Your Mind Matters - West Sussex

Raising Teens - BBC series

Tune into the new series of Raising Teens on BBC Radio Sussex, which explores the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people across Sussex with professionals (including some of our own!), parents and young people themselves. Episodes available now on @BBCSounds.

Your mind matters, the way you feel matters, and your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. If you or a friend are feeling low, please don’t struggle in silence.

You are not alone; there are people who care and will listen. 
West Sussex Teen

Ten tips on self-care

1. Be kind to yourself. It’s OK not to feel quite like yourself.
2. Keep in touch with friends.
3. Plan fun things to do.
4. Reduce stress by taking regular exercise.
5. Eat regular healthy meals to maximise your energy levels. Drinking water also keeps the brain active.
6. Aim for 7 to 8 hours' rest each night.
7. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing to help you feel calm.
8. Remind yourself to take each day at a time, structuring your day with things you can realistically achieve.
9. Switch on programmes, podcasts and content that make you laugh. It may help you feel happier.
10. If you need help, talk to your family and friends, or someone you trust.

Tips from our young mental health ambassadors
Hear open and honest conversation talking on topics such as bullying, anxiety, body image, and social media.

Careers advice
If you've finished education and are looking for advice on what to do next. Our careers advice teams support 16–24-year-olds with free 1-2-1 career advice.

Support for LGBT+
Watch the film below to hear what it meant to Finley when he received support from Allsorts Youth Project at a pivotal moment in his life. Allsorts is an organisation that supports young people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans or exploring their gender identity and / or sexual orientation together with their families in West Sussex.

If you need help with your emotional wellbeing and mental health there's a range of support, information and contacts available.

• Talk to someone.
• See Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's information on help in a crisis.
• Let someone know you do not feel safe or are struggling, such as a parent, carer, teacher or professional.
• Call 999 in an emergency or one of the following helplines - you can phone as many times as you like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It might take a few tries before you can speak. They will listen and understand.
  • Childline: Freephone 0800 1111
  • Samaritans: Freephone 116 123
  • Sussex Mental Healthline: Phone 0800 0309 500
  • YoungMinds crisis messenger: Text YM to 85258 (free from most mobile providers).
• Contact PAPYRUS which helps prevent young suicide.
• Contact Harmless, the national service for self-harm.
• Text SUSSEX to 85258.
• Download some of these apps:
  • Calm Harm
  • MindShift
  • Stay Alive

The resources below can help you help the children in your life with their emotional wellbeing and mental health. 

For local information about getting support with your own mental health, visit:

• Connect to Support
• West Sussex Wellbeing.

Five top tips for parents, carers and families

1. It's normal for children and young people to experience stress, worry or anxiety at points in their lives, and there can be many reasons for these feelings. 
2. Listen to your child and accept their feelings and concerns. Encourage them to acknowledge their feelings.
3. Help your child find things they can enjoy which can distract them from their worrying thoughts for a while.
4. Monitor your child’s exposure to potential harmful content online (more advice on keeping your child safe online PDF, 1.2MB).
5. Help your child focus on positive aspects of life.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have several easy-to-read guides with advice on issues including anxiety, bullying, exam stress, gaming and body image, among others.

NHS's Every Mind Matters website also offers tools to help manage and improve mental health.

Careers advice for those who have finished their education and may be looking for advice on what to do next.
The careers advice team supports 16–24-year-olds with free 1-2-1 career advice.

'Thought-Full’ Mental Health Support Teams for schools in West Sussex, support young people with issues like anxiety and depression and aim to reach over 50% of West Sussex’s school population by 2023 – 68,000 children and young people. Check what schools are currently being supported.

Allsorts Family Support Service offers support for parents/carers of children and young people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBT+), to connect and provide each other with support, community and friendship.

Self-Harm Parents and Carers Networks join other parents and carers across West Sussex in a free workshop to support you and your family. These are facilitated by West Sussex Mind and YMCA Downslink Group, supported by Allsorts Youth Project. You will be able to talk with other parents and carers to hear what is working for them, discuss your support needs, hear from guest speakers and get updates on the latest initiatives, research and resources.

