Emotional Health:
It is so important that everybody keeps healthy emotionally. We recognise you, as Care Leavers, have experienced a lot of trauma and difficulties in your lives that can impact upon your adult life.
Firstly, we would hope that you can talk to people in your life about any worries you may have. This may include your personal adviser, family, carers, social worker or support worker.
We recognise that there may be longer waiting times for some of the emotional well-being services such as CAMHS and/or Mindsmatter. If you are in need of a more urgent service, there are voluntary agencies that can provide support. These agencies require a donation and the local authority as your corporate parent will fund this donation to ensure you get the support you need.
If you are in this position, please speak to your personal adviser and this can be arranged.
St Helens :: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Mental health affects us all and is important to us all. It is about being able to enjoy friendships and personal relationships, being able to learn to cope with difficulties to the best of your ability, and believing in yourself.
We all go through difficult times, we feel anxious or angry or sad. Sometimes other people get us down. That's part of life and it's important to learn how to cope. Sometimes these things can affect young people a lot, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and you forget your own important skills.
Some problems go away pretty quickly and we carry on, but if they are unidentified or ignored they tend to become bigger and cause even more distress, not only for young people, but for families, carers, and friends.
The problems that go on and on seem to take over and there's a change in you, in your usual behaviour, your emotions or your thoughts. Sometimes anxiety and depression are severe and frequent enough to take over everyday life. People can then feel isolated, like no one gets it and that they can't cope.
Talk to someone - This could be anyone - a teacher, parent, friend or someone else. All that matters is they are someone you can open up to and trust.
Don't be alone - Although your room might feel like a safe place, surrounding yourself with friends or family will help with loneliness and sadness.
Think positive - List all the things you like about yourself and the things people have told you they like about you.
Face your problems - Make a list of all your problems. Picture yourself coping with these problems. Think about how you can deal with them and what you can control.
Take a break - Do something you enjoy, whatever that is.
Stay active - Exercise can make you feel happier and more confident. It doesn't matter what you do, the most important thing is to find something that makes you feel good.
Eat well - Eat three regular meals a day, and drink plenty of water. It's surprising how much eating well can affect your mood.
Help others - Volunteer for an organisation that interests or inspires you, or volunteer for our Trust. Helping others will make you feel valued.
Avoid drugs and alcohol - These cause more problems than they solve.
It is important to talk to someone if:
- You feel so desperate you think about stopping school, running away or harming yourself
- You feel low, sad, tearful or that life isn't worth living
- You lose your appetite
- You find it difficult to sleep
- You have feelings and thoughts which are hard to talk about because you feel people might think you are odd
- You are avoiding seeing your friends, going out, or doing things you used to enjoy
- You are using drugs or alcohol to block out the feelings
- Your GP, school nurse or teacher can help - they may send you to see someone from your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
For further information, please click on the link above to the Mersey Care website.
The Think Wellbeing service
has dedicated teams of psychological wellbeing practitioners, cognitive behavioural therapists and counsellors who offer a range of support to help you make positive changes to reduce stress and anxiety and improve your wellbeing. These include stress control classes, wellbeing workshops, group therapies, one to one support and telephone support.
Think Wellbeing offers a free service in St Helens for anyone over the age of 16.
Think Wellbeing empowers people to improve their own wellbeing, but if what they offer isn't right for you then they will signpost you to the service that is.
Think Wellbeing is not a crisis service. If you are at risk of self-harm, please make contact with your GP or out of hours GP service. Alternatively, you can call 111 or Samaritans free on 116 123.
For more information about Think Wellbeing, visit: www.nwbh.nhs.uk/think-wellbeing-st-helens
Contact details
North West Boroughs Healthcare
Think Wellbeing
Court Block
Alexandra Business Park
Prescot Road
St.Helens
WA10 3TP
Tel: 01744 647100
Harmony
offer a wide range of counselling services catering to your individual needs. These include (but are not limited to): Person Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Integrative Therapy.
