Services
Useful information for children and young people
Here you can find useful information, tips and links on a range of topics.
Get support from a school nurse
by text message
ChatHealth offers support to young people with questions relating to a wide range of health and wellbeing issues including: relationships, bullying, healthy lifestyle, anxiety, drugs, smoking, stress, body worries, alcohol, self-harm and sexual health. As well as giving advice, the school nursing can signpost to appropriate services and other support.
Messages sent to the dedicated number (07507 333351) are delivered to a secure website, and a school nurse will respond to you. The service is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm, excluding bank holidays. Someone will usually get back to you within 24 hours. If you contact us outside of office hours, you will receive a message explaining where to get help if your question is urgent, and when you can expect a response.
Although the service is confidential and you do not need to give your name, we might need to share information if we are worried for your, or someone else’s safety.
Bullying
Bullying is when someone does something deliberately to hurt, upset or threaten you.
You may have experienced it face-to-face, one-to-one or in groups and could have included name calling, being physically violent, spreading rumours or even deliberately leaving people out. It can also happen through social media, texting and cyberbullying which are all becoming more common.
Bullying can make you feel isolated and worthless, lonely, anxious, angry and lacking confidence. You may experience some or all of these feelings.
Those who are bullied are more likely to experience: depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.
Ignoring bullying won’t make it go away. You need to tell someone about what is happening. You should always speak to someone, this can be a parent, carer, family member, friend, teacher, health professional or someone you trust.
Further support
- Young Minds has expert articles, advice and blogs and a crisis text-line.
- Self-care tips for young people. have made some videos giving advice on how to deal with unhelpful thoughts, sleep, social media, anxiety, exercise and more.
- Barnardos offers a range of support, from your mental health and wellbeing, to being a care leaver or accessing support to find a job.
- Samaritans offers a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. They won’t judge you or tell you what to do, we’ll listen to you. Anyone can contact Samaritans, no matter how old you are. Find out more about how to contact a Samaritan.
- Kooth is a helpful website offering online counselling and support through text, e-mail or chatting on the forum. Kooth is suitable for ages 10-18 years.
- YoungMinds Textline offers you free, 24/7 text messaging support wherever you are in the UK. If you need someone to talk to about how you’re feeling, text YM to 85258.
- Jake’s Story: Being Bullied | BBC Teach is a useful watch for any young person experiencing bullying
Substance Misuse
School nurses are here to offer guidance, answer questions, and help young people find the right support when it comes to substance misuse.
“Substance misuse” is when you take drugs, alcohol or any other substances that is harmful to health, wellbeing or daily life.
This can include:
- Using illegal drugs (For example cannabis, ketamine, cocaine)
- Drinking alcohol
- Taking someone else’s prescription medication
- Using substances to cope with stress, anxiety, or emotions
- Vaping or smoking
- Inhaling substances (For example nitric oxide, aerosols, glue)
- Or any other substances that are affecting your daily life
Getting help
Relationships
Stable relationships with friends, family and partners are important as they can influence your health and well-being.
Relationships within families can be difficult as they are made up of people who have different needs, ideas and ways of doing things. Sometimes this means you won’t get on and there will be arguments and family problems, which is completely normal.
Relationships with partners and friends can also be tricky and confusing. The important part of any relationship is that both of you are happy and that you support and care for each other. A good relationship should make you feel happy with a sense of belonging, someone you trust and are able to talk to.
If you have any concerns regarding a relationship you are in, please contact your School Nurse via Chathealth for support.
Useful Links
Body image
Body image is how we see, think and feel about our own bodies. Lots of people get worried about how they look or what other people think.
If you find yourself comparing your body to what you see every day, you’re not alone. It is easy to become influenced by these things and it can really impact our mental health and physical health.
It is therefore really important that you reach out for support if you are struggling.
Useful resources
Self harm
Self-harm is when you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with very difficult feelings, painful memories or overwhelming situations and experiences. Self-harm might look like:
- Cutting, biting, hitting or burning ourselves
- Hitting things, like punching a wall
- Poisoning ourselves, like taking overdoses
- Doing things that are bad for our health, like drinking too much alcohol or having unsafe sex
- Not taking care of ourselves, like not eating or washing
Once you have started to depend on self-harm, it can take a long time to stop.
If you ever find yourself in mental health crisis and have thoughts of ending your life, please ensure you call 999 for urgent support.
Useful links for support
- Gloucestershire Self-harm Helpline – support for people who self-harm
- Mind – information on self-harm.
- NHS – information on self-harm
- SHOUT – Shout: The UK’s free, confidential, 24/7 mental health text service | Shout 85258
- Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide
- Contact Us | Samaritans
Mental health
Mental health is just like physical health: everybody has it and we need to take care of it. Data tells us that 1 in 3 children and young people experience difficulties with their emotional health and wellbeing and so you are not alone in how you are feeling. It is really important that you reach out for support from someone you trust if you are struggling with your mental health.