West Sussex Mind is an independent charity whose services support young people, adults, older adults, carers and families affected by mental health problems. It is running a series of learning and training courses over the coming months. These include support for bereaved children, mental health first aid, encouraging mentally healthy internet use, and suicide prevention and support. Find more information and book a place.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has a section dedicated to parents and carers. It lists some of the challenges children and young people might be facing and tips for managing together.

Cruse Bereavement in West Sussex provides free support, including information, advice and one-to-one sessions for anyone, including children, in West Sussex who has been bereaved.
Call 07376 616628 or email sussexbereavedbysuicide@cruse.org.uk.

YMCA DownsLink Group Crawley offers support for young people aged 11-25 from Crawley and surrounding areas who identify as LGBTQU+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, unsure, plus any other LGBT+ identity). These young people can access the safe space at the LGBTQU+ Haven at the YAC (Youth Advice Centre) for:

• free, confidential 1:1 information, advice, guidance and support from a LGBTQ+ youth support worker
• fortnightly youth groups for 11-15 year-olds and 16-25 year-olds, giving the young people a safe space to meet other LGBTQU+ young people from the area and to build confidence through LGBTQU+ affirming activities
• access 1:1 counselling or emotional health support in a confidential space. For more information contact Eleanor Snodgrass on 07552 825088 or Eli Adie on 07884 549349.

If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a young person please advise them to talk to someone.

• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's information provides information on help in a crisis.
• Call 999 in an emergency or one of the following helplines. The young person can phone as many times as they like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It might take a few tries before speaking to them, but they will listen and understand.
  • Childline: Freephone 0800 1111
  • Samaritans: Freephone 116 123
  • Sussex Mental Healthline: Phone 0800 0309 500
  • YoungMinds crisis messenger: Text YM to 85258 (free from most mobile providers).
• Contact PAPYRUS, which helps prevent young suicide.
• Contact Harmless, the national service for self-harm.
• Text SUSSEX to 85258.

When working with children and young people it can sometimes be hard to know what difficulties they might be having in their life, or if they are struggling with their mental health or emotional wellbeing.

In most cases, a young person having these difficulties would not need the support of specialist mental health services.

To support and guide the ongoing work schools and frontline practitioners undertake with young people a series of wellbeing and safety plans and accompanying guidance documents have been created. These plans are supplementary to services and support already in place and are not designed to replace an assessment by an appropriate mental health professional, accessing appropriate support, statutory guidance, or your organisations own safeguarding policies and procedures. 

There are a number of charities, agencies and organisations that can provide a wealth of resources and support to help young people understand how they are feeling, tools to bolster their mental resilience and tips for how to start to feel better.

Toolkit: Young people and their mental health: where to find help (PDF, 2MB)  

For further information, also see Support for families.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) also provides guidance on a range of issues on its section dedicated to professionals.

‘Thought-Full’ Mental Health Support Teams for schools in West Sussex, support young people with issues like anxiety and depression and offer staff training and mentoring.

In some cases, the difficulties a young person is experiencing might be more severe and having a significant impact on their daily life. When this happens, it might be appropriate to make a referral to CAMHS.

• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's information provides information on help in a crisis.
• Call 999 in an emergency or one of the following helplines. The young person can phone as many times as they like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It might take a few tries before speaking to them, but they will listen and understand.
  • Childline: Freephone 0800 1111
  • Samaritans: Freephone 116 123
  • Sussex Mental Healthline: Phone 0800 0309 500
  • YoungMinds crisis messenger: Text YM to 85258 (free from most mobile providers).
• Contact PAPYRUS which helps prevent young suicide.
• Contact Harmless, the national service for self-harm.
• Text SUSSEX to 85258.

West Sussex County Council has dedicated additional resources to support young people, their families and professionals working with them at this critical time.

Together with our partners, the NHS, community groups, district councils and parents, we are co-ordinating a programme of events, initiatives and resources. It includes:

• mental health first aid support in schools
• online mentoring courses to support children and young people
• online courses to support parents and carers in developing tools to help children manage their feelings and mental health
• an LGBTQU+ support pilot project
• a campaign to promote emotional wellbeing and positive mental health.

For more details see Resources for children and young people.

There is mental health support, information and resources available for adults both locally and nationally. 

Every Mind Matters provides expert NHS advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

For local information about getting support with your mental health, visit:

• Connect to Support - Mental health
• West Sussex Wellbeing - Healthy mind
• West Sussex Mind - About our services