Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People - East Sussex

The East Sussex Local Offer has specific pages dedicated to children and young people's wellbeing, physical health and mental health.

For mental health and emotional wellbeing support, follow the link:

Physical health and practical support topics covered on this site include:

• Physical fitness and body health
• Healthy eating, diet and food
• Dentists/dentistry
• Learning disability register
• Annual health checks
• Sexual health, sexuality and relationships
• Online safety

To find out more, visit the page:

Sussex Mental Healthline

The Sussex Mental Healthline is a 24/7 telephone service. It offers listening support, advice, information and signposting to anyone experiencing difficulties with their mental health or relatives, friends, carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need an appointment.

If you need support right now, this is a good place to start.

• For telephone support, call NHS 111 and select option 2 or dial 0800 0309 500
• You can also visit the website:  Sussex Mental Health Crisis Line

Health in Mind

Health in Mind are dedicated to improving mental wellbeing. For people in East Sussex, they deliver:

• Free courses
• Therapy
• Online programmes
• 1:1 talking therapies

To find out more, follow the link to the website:

Counselling

Counselling is a good way for parents and carers to talk through the things that they find challenging. Counselling can either be:

• Via a health referral from your GP. Your GP can refer you to a local NHS therapeutic service. This route can sometimes have a long waiting list.
• Provided by a charity or community organisation. This can be free or low cost, though it is sometimes harder to find.
• Private counselling. This would be counselling you find and pay for yourself. You can search for counsellors local to you on Google or use one of the many counselling directories. Counselling directories include Psychology Today and British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

You can search for a therapist via:

East Sussex Single Point of Advice (SPoA)

‘The East Sussex Single Point of Advice (SPoA) is a triage service which simplifies the referral process for professionals and families who are concerned about the mental health or emotional wellbeing of a child or young person in East Sussex. The SPoA offers information and signposting to other agencies and support that might be required to help a child, young person or family.  The SPoA was developed to help address the increased demand for mental health services to support children and young people. The service is provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and East Sussex County Council.’

Families can get 24-hour advice, support and signposting from ‘The Mental Health Team’

East Sussex 1Space

East Sussex 1Space provides a directory of support within East Sussex on a range of mental health and wellbeing topics, including bereavement, substance abuse, children's mental health and counselling. 

Amaze

Offers information, advice and support to parent carers and young people with additional needs up to 25 in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.

Rise

A Sussex-based charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse and violence.

Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People - National/Wider Resources

Young Minds

Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. 

NHS Every Mind Matters

We all have times when we feel low, anxious or overwhelmed and it's not always easy to know what to do to feel better. Here, you can find what works for you. We'll show you simple and practical ways to ease anxiety, manage stress, lift your mood and sleep better.

Family Action

‘First line support for every family and any family issue. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, worried or upset about any aspect of your family life, whether here in the present or something from your past, Family Line is here for you. We offer free emotional support, information and guidance on family relationships – including siblings – conflict, parenting, caring, financial worries and more.’

Open Monday-Friday, 9am to 9pm. Callers must be 18+.
Call:0808 802 6666
Text: 07537 404 282

familyline@family-action.org.uk

Action for Children

‘Down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust.  We’re here for you, when you need us. Find answers to parenting questions in our advice articles. Or talk to a parenting coach about anything that’s worrying you. It’s all free, and no topic is too big, small, or embarrassing.’

Clear Sky

Clear Sky supports parents and carers with play-based skills to support children’s emotional wellbeing and enhance the parent/carer-child relationship.’

Kooth

Free online support for young people. Kooth counsellors are online Monday-Friday, 12 noon till 10pm and weekends, 6pm till 10pm.

Papyrus

‘HOPELINE247 advisers want to work with you to understand why thoughts of suicide might be present. They also want to provide you with a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life that could be impacting on your or anyone else’s ability to stay safe.  For children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide.  For anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.’

Childline

Childline is the UK’s free helpline for children and young people. It provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child or young person with a problem. 
Freephone 0800 1111 (24 hours and the call won’t show on your phone bill)

Kidscape

Kidscape are the first charity in the UK established specifically to prevent bullying and sexual abuse. The website offers advice and practical skills on how to deal with bullying. 

The Mix

Free, confidential telephone helpline finding young people the best help whatever the problem. 
Freephone 0808 808 4994 (7 days a week 1pm-11pm)

Samaritans

Samaritans volunteers listen in confidence to anyone in any type of emotional distress, without judging or telling people what to do.
Call 0116 123 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Winstons Wish

The death of a parent, brother or sister is one of the most fundamental losses a child will ever face. At Winston’s Wish, they believe that bereaved children need support to make sense of death and rebuild their lives. T
Helpline 08452 03 04 05 (Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Wednesday evenings, 7pm to 9.30 pm)

Spurgeons Charity

Spurgeons offers mental health resources, advice and support as well as counselling services for children and parents.

Support for Parents and Carers' Mental Health

Your Mental Health & Wellbeing- 10 Top Tips for Parents 

Rehab for Addiction - a UK based Additction Helpline