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Self Help Information, Helplines, Apps and Websites

Things you can do yourself to support your mental health

Key:

Support – Low level

Speed – Short wait

Access – Open to anyone

Do you want some tips on what you could do to feel better?

Do you want some tips on how to support someone else who is having difficult feelings?

There are apps, websites, helplines and information that can help you.

Websites

Young Minds

Young Minds is the national charity for young people’s mental health.

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

 The Anna Freud Centre

Support strategies and information about how other young people cope with their mental health difficulties.

Website: https://www.annafreud.org/

CAMHS resources

Links to downloadable resources, apps and websites for mental health support.

Website:https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/

Moodjuice

Moodjuice is a NHS website that has information and advice on young people’s mental health.

Website: www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk

Getselfhelp

Extensive list of worksheets and self-help materials for coping with different mental health difficulties.

Website: https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/

Aye Mind

Aye Mind is a digital database signposting to lots of different websites and apps for young people’s mental health.

Website: www.ayemind.com

Young Scot

Information and opportunities for young people in Scotland including for mental health.

Website: www.young.scot

The Mix

Support and information on mental health for those aged 13 – 25 years.

Website: www.themix.org.uk

Parent Network Scotland

PNS uses an innovative combination of peer-led methods with parent group leaders receiving support and supervision through network meetings. They also believe the peer to peer support.

PNS run parenting courses which are led by local parents who have completed their extensive accredited training.

https://www.parentnetworkscotland.com

LBTQ Youth Scotland

Scotland’s national charity for LGBTQ+ young people, working with 13–25 year olds across the country. Also deliver the LGBT Charter programme to schools, organisations and businesses.

Their mission is to support LGBTQ+ young people to flourish and thrive in all aspects of their lives through the provision of amazing youth work. They support LGBTQ+ young people to use their voice and create change in equality and human rights.

https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk

Helplines

Samaritans

Provides a 24 hour helpline.  There is also a local service in Elgin which can be contacted during opening hours.

24 Hour Helpline – 116 123

Website – www.samaritans.org

Childline

You can phone, chat on-line or email for support at any time.

Tel: 08001111

Website: www.childline.org.uk

Sleep Scotland

Free telephone support line to parents and carers for help with a child or young person’s (18 months – 18 years) sleep difficulties.

Tel: 08001386565 (Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm)

Website: www.sleepscotland.org

Papyrus

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be thinking of suicide you can contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice.

Call: 08000684141

Text: 07786209697

(Open Mon – Fri from 10am – 10pm, Weekends and Bank Holidays from 2pm – 10pm)

Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution Resource Hub

Website: https://scottishconflictresolution.org.uk/resource-hub

Breathing Space

Telephone mental health support for those aged 16 years and over. The service can help you to cope with difficult feelings such as low mood and anxiety.

Telephone number: 0800 83 85 87

Website: http://www.breathingspace.scot/

Breathing space also offers telephone therapy appointments at Living Life service.

Telephone number: 0800 328 9655

Website: http://www.breathingspace.scot/living-life

Children’ 1st Parentline Scotland

Telephone support for parents and families across Scotland.

Telephone: 08000 28 22 33

Website: https://www.children1st.org.uk/help-for-families/parentline-scotland/

Mobile Applications

Apart of Me: App for young people who have experienced bereavement (cost: free)

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame: App for parents/carers to use with young children (aged 2 – 5 years old) to help teach skills such as problem-solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence (cost: free)

Calm: Meditation app (cost: some exercises free)

Calm Harm: App for self-harm aimed at those aged 12 years old and over (cost: free)

Headspace: Mindfulness Exercises (some exercises free)

In Hand: A tool to ‘bring back the balance’ in a moment of stress or low mood (cost: free)

Mindshift: App designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety (cost: free)

Moray Prevent Suicide App:  Support information, http://www.preventsuicideapp.com/suicide-m.html (cost: free)

SafeSpot: Promotes positive wellbeing in children and young adults (cost: free)

Smiling Mind: Mindfulness programmes for 7-18 year olds, adults and the classroom (costs: free)

Stop, Breathe and Think: App to help you tune into and process your emotions. There is also a version for 5-10 year olds available on IOS only (cost: some exercises free)

Look After Your Own Wellbeing

Find self-care tips for wellbeing here: https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/

