Mental Health Resources 

Below, we have sign-posted information and guidance about the issues most commonly seen in school-aged children. This information will also be useful for parents/carers and school staff.

Support on all of these issues can be accessed via Young Minds (www.youngminds.org.uk), Mind(www.mind.org.uk) and (for e-learning opportunities) Minded (www.minded.org.uk).

Self-harm

Self-harm describes any behaviour where a young person causes harm to themselves in order to
cope with thoughts, feelings or experiences they are not able to manage in any other way. It most
frequently takes the form of cutting, burning or non-lethal overdoses in adolescents, while younger
children and young people with special needs are more likely to pick or scratch at wounds, pull out
their hair or bang or bruise themselves.

Online support

• SelfHarm.co.uk
• National Self-Harm Network: www.nshn.co.uk
• www.talktofrank.com/ Drug abuse
• http://www.re-solv.org/ Solvent abuse

Books

• Pooky Knightsmith (2015) Self-Harm and Eating Disorders in Schools: A Guide to Whole School
• Support and Practical Strategies. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Keith Hawton and Karen Rodham (2006) By Their Own Young Hand: Deliberate Self-harm and
• Suicidal Ideas in Adolescents. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Carol Fitzpatrick (2012) A Short Introduction to Understanding and Supporting Children and Young
• People Who Self-Harm. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Depression

Ups and downs are a normal part of life for all of us, but for someone who is suffering from
depression these ups and downs may be more extreme. Feelings of failure, hopelessness,
numbness or sadness may invade their day-to-day life over an extended period of weeks or months,
and have a significant impact on their behaviour and ability and motivation to engage in day-to-day
activities.

Online support

• Depression Alliance: www.depressionalliance.org/information/what-depression

Books

• Christopher Dowrick and Susan Martin (2015) Can I tell you about Depression: A guide for friends,
• family and professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Matthew Johnstone (2007) I had a black dog. Robinson, London

Anxiety, panic attacks and phobias

Anxiety can take many forms in children and young people, and it is something that each of us
experiences at low levels as part of normal life. When thoughts of anxiety, fear or panic are
repeatedly present over several weeks or months and/or they are beginning to impact on a young
person’s ability to access or enjoy day-to-day life, intervention is needed.

Online support

• Anxiety UK: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Books

• Lucy Willetts and Polly Waite (2014) Can I Tell you about Anxiety?: A guide for friends, family and professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Carol Fitzpatrick (2015) A Short Introduction to Helping Young People Manage Anxiety. London:Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Obsessions and compulsions

Obsessions describe intrusive thoughts or feelings that enter our minds which are disturbing or
upsetting; compulsions are the behaviours we carry out in order to manage those thoughts or
feelings. For example, a young person may be constantly worried that their house will burn down if
they don’t turn off all switches before leaving the house. They may respond to these thoughts by
repeatedly checking switches, perhaps returning home several times to do so. Obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) can take many forms – it is not just about cleaning and checking.

Online support

• OCD UK: www.ocduk.org/ocd

Books

• Amita Jassi and Sarah Hull (2013) Can I Tell you about OCD?: A guide for friends, family and professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Susan Conners (2011) The Tourette Syndrome & OCD Checklist: A practical reference for parents and teachers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass

Suicidal feelings

Young people may experience complicated thoughts and feelings about wanting to end their own
lives.

Online support

• Prevention of young suicide UK – PAPYRUS: www.papyrus-uk.org
• On the edge: ChildLine spotlight report on suicide: www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/researchand-resources/on-the-edge-childline-spotlight/

Books

• Keith Hawton and Karen Rodham (2006) By Their Own Young Hand: Deliberate Self-harm and
• Suicidal Ideas in Adolescents. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Terri A.Erbacher, Jonathan B. Singer and Scott Poland (2015) Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner’s
• Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention. New York: Routledge

Eating problems

Food, weight and shape may be used as a way of coping with, or communicating about, difficult
thoughts, feelings and behaviours that a young person experiences day to day. Some young people
develop eating disorders such as anorexia (where food intake is restricted), binge eating disorder
and bulimia nervosa (a cycle of bingeing and purging). Other young people, particularly those of
primary or preschool age, may develop problematic behaviours around food including refusing to
eat in certain situations or with certain people. This can be a way of communicating messages the
child does not have the words to convey.