On Your Mind Gloucestershire (OYMG) is a NHS mental health support finder which signposts children, young people, parents & professionals to appropriate mental health services, including CAMHS, Talk Well, Young Minds Matter and Young Gloucestershire, amongst other local services.
Use the online support finder or the directory of services on the website to find local support available to you: www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk
Healthy eating
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health
School nurses and the Health and wellbeing teams can offer advice on healthy eating and support you if you are concerned about your diet, eating patterns and your weight.
Useful links
- The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.
- Change4Life has information on foods, as well as recipes and activities.
- Information and support for eating disorders from Beat
Exam anxiety
Exam stress can start when you feel you can’t cope with revision, or feel pressure from your school or family. However there are a range of things that you can do to help deal with the stress that you might be feeling.
You might find it useful to try and create an exam planner.
Useful links
- BBC Bitesize – How to reduce stress and anxiety during exams: How to reduce stress and anxiety during exams – BBC Bitesize
- BBC Bitesize – Homework: Managing deadlines: Managing deadlines for your homework – BBC Bitesize
- BBC Bitesize – How to revise: Planning and timetables: How do I make a revision timetable for my exams? – BBC Bitesize
- Young Minds – Exam Stress: Exam Stress | How To Deal with Exam Stress | YoungMinds
- Young Minds – Exam self care: Exam Self-Care | Mental Health Advice For Students | YoungMinds
- NHS advice on exam stress
- Childline has guidance on exam stress and pressure
- Mindfulness activities can also be really helpful in reducing stress and anxiety. Here are some examples you could try: mindfulness-hand-breathing-and-grounding-techniques.pdf
- How to Make a Self-Soothe Box | Young Person Blog | YoungMinds
Sexual Health
School Nurses can provide you with sexual health advice via our school nurse drop ins, out in the community or via a home visit if this is preferred. We will support you with:
- Confidential service (unless we were concerned you or someone else was at risk)
- Advice and guidance
- Provision for Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) upon request (an assessment and follow up with School Nurse would be required)
- C Card Scheme (see more information below)
- Healthy relationships advice
- Discussing signs and symptoms with you if you are concerned about a sexually transmitted infection and support you to book appointments with specialist services if needed
C-Card Scheme
The ‘c-card’ or condom card is available to anyone aged under 25 to get free condoms, in a discrete manner in many locations across Gloucestershire. Condoms are one of the most effective forms of contraception we have when it comes to protecting ourselves during sex. They’re widely available, and when used correctly are around 98% effective at preventing both sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy.
If you approach a school nurse to get access to a c-card we will have a conversation to check a few things. The assessment we complete is nothing to be worried about. The information we are trying to understand is if you are able to be making safe decisions about sex. We also use this opportunity to talk about correct use of condoms, because if not used correctly the rate of effectiveness reduces.
We will briefly discuss your sexual health, if you are in a relationship and how you feel about that relationship. We will ask you about contraception, give you further advice about condoms and then complete a short demonstration about how to use one effectively. If we are happy with what we discuss, we will then provide you with a small, ‘c-card’ which will allow you to go into the nominated pharmacies to access free condoms and lubrication without having to provide any further information at that stage.
Alternatively, once you have this card you will then be able to come to school nurse drop-in and access more condoms and lubrication if this is easier for you. This is a list of services across Gloucestershire where young people can sign up for a C-Card and receive free condoms: C-Card Sites in Gloucestershire. In addition, many other locations, such as pharmacies displaying the green C-Card sticker, can provide condoms if you already have a card.
Links
Young Carers
The NHS defines a young carer as someone under the age of 18 who supports a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug and alcohol problem. Many young carers begin helping at a young age without realising their role. It’s important that young carers receive the right support and are not expected to take on responsibilities that would normally be handled by an adult.
Young carers should still be able to attend school, enjoy their education, and plan for their future. Schools can offer support through homework clubs, extra time to complete assignments, or simply by being available to listen.
All young carers are entitled to a young carers assessment through the local council. This assessment helps identify what support is needed for the young person and their family. More information is available from Gloucestershire County Council at:
Young Carers Assessment – Gloucestershire County Council Gloucestershire County Council
There is also a charity called Gloucestershire Young Carers, which has been supporting young people aged 8 to 24 since 1993. They work closely with young carers and their families to provide safe spaces, access to key workers, and opportunities to build friendships with others in similar situations.
One of the most helpful things about Gloucestershire Young Carers is that anyone can make a referral for support including the young person themselves. It doesn’t have to come from a professional working with the family or school. You can find out more or make a referral here:
Refer – Gloucestershire Young Carers Gloucestershire Young Carers
Staying safe online
Social media has become a space in which we form and build relationships, shape self-identity, express ourselves and learn about the world around us; it is also intrinsically linked to mental health and our wellbeing.
Whilst we acknowledge that social media and the online world has many benefits, there are also risks and harms you need to be aware of, including:
Useful links