Books

The Moray Libraries Reading Well Collection for young people
https://capitadiscovery.co.uk/moray/lists/1e1a54f6-d9fe-439a-b600-8edc4987dc79  (many of these books are also available in the Moray School Libraries)

Socialworkerstoolbox.com
Range of books available for practitioners to download: http://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com

General Mental Health

  • Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud  (4-9 year old)
  • Positively Teenage: A positively brilliant guide to teenage wellbeing by Nicola Morgan (Teenagers)
  • Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson (Teenagers)
  • Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne (Focuses on fitting in and feeling normal: Teenagers)
  • Am I Normal Yet? By Holly Bourne  (Focuses on feminism and friendship: Teenagers)
  • Stuff that Sucks: A Teen’s Guide to Accepting What You Can’t Change and Committing to What You Can by Ben Sedley (Teenagers)
  • The Teenage Guide to Friends by Nicola Morgan (Teenagers)
  • Blame my Brain: the Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed by Nicola Morgan (Focuses on teenage brain development: Teenagers)
  • Do the Right Thing: A Teenager’s Survival Guide for Tricky Situations by Jane Goldman (Teenagers)

Anger

  • Starving the Anger Gremlin for Children: A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook on Anger Management by Kate Collins-Donnelly (5-9 year olds)
  • A Volcano In My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger by Warwick Pudney and Elaine Whitehouse (6-15 year olds)

Anxiety

  • The Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside (3-8 year olds)
  • Starving the Anxiety Gremlin by Kate Collins Donnelly (Version for 5-9 year olds, Version children 10 years old and above)
  • What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews (6-12 year olds)
  • No Worries! An Activity Book for Young People Who Sometimes Feel Anxious or Stressed by Lily Murray and Katie Abey (7+ year olds)
  • All Birds have Anxiety by Kathy Hoopmann (Children and Young People)
  • The Teenage Guide to Stress by Nicola Morgan (Teenagers)
  • The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens by Jennifer Shannon (Teenagers)
  • Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens by Earl Hipp (Teenagers)

Depression

  • Living with a Black Dog by Ainsley Johnstone and Matthew Johnstone (Teenagers)
  • Night Shift by Debi Gliori (Teenagers)
  • Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Survive and Thrive by Jacqueline B. Toner and Claire A. B. Freeland (Teenagers)

Eating

  • Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (Focuses on Anorexia: Teenagers)
  • Tyranny: I keep you thin by Lesley Fairfield (Focuses on Anorexia: Teenagers)
  • Nothing Tastes As Good by Clair Hennessy (Focuses on weight and food: Teenagers)
  • Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven (Focuses on weight and food: Teenagers)

Relaxation and Mindfulness

  • Sitting Still like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents) by Eline Snel (5-12 year olds)
  • Calm with the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Cale (8-12 year olds)
  • A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax (Teenagers)

Self-harm

  • Damage by Eve Ainsworth (Focuses on self-harm. Teenagers)
  • Can I Tell You About Self-Harm?: A Guide for Friends, Family and Professionals by Pooky Knightsmith (Teenagers)

Sexuality and Gender

  • What I Was by Meg Rosoff (Focuses on sexuality)
  • Doing It! By Hannah Witton (Focuses on sexuality: Teenagers)
  • Pink by Lili Wilkinson (Focuses on sexuality: Teenagers)
  • The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson (Focuses on transgender and friendship: Teenagers)
  • Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen by Arin Andrews (Focuses on transgender: Teenagers)
  • Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin (Focuses on transgender: Teenagers)
  • This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson (Focuses on LGBT: Teenagers)
  • The Girl Files by Jacqui Bailey (Focuses on puberty for girls: Teenagers)
  • How to be a girl by Anita Naik (Focuses on puberty for girls: Teenagers)
  • Being a Girl by Hayley Long (Focuses on puberty for girls: Teenagers)
  • Being a Boy by Juno Dawson (Focuses on puberty for boys: Teenagers)

Further information:

For more information and links you can visit Moray Council Mental Health & Wellbeing Children & Young People web page.

Some of the links you will find on this page are:

  • Top Tips for supporting a young person with their mental health
  • Top Tips for a young person’s mental health
  • List of resources for children and young people’s mental health
  • Reading well list of books on mental health for 13-18 year olds available in Moray Libraries
  • Poster with recommended apps and websites for 12- 18 year olds