Help me to help myself (under 18)
We don’t know any details about you so we can’t be specific with you, but you will find here some general guidance and suggestions to review. Please first take note of the following important information about the guidance provided here, by pressing the adjacent button.
Please press the button for important information about the guidance provided here.
We also want you to be safe online, so here is a link to the SAMARITANS resources that specifically covers “Guidance on staying safe online, co-designed by young people with lived experience of self-harm and suicidal feelings and experience of supporting others at risk”.
We also want you to be safe online, so here is a link to the excellent SAMARITANS advice.
If you need help urgently then contact one of the following teams :
So, you don’t feel like yourself at the moment. And you want to do something about it.
Hopefully, you’ll find what you need here. There’s loads of information on the internet, that can take forever to get through, so we’ve tried to sift out the best bits.
Choose what you do: read, listen to a podcast, watch some videos, or do something, try an App or maybe take a look at some websites.
Your choice: you’re in control.
Remember though that none of this is a substitute for talking with someone. Talking isn’t always easy, but there are lots of people who are trained and have lots of experience in listening to young people, like you, who really can help. Give them a try.
So click here to go to all the help sections below for suggestions or click the Open Quick Links button any time on the right and select the appropriate icon. Or if you just scroll down, you’ll also see the Positive things to try, that you can simply try as part of looking after yourself.
Positive things to try
For a more comprehensive list of positive things to try for your self care (from the Anna Freud organisation), click here.
Want help? Here are suggestions for you
Everyone has a preferred way to receive good advice and information. Below you will find options for reading, listening, watching and talking. Take a look at what works best for you.
Of course, we would always urge you to talk to someone – it’s Why Talking Fixes. Talking with someone who is there to support you can guide you most effectively to positive solutions and positive outcomes.
We don’t know exactly how you feel but some of these may help you.
Contact one of these
Click one of these images – for helplines, text lines or online support.
We don’t know exactly how you feel but some of these may help you.
Have a read of these
More reading:
Click the bookmark below to see more reading options that may be of value covering: ‘Thinking about suicide‘, ‘Self care‘, ‘Asking for help‘, ‘Exam stress‘, as well as General advice and specific scenarios such as ‘Self harm coping techniques’.
It also includes some recommended books to read.
We don’t know exactly how you feel but some of these may help you.
Have a listen to these
Self Help Guides produced by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust www.cntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp Titles cover a range of mental health issues.
Click the image or link above to go through to the website, then click the leaflet required and play “audio”.
More listening:
Click the headphones below to see more options that may be of value covering: ‘Thinking about suicide‘, ‘Self care‘, and specific scenarios such as ‘Depression and anxiety’.
It also includes useful Podcast sites.
We don’t know exactly how you feel but some of these may help you.
Take a look at these
Coping with suicidal feelings
The Pig of Happiness
Importance of talking
More watching:
Click the video icon below to see more videos that may be of value covering: ‘Thinking about suicide‘, ‘Self care‘, ‘Asking for help‘, ‘Exam stress‘, as well as General advice and specific scenarios such as ‘Self harm’.
We don’t know exactly how you feel but some of these may help you.
Join in one of these
There are many societies and groups that you can join or things that you can do to get active and get out. For us here in Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire look at the following to inspire you (for other locations you will need to do some research on the internet for options in your local area).
Click the images below to see documents with groups, organisations and clubs listed with their purpose and contact details.
If you know of any other groups, clubs, organisations or activities that you would recommend then do let us know (use our Contact us form) so that we can review them and add them to the list.
Support Groups and Clubs
the surrounding areas
Things to do in Derby and Derbyshire
Things to do in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Apps for mobile phones/tablets that can help you
Stay Alive
Stay Alive
This app is a pocket suicide prevention resource packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
Click the mobile for more info
Stressheads
Stressheads
Being stressed out sucks because stress turns your brain to goo, stopping you making decisions and piling up until it feels like your head’s going to explode (*pop*). So turn your screen into a stress relief tool.
Click the mobile for more info
Better Stop Suicide
Better Stop Suicide
This App helps you press your own STOP button should suicidal thoughts come to you. Remember ‘suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem’. And your calm thinking brain already knows that, doesn’t it. This app helps you to use your thinking brain.
Click the mobile for more info
Apart Of Me
Apart Of Me
When someone you love dies, it can feel like everything has turned upside down. But you’re not alone. Apart of Me is a beautiful world, built to guide you through your darkest moments, where…
- You can feel safe and rediscover a sense of calm
- You can hear the stories of people like you who have had similar experiences, so you know you aren’t alone
- You can learn to accept your feelings, however intense or uncomfortable they are
- You take on real-world quests to discover the strength and wisdom deep inside you.
Click the mobile for more info
Finch Self-care Pet
Finch Self-care Pet
Meet your new self-care best friend! Finch is a self-care pet app that helps you feel prepared and positive, one day at a time. Take care of your pet by taking care of yourself! Choose from a wide variety of self-care exercises personalized for you.
Struggling with stress, mental health, or need motivation? Is self-care a chore? Finch makes self-care finally feel rewarding, lightweight, and fun. Complete quick self-care exercises to grow your pet, earn rewards, and improve mental health! People who struggle with mental health, goals, meditation, and journaling found it easier to be mindful with their self-care pet in the Finch app!
Click the mobile for more info
More Apps
To see more info about Apps (including those listed here and many more), click any of the images below to visit Papyrus (Ochra), and CAMHS (Apps page).
The Papyrus link also provides App ratings.
Here are websites that we reference throughout our site (and more).
If relevant to you please go and visit their websites.
The organisations’ websites that we reference throughout our site are shown in the desktop versions of our website. To see the images/logos and to be able to click through to an organisation’s website please view this page on our WTF website on your windows/Mac desktop.
We would like to acknowledge our appreciation to these organisations for their fantastic work and permission to reference them.
On your mobile, please see the CAMHS website referenced below.
Websites we referenced
Below are the websites we have referenced and signposted throughout our own website. We would like to acknowledge our appreciation to these organisations for their fantastic work and permission (where requested) to reference them.
Click any of the images/logos below to go through to their websites.
On tablet please use landscape view to see the images/logos of the organisations.
Comprehensive guide to other websites
Below is a comprehensive curated list of websites with descriptions (including many of the ones we have referenced). Click the image to see them.
Press the ‘ Hide page ‘ button to go quickly to ‘google.co.uk‘.
For great advice (from Childline) on covering
your tracks, click ‘ Cover tracks ‘ button