You are in control of your therapy. You decide how much you can afford to pay, and you decide how many sessions you feel you may require.
Harmony have a large number of both male and female counsellors available.
If you are in need of an emotional wellbeing service and the NHS waiting list is too long, as a St.Helens Care Leaver we are making a commitment to provide the donation to Harmony for you to receive the service you need.
Find more information on Harmony.
Contact details
14 Vincent Street
St.Helens
Merseyside
WA10 1LF
Email: enquiries@harmony-ch.co.uk
Tel: 07948 571950
Chrysalis for Change:
The Chrysalis Centre For Change (CCC) offer a variety of services. They are dedicated to achieving the highest standards to improve the lives of women through self-empowerment and self-belief.
All services at CCC are aimed at promoting positive mental health and empowering women into changes that improve their mental wellbeing. At CCC they believe positive mental health is about building your self-esteem and self-worth to realise your own needs are as important as everyone else's.
The services they offer are outlined below. Find more information on the the Chrysalis Centre For Change.
Professional Counselling Service
Counselling offers the opportunity to talk about your problems in a safe and supportive environment. The relationship between you and the counsellor is confidential and non-judgemental. The safety of this relationship offers the opportunity for you to explore your feelings and work towards making positive life changes.
On your first visit, you will have an informal chat with the counsellor. During this visit, the counsellor will ensure that you understand what counselling is and what it is not, and what is meant by confidentiality. If you have any concerns, your counsellor will be only too happy to discuss them at this initial pre-counselling appointment.
Supported Drop-In
Mondays and Wednesdays, 1.30-3.30pm
The supported drop-in service is open at the centre two afternoons a week. Women can come along and chat to others who may be experiencing similar issues, or they can talk to one of our trained support workers.
This informal group can help women who feel isolated or lonely or who just want some time or space of their own.
They also offer therapeutic craft activities, such as card-making, within the supported drop-in sessions.
The supported drop-in is immediately accessible to women once they have had an assessment appointment and been accepted into the services.
'Positive Me' Programme for Depression
Thursdays, 9.30am-12.00pm
An eight-week programme, using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help women suffering from the symptoms of depression to develop long-term positive coping strategies. Women can join the programme at any time.
What is CBT?
CBT is a form of therapy that looks at the links between what we do, how we think and how we feel. CBT focuses not on the past or how our problems have arisen but on looking for ways to improve your mental wellbeing NOW.
Sharing your feelings with others who are going through a similar experience can be highly beneficial. Working together in a group the programme will look at the causes and symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety and together work towards developing long-term coping skills that will help you to change, feel better and take positive steps to a brighter future.
Stress and Anxiety Management
Tuesdays, 1.00-3.30pm
This eight-week course offers you the opportunity to understand stress and anxiety, identify your own stress levels and to manage them with positive strategies. It also gives you the opportunity to learn and practise relaxation techniques.
Please contact the centre for start dates or more information.
Domestic Abuse Support Group
Thursdays, 1.00-3.30pm
This support group is for any woman affected by domestic abuse, directly or indirectly. No appointment is necessary.
Please contact the centre for further information.
Confidence and Assertion Courses
CCC offer a 10-week personal development course for confidence and assertion. The course covers confidence-building, assertiveness, saying no without feeling guilty, managing change, anger, self-esteem and positive communication skills.
Creative Crafts for Therapy
CCC run a program of crafts throughout the year including card-making, colouring for therapy, relaxation sessions and more. These friendly craft sessions offer you the opportunity to develop new skills and to meet new people.
Mindful Yoga
A gentle paced yoga with an experienced and fully qualified yoga instructor, Jen Kay from Yoga Reach. Suitable for all abilities, this class focuses on being mindful, breathing techniques and getting in touch with yourself. We ask for a small charge of £1 to cover the cost of hiring the room.
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