Young People & Mental Health

Reading Family Information Service

The emotional wellbeing of children and young people is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.

Please see below, local and national organisations that offer support and or advice for young people.

Next review date November 2024

Local Services & Support

Mental Health Support Team  (MHST) - Within Brighter Futures for Children and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust launched in January 2020. Support children and young people with emerging, mild or moderate mental health difficulties that may be affecting day to day life. Depending on the age of the child or young person, we may work either directly with them or with their parents. We also work with school staff and offer support on different levels; with the aim of developing and supporting a whole school approach to mental health.

Early Help BFfC to access early help  (services include primary mental health workers who support children and young people 4 to 18 years including those with special educational needs) Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) Children's Single Point of Access (CSPoA) ~ Parents

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Children, Young People & Families Services has information on how to access services NHS services and useful advice Mental and Emotional Health | Children Young People and Families Online Resource (berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk)

Berkshire CAMHS (Children & Adolescent Mental Health Service) supports children and young people who are experiencing significant, severe and complex difficulties with mental health. Visit website to find out how the service can help, or contact 0300 365 0300 or for urgent enquiry 0300 365 1234.

New CAMHS Learning Disability Team from January 2024 the CAMHS Learning Disability Team is a specialist mental health services to children and young people who have a moderate or severe learning disability and a significant or suspected mental health need.

Keyworking Team, Berkshire West the Keyworking Team, Berkshire West, works with children and young people aged up to 25 years old, who have a diagnosis of autism and/or a learning disability, who are at risk of admission to a psychiatric hospital/unit, to give them some extra support. 

Berkshire Healthcare Health Visiting and School Nursing service have launched a ChatHealth  texting service. ChatHealth is a confidential texting service aimed at parents/carers and young people

No 5 is Reading's young person's counselling centre, dedicated to providing free, confidential counselling and emotional support to anyone between the ages of 11-25. Tel: 0118 9015668

No5 Young People "Looking for Direction" Signposting Site designed and developed by local young people, alongside our partners Red Balloon. To match young people (aged 11-25) with support and services across the RG postcode area based on age, location and what they say is going on for them and what they are looking for.

Arc is Wokingham’s young person’s counselling service contact them on Tel: 0118 9776710.

tellmi Berkshire West CCG has commissioned this online counselling service to support young people 11 to 17 years (up to 18th birthday)

Relate - Berkshire can offer children and young people's counselling for any young person who's having problems. Whether it's depression, mental health concerns, or issues with parents or people at school. Contact Tel: 0118 987 6161.

SHaRON the Support Hope and Recovery Online Network is a secure and confidential online platform, moderated by clinical staff, to enable parents, carers and young people to support each other and get expert advice. Visit website for more details.

Little Blue Book of Sunshine ~ the #littlebluebookofsunshine explains some of the things you can do right now to feel better, or who to turn to if things feel too much. This useful booklet and website have been produced by the NHS for school age young people.

SupportU is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+) help and support service.

Support for Reading University students, counselling and wellbeing service Reading University

Children, Young People & Families (CYPF) - Berkshire Eating Disorder Service (BEDS) - work closely with young people and their families or carers to develop a package of care tailored to their individual needs. We also provide advice and training to GPs, schools and social care services.

We see young people aged 8-18 with an eating disorder and who have preoccupying worries and difficulties with eating and concerns about their weight and shape.

National Services & Support

SHOUT is the UK's 24/7 text messaging service for young people, free on major network providers. This is a helpline for anyone in crisis, anywhere anytime if you are struggling to cope text SHOUT to 85258

Child Line is the national helpline service for children and young people. Tel: 0800 11 11. If you are feeling anxoius, scared or sad visit Childline ~ Calm Zone .

Papyrus-UK is a specialist telephone helpline service for children and young people under 35 years of age, who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Call 0800 068 41 41 or 07860 039967.

Samaritans are a confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK and Ireland. The service is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Across the UK you can call Samaritans on 0116 123.

Young Minds If you are worried about a child or young person ~ Parents Helpline – call 0808 802 5544

Muslim Youth Helpline (myh.org.uk) – Faith and culturally sensitive support by phone, live chat, WhatsApp or email. Offer non-judgemental, confidential support 7 days a week, 365 days a year including bank holidays and Eid

MindJam | Empowering and Supporting Young People - Online 1 to 1 mentorship and guidance for children suffering with anxiety, stress and social issues; through positivity, learning new skills and play. Also counselling for parents of neurodiverse young people.

The Mix has a free helpline for young people (under 25 years), who know they need help but don't know where to find it. They can talk to someone by phone, email and webchat any day of the year 0808 808 4994 (Helpline 4pm to 11pm)

Family Lives is a national family support charity providing healp and support to families who are struggling. Confidential free families helpline service Tel: 0808 800 2222

NSPCC – Information and Advice available through the NSPCC website and helpline. 

NHS Children & Young Peoples's Mental Heath Services (CYPMHS)  

NHS Children & Young People's Mental Health Services -  Parent Carers Support

Carers Trust support for carers looking after someone with mental health problems.  Or find that their own mental health is being affected by their caring role.

Counselling Directory is a support network of UK counsellors and psychotherapists, with information on their training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details. Search for counsellors in your area.

BEAT (Beating Eating Disorders)Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity. We began life in 1989 as the first national charity for people with eating disorders because of a merger of two local charities. Called the Eating Disorders Association, we have grown and developed over time to become Beat.

Further Services Available for 18+ years
Apps to help with mental health and well-being

Berkshire Health Foundation Trust (BHFT) - Children & Young People's mental health & wellbeing  - Berkshire Health Foundation Trust page provides links to apps helping with anxiety & stress, sleep, mental health support, self-harm, and mindfulness your mood and depression. This includes the following tinkninja and Molehill Mountain

thinkninja: A mental health app designed for 10 to 18 year olds. It has a variety of content and tools for learning about mental health and emotional well-being and developing skills to build resilience. 

Molehill Mountain: An app to help autistic people understand and self-manage anxiety. Track your worries and the situations that trigger anxiety, get evidence based daily tips to understand more about anxiety and feel more confident to self manage anxiety.

CAMHS Resources - collection of apps that are designed to support young people, adults and families with their mental health and well-being www.camhs-resources.co.uk/apps  also link to useful websites - www.camhsresources.co.uk/websites

Stay Alive: An app for those at risk of suicide and people worried about someone. It has resources, advice and tools to help you stay safe, find and get help from emergency or support services. Helps to identify signs of suicide and how to help if you are worried about someone.

Who to call in a crisis

If you feel you’re at risk of harming yourself or others, please call 999 straight away.
If you need urgent help, but it's not an emergency, you can call our Mental Health Crisis Teams…

If you are 17-18 years old and still part of CAMHS, contact:
• Mental health support team on 0300 365 12348am-10pm Monday-Friday
• Outside of these hours, call freephone 0800 129 9999
• 0300 365 1234 for the CAMHS duty worker that day
• Childline for free on 0800 11 11 – open 24/7

If you are 18+ and transitioned into Adult Mental Health Services, contact:

• Mental health crises team Call 0800 129 9999

• Out of hours GP Call NHS 111

If you have been discharged back into primary care, contact:

• Your GP
• Out of hours GP - Call NHS 111
• Samaritans 24/7 116 123
• Sane Line, call 0300 304 7000(open 4.30pm - 10.30pm every day)

Useful information on the BHFT website chick here 

(Updated February 2024)

Related Advice

Children & Young People ~ Safety ~ information on local & national organisations Bereavement Support New Mums and Emotional Well-being (Perinatal Mental Health) Child Development

Page last reviewed: 20/03/2024

Contact the Team

Family Information Service

fis@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

SEND Local Offer

localoffer@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

Adult & Carers Support

CSAAdvice.Signposting@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3747 0118 937 3747
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