Mental Health Support Available in Swindon

It’s normal for children and young people to feel stressed or anxious at the moment. We’ve all experienced sudden changes in our routines and are living with uncertainty. For some young people, the coronavirus pandemic may also worsen or trigger anxieties they were already struggling with. How a child or young person reacts can vary according to their age, how they understand information and communicate, their previous experiences, and how they typically cope with stress.

You can support a child or young person by:

Talking to them about what’s going on, how they are feeling and what they’re thinking about.

Reassure them that it’s ok to feel the way they do and that this will eventually pass.

  • Try to answer their questions where you can and help them to reflect on how they’re feeling.
  • Keeping as regular a routine as possible can help a young person feel safer and more stable.
  • Regular sleep and activity can also improve mental wellbeing.

If you think a child or young person would benefit from more support, there is a range of help available, and most services don’t need a referral.

  • Koothfor 11 to 18 year olds [see below for more details on this new service]

An online support platform where young people can access free anonymous counselling, join friendly discussion boards, keep online journals, goal trackers, and read self-help articles with the option to contribute their own experiences or advice.

Visit www.kooth.com
Online platform available 24 hours a day. Counselling available 12.00pm to 10.00pm Monday to Friday, and 6pm to 10pm at weekends.

  • Chat Healthfor 11 to 19 year olds

A confidential text messaging service for young people to get in touch with a healthcare professional for advice and support on physical and mental health issues.

Text 07507 333351

Available Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 4.30pm excluding bank holidays.

  • TIC+for 9 to 21 year olds

Phone, text or online counselling for young people. A parent support and advice line is also available online.

Call 01594 372777, text 07520 634063 or visit www.ticplus.org.uk.

Available hours vary. Check here https://ticplus.org.uk/contact

A new anonymous helpline will be launching on 22 June 0300 303 8080 [see below for more details on this new service].

  • Childlinefor under 19 year olds

Online support, resources and phone counselling. Calls are free and won’t show up on a phone bill.

Call 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk.

Available 7 days a week from 9.00am to midnight

  • Young Mindsfor all ages

The children and young people’s mental health charity, Young Minds has lots of resources, advice and toolkits for young people and professionals, and a parents’ helpline.

Call 0808 802 5544 or visit www.youngminds.org.uk

Available Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.00pm

  • Winston’s Wishfor under 18 year olds

Provide support and therapeutic interventions for children and young people who have been affected by bereavement by phone and email. Winston’s Wish also offers advice for adults and professionals through their helpline, online resources and publications.

Call 08088 020 021, email [email protected], or visit www.winstonswish.org - Available Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm

  • The Mixfor under 25 year olds

Support with mental health, money, homelessness, finding a job, relationships and drugs. They can talk to young people about their situation and signpost them to organisations that could help.

Call 0808 808 4994 or email

Available 7 days a week from 4.00pm to 11.00pm

  • Parenting Support Line

A free confidential advice line providing guidance and emotional support on any aspect of parenting and family life.

Call 0800 542 02 02, email [email protected], or message on Facebook.

Available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm and Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm

GPs are open and available to support people of all ages

  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

CAMHS are currently accepting and providing care to children or young people presenting with priority and urgent needs. For children and young people who have not been clinically triaged as presenting with urgent or priority needs, they are providing advice and guidance and signposting to alternative support opportunities within the community. In addition, CAMHS are providing the family with their contact details. They have also informed families that they will not require a new referral from their GP or school when their operating model changes assuring them that they can simply come back to them directly.

CAMHS are currently reviewing their operational delivery model and this is being reviewed within their trust governance process and they hope to provide an update on a revised operational model in the next 2 weeks.

Any professional working with children and families is welcome to call the CAMHS Professional Advice Line on 01452 894272 (office hours) to discuss any potential referrals and for consultation and advice.

Crisis support

If there is an immediate danger to life call 999. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teamfor people 11 and over

An increased level of care for those with mental health conditions or experiencing emotional and psychological distress. Currently minimised face-to-face contact – use of telephone, text and video-based technology.

Call 0800 169 0398

  • Samaritansfor all ages

Support for anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small.

Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

  • Shoutfor all ages

Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.

Text 85258

New Mental Health Services During the Covid-19 Outbreak

Swindon County Council is working in partnership with different agencies to introduce a range of new mental health services in response to the Covid19 outbreak. It is acknowledged that this is a challenging time for everyone. Social isolation, distancing, and changes in routine and relationships may contribute to mental health difficulties; as well as anxiety caused by concerns about our own health and the health of our loved ones. It is important that we have the necessary capacity in the system to respond; and, given social distancing requirements, that we look at new ways to deliver mental health support.