helpline & Email Support - LGBT Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We provide a friendly, non-judgemental service that understands that no matter where you are on your journey, from taking that first step forward or to the

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One solution is for us, as men, to learn how to express our emotions, especially sadness. It starts with being honest to yourself; in other words, don't try to suppress the fact that you're feeling sadness. I know many guys, including myself, would automatically disregard any sign of sadness, so we need to challenge this. We do that by recognising the feeling, the cause of it, and expressing it however feels natural. This is important, because if you experience something funny, your natural instinct is to laugh. And there are times where we just can't stop ourselves laughing right? Same with happiness - we just can't help smiling when something makes us happy! Well, it's the same with sadness.

Having other people, particularly other men to speak to and open up to also helps so much, because so often they will have felt something similar. And understand that no problem is too small to reach out for support! Getting help early can prevent these difficulties from developing into a more severe mental health condition.

The reality of the situation is that every single human has a brain, and therefore experiences emotions! And in order to get rid of the toxic masculinities in society, we need to enforce the message that "it's okay not to be okay" - whoever you are. All of these expectations are based on outdated gender norms, and they've caused so many issues - and even fatalities - among boys and men, so let's work together to ensure these stereotypes don't cause any more trouble!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Toxic Masculinity And Mental Health | Real Stories

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One solution is for us, as men, to learn how to express our emotions, especially sadness. It starts with being honest to yourself; in other words, don't try to suppress the fact that you're feeling sadness. I know many guys, including myself, would automatically disregard any sign of sadness, so we need to challenge this.