Mental health and wellbeing

What mental health is and where to go for help for young people with SEND.

Mental health and wellbeing 

Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. Your mental health is very important. 

Good mental health means you can:

• cope with normal levels of stress 
• be more independent 
• learn to cope with difficult situations and events

When you don't feel well, you might feel:

• sad
• depressed
• worried 
• anxious
• stressed
• upset
• angry
• confused

This doesn't necessarily mean you have a mental illness. Lots of things can make us feel this way, such as being in pain or changes in our life. Sometimes we feel down for no reason at all. 

Information about mental health and wellbeing:

• an easy read guide to anxiety Go to https://www.wellaware.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Anxiety-easy-read-guide.pdf (opens new window)
• The charity Mind explain about understanding feelings Go to https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/introduction-to-mental-health/understanding-my-feelings/ (opens new window)
• Bristol's Community Access Support Service have leaflets explaining pdf anxiety (253 KB) , pdf depression (241 KB)  and  pdf stress (244 KB)

Asking for help

It's always okay to ask for help. Asking for help can feel hard at first, but reaching out for support can help you to: 

• find support to help with how you're feeling
• feel like you're not alone
• share how you feel with someone you trust
• understand your feelings better
• stop things from getting worse

Where you can go for help with your mental health

You can get support from:

• someone your trust, such as a friend, family member, teacher or school nurse
• your doctor 
• Childline: helping a friend Go to https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/friends/ (opens new window)
• Creative Youth Network: One to One support Go to https://www.creativeyouthnetwork.org.uk/advice (opens new window)
• Kooth: free online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform Go to https://www.kooth.com/ (opens new window)
• Mind: Guide for young people on talking to friends and family about how you are feeling Go to https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/for-children-and-young-people/talking-to-friends-and-family/ (opens new window)
• Mind: Information about where you can get professional support Go to https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/how-to-get-help-and-support/finding-support/ (opens new window)
• Off The Record: Mental health charity for young people aged 11 to 25 in Bristol Go to https://www.otrbristol.org.uk/ (opens new window). Their website has lots of information on getting support
• Well Aware: List of mental health services in Bristol Go to https://www.wellaware.org.uk/info-resources/mental-health/bristol-mental-health-2/ (opens new window) 
• Student Minds: Look after your mate Go to https://www.studentminds.org.uk/lookafteryourmate.html (opens new window)
• SEND And You (SAY): Support line and face-to-face sessions
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for Learning Disability: Bristol / South Gloucestershire LD :: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust