We can all struggle with our mental health and wellbeing at times, however old we are. If you are a child or young person in Kent and Medway, specific services to support you are just a text, call or a click on website or app away.
North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) provides the Kent and Medway Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (CYPMHS) (that's up to age 18).
In Kent and Medway, NELFT also provide:
NELFT stands for the North East London NHS Foundation Trust. As well as providing children and young people's services in Kent and Medway, the trust also provides integrated adult community and mental health services for parts of both London and Essex, hence its name.
Call the Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0800 011 3474 and talk to someone who is trained to help direct you to the right information, advice and support.
Or, if you prefer, submit a SPA request online.
Instagram: kentandmedwaycamhs
If you are aged between 10 and 25-years-old, Kooth offers an online mental health community giving free and confidential advice. You can chat with a team member about anything that is on your mind.
ChatHealth is a text service for 11 to 19-year-olds in Kent and Medway. You can text a member of our team about any physical or emotional health concerns. It is a confidential and anonymous texting service
In Kent text 07520 618850
In Medway text 07480 635786
The service is only available Monday to Friday and between 9am and 5pm.
MoodSpark is a place where children and young people in Kent can learn how to look after their emotional and mental health and find ways to help them bounce back when life gets tough.
The Mind and Body programme helps young people to better manage thoughts and behaviours associated with self-harm. In Kent, support is available for 13 to 25-year-olds while in Medway support is available for 18 to 25-year-olds.
You can phone 01795 500882 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, to get advice about how to manage difficult thoughts and feelings.
Website: We are with you
Alumina is a free online course for young people in Kent and Medway, aged 10 to 17-years-old, to support them in understanding and managing their self harm
Help and support is out there for those who have an eating disorder to enable them to take back control of their life.
You can find out more or self-refer by phoning 0300 300 1980 or by emailing KentandMedwayEatingDisordersService@nelft.nhs.uk.
Alternatively, you can ask your GP to refer you.
Visit: NELFT eating disorders service
Kent School Health supports young people aged up to nineteen . You can contact the Kent School Health Service at any time - we really want to hear from you if you feel you need more support for:
You don't need to wait for us to visit your school, you can contact us at any time. We take referrals from your parent, school or from young people themselves. You don't need to be in mainstream education, so if you are home-schooled or in a pupil referral until, you can still use this service for advice, support and help.
Teens can access reliable NHS information and answers to their questions at HealthforTeens.
The child health team manage a range of projects that work to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people. The projects span a wide range of settings both primary and secondary age and beyond. More details on A Better Medway.
As part of its emotional wellbeing service, Medway's Emotional Wellbeing Team offer short term therapeutic interventions for young people aged between 5 to 19 who live in Medway. The service is for those who have recently started to display emotional wellbeing concerns. These can include but not limited to: Low mood, feeling anxious, stressed, anger, low self-confidence. Find out more at Medway Community Healthcare.
The B.R.A.V.E service offers short term therapy in three different modalities (cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and creative variations of therapy) to children and young people in Medway who are struggling with low mood and anxiety (including self-harming behaviours) who may be experiencing emotional dysregulation.
Sessions are delivered in 1:1 and group format and can be accessed in person or virtually. B.R.A.V.E also offers targeted workshops for young people (not exclusive to those accessing therapeutic support) as well as parents/carers and working professionals.
Email braveservice@northkentmind.co.uk
We Are With You offers free, confidential support for anyone aged 11 to 25 who is worried about their drug and/or alcohol use in Kent.
Get support with drug and alcohol problems in Medway.
CHUMS offer specialist bereavement support to children and young people aged from three and a half up until their 26th birthday in Kent and Medway when the most recent bereavement has occurred no less than six months ago, and when their main presenting need is related to their most recent bereavement.
This specialist bereavement service is provided by a wide range of experienced, trained professionals and volunteers. Support can be tailored to provide evidence-based interventions to children and young people through one-to-one, group and drop-in sessions.
Holding on Letting Go is a charity that provides specialist bereavement support to children, young people and their families across Kent and Medway. The support can be pre- and post-bereavement and can be offered in a variety of ways.
Telephone: 03445 611 511
ellenor's bereavement services embody a compassionate approach to support families navigating the profound challenges of loss and grief, include one-on-one counselling and creative therapies for children.
A key element of ellenor's bereavement support for children is Gems Bereavement Support for Children . This initiative brings together bereaved children aged 6 to 16, who have lost someone close to them. The GEMS group meetings are designed to help children feel less isolated in their grief, providing a platform for them to share their experiences with peers.
The BeYou Project offers a safe, welcoming and inclusive space where LGBTQ+ young people can meet, socialise and find the support they need.
Group and one-to-one support is available for children and young people and between eight and 25.
Email: beyou@porchlight.org.uk
Instagram: @beyoukent
Metro is a charity that supports schools in Medway to develop and expand PRIDE clubs for LGBTQ+ students. If you are interested in finding out more please email youth@metrocharity.org.uk.
Free expert advice from trained counsellors is available for every mental health concern.
Visit the Release the Pressure website for more information