Young People’s Wellbeing and Mental Health Support
There is a lot of information and support available just for young people. Here are some of the services supporting young people in Stevenage that you may find useful:
SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service.
Hertfordshire SENDIASS is an impartial service who support children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) aged 0 to 25 years and their parents on issues relating to SEND. They do this by providing free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support through their dedicated helpline service, online resources, at events and workshops and through individual casework. They also provide SEND information and advice to professionals in Hertfordshire.
SENDIASS provides unbiased information and advice about what the law says, the local authority’s policies and procedures, and the policy and practice in local schools and other settings. This includes:
- Education, health and social care
- National and local policy
- The Hertfordshire Local Offer
- Your rights and choices
- Where you can find help and advice
- How you can access support
You can contact them on 01992 555 847 by emailing info@hertssendiass.org.uk or via their website here.
Young Minds – provide young people with tools to look after their mental health. Visit their website here for advice and information on what to do if you’re struggling with how you feel. Young Minds empower parents and adults who work with young people, to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives. Young Minds aim to create a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.
Young People’s Helpline – If you are 10-17 years old and experiencing a dip in your mental health and wellbeing, and would like someone to talk to, you can call Minds Young People’s Helpline. Their helpline will provide you with emotional support, advice and information and/or a listening ear. They will offer you sensitive and non-judgmental support from their team of dedicated Young People Advisors and Mentors who will provide you with:
- Time and space to talk
- Support with problem solving and building coping strategies
- Advice and information
- Signposting
- Onward referral
Concerns might be around school; the future; boredom and lacking something to look forward to; social isolation and a loss of support networks; and health anxiety. If you are a parent worried about your child, you can also call the helpline for information and support from one of their team. To contact the helpline please call: 01923 256 391. Please visit their website here for further information and details on current opening times.
Young People’s Healthy Hub – You can visit the Young People’s Healthy Hub website here for further information on how they can support all your health and wellbeing needs. They can provide support and advice for your mental, emotional, physical or lifestyle related needs. Perhaps you may want help in getting more active or you just generally feel down and alone and don’t know where to start. Whatever your need might be, the Young People’s Healthy Hub can connect you with local support.
If you want support from the hub and want to find out more information about how they can help you can email them on yphealthyhub@stevenage.gov.uk or call 07810 154 851.
Kooth is an online, anonymous mental health platform available for all young people aged 11-25 to use. The platform contains lots of wellbeing tools such as articles, forums, mood journals and wellbeing activities. Not only this but young people can speak anonymously to their team of BACP accredited counsellors and Emotional Wellbeing Practitioners. Visit their website here for further information.
North Herts and Stevenage Reach Out Project – is specifically designed to enable young people aged 13-17 to make informed, safe choices in forming and maintaining appropriate, healthy and safe relationships. Their friendly and qualified youth workers organise activities and discussions about issues including healthy relationships, resilience and coping with tough situations, to help you make decisions that are best for you. In addition to one-to-one support, group work projects will introduce you to a new friendship group and new opportunities to explore your best you. Visit their website here for further details on how to access the service.
Bedwell Friday Night Project – aims to get young people aged 14-17 more involved in their community and offer them support. Go to Bowes on Friday evenings where you can play sports and have discussions with friendly and supportive youth workers about issues relevant to your life. You can try new experiences and have fun taking part in interactive and engaging activities including, sports, music production, healthy living and arts & crafts. Visit the Services for Young People Listings website here for further information.
Just Talk Herts – visit their website here for Young people’s emotional wellbeing information and signposting in Hertfordshire.