Online support

• Beat – the eating disorders charity: www.b-eat.co.uk/about-eating-disorders
• Eating Difficulties in Younger Children and when to worry: www.inourhands.com/eating-difficultiesin-younger-children

Books

• Bryan Lask and Lucy Watson (2014) Can I tell you about Eating Disorders?: A Guide for Friends,
• Family and Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Pooky Knightsmith (2015) Self-Harm and Eating Disorders in Schools: A Guide to Whole School
• Support and Practical Strategies. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Pooky Knightsmith (2012

Support - Signposting for Leicestershire  

Central Access Point - 24hr free phone line for urgent help with mental health in Leicestershire

• 0116 295 3060 – 24hr free phone line 

SHOUT Crisis Line - free text helpline for urgent help with mental health

• TEXT SHOUT to 85258 – 24hr free text helpline for urgent help with mental health
• https://giveusashout.org/get-help/

SAMARITANS - 24hr free text helpline to seek support and to talk. Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you.

• Call 116 123 – 24/7, 365 days per year
• https://giveusashout.org/get-help/

Staying Safe from Suicidal Thoughts (videos to watch now and urgent support)

• https://stayingsafe.net/

Hub of hope – the world’s first mental health database to find the nearest source of support for any mental health issue near you

• https://hubofhope.co.uk/

Turning Point - urgent Mental Health Support

• 0808 800 3302 – 24hr phone line

Lamp Advocacy - an independent mental health charity

• Tel: 0116 255 6286 (9.00am – 5.00pm)
• Website: https://www.lampadvocacy.co.uk/lets-talk/

The Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team

• 0300 300 1010 - Provides a rapid assessment for those people who are experiencing a mental health crisis of such severity that without the intervention of the team, a hospital admission would be required.

PAPYRUS

• Young suicide prevention society.
• Tel: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm, and 2pm to 5pm on weekends)
• Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Mental Health Matters -  18+ Residents of Charnwood, North-West Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton and Rutland experiencing emotional/mental health problems

• Email: www.mentalhealthmatters.com
• 24 Hr Helpline: 0300 323 0187
• Referrals (including self-referral): 0300 323 0189
• - Information, advice and guidance:
• - One-to-one support with a trained Recovery Worker
• - Various support groups

Life Links Leicester - covers 18+ residents of Blaby, Oadby & Wigston and Leicester City with mental health recovery and wellbeing support

• Tel: 0800 023 4575
• Email: Leicestershire.Lifelinks@richmondfellowship.org.uk
• Website: www.lifelinks.co.uk

My Mind Matters - all ages, Harborough and surrounding areas, mental health & wellbeing support

• Tel: 01858 411 383 (not a crisis line - advice & support). Email: : mindmatters@vasl.org.uk
• - Advice Line
• - Community recovery support
• - Workshops
• - Community drop in sessions

National Centre for Mental Health | https://www.ncmh.info/leaflets/

Resources for people dealing with a variety of mental health concerns, these are downloadable leaflets which contain useful information on conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, Depression and more, these leaflets include signs and symptoms, and contact numbers for charities and organisations which can offer support to people or family members experiencing mental health concerns.

Anxiety UK | Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

• Tel: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
• Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

CALM | CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

• Tel: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
• Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men's Health Forum | 24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.

• Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mind

• Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
• Tel: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
• Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic

• Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
• Tel: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm).
• Website: www.nopanic.org.uk

Rethink Mental Illness

• Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
• Tel: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
• Website: www.rethink.org