Alcohol 

Most adults drink alcohol from time to time and a little alcohol (when you get to the age of 18) is not a bad thing. Alcohol becomes a problem when people drink too much of it either on the odd occasion or regularly. It is also important to know that alcohol affects your inhibitions and your ability to make good decisions. Also, when under the influence of alcohol you run the risk of being taken advantage of by others. If you or anyone you know needs some help and advice in this area, then the links below are very useful.

Childline - What you need to know about alcohol.

FRANK is free, confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law. FRANKS's live chat service runs daily from 2pm to 6pm.

Phone: 0300 1236600 (24-hour helpline)

Text a question to 82111 

T3 is a confidential service for young people up to 20 years living in Staffordshire.

Young Minds - Drugs and alcohol guide

Anger

Anger affects your health and can cause high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, colds, flu and problems with digestion. Anger is sometimes a natural reaction but  can be difficult to control. However, we have a responsibility to try. If you or anybody else needs help or support with this then speak to an adult you trust or follow the links below.

Childline - Why am I angry?

NHS - Helping your child with anger issues.

Young Minds - Anger Mental Health Guide

Anxiety UK is a charity providing support to those who have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition

Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm

No Panic is a registered charity that helps people who suffer from panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety related disorders.

Phone: Youth Helpline 0300 606 1174 (3pm-6pm)

Bereavement

Child Bereavement UK help children and young people (up to the age of 25), parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. 

Cruse Bereavement Care

Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Windmills ethos is: To preserve and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of children and young people when someone significant in their life is dying, or has died, by providing bespoke, focused and supportive acute bereavement care.

Winston Wish gives hope to grieving children, offering a chat function as well as resources. 

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar UK is a charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Rethink Mental Illness is a national mental health charity.  Phone: 0300 5000 927

Body Image

Does any of this sound familiar? "I'm too tall." "I'm too short." "I'm too skinny." "If only I were shorter/taller/had curly hair/straight hair/a smaller nose/longer legs, I'd be happy." Don’t put yourself down? There’s a lot of information out there focusing too much on people’s appearance. As a teen, you're going through lots of changes in your body. It's not always easy to like every part of your looks, but when you get stuck on the negatives it can really bring down your self-esteem. Most people wish at least one part of their body was different but if it is getting you down then the links below are a good place to start.

Childline - Feeling Good About How You Look

Bullying

Bullying is defined as ‘an on-going issue of name calling, physical abuse, use of force, use of power over someone else and/or ignoring or isolating someone.’ Bullying of any type is unpleasant and unacceptable. You should not have to suffer this and must tell someone straight away. In school there are lots of staff you can speak to, not least your tutor, House leaders or anyone in the Pastoral Office. But we also have BIL which is the Bullying Incident Letter box. If you want to report something anonymously, then use BIL. The links below will give you advice and help if you or anyone else needs it.  The Weston Road Academy work with staff, parents and pupils to create a community where bullying is not tolerated.  We are proud to be an anti-bullying pledge school. 

Childline - bullying

Young Minds - Bullying Mental Health Guide

Depression

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. We all go through spells of feeling down, but when you're depressed, you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days. Some people still think that depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong. Depression is a real illness with real symptoms, and it's not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together".

The good news is that with the right support, most people can overcome it. If you or anybody else needs help or support with this, then please speak to an adult you trust or follow the links below.

Action for children supporting children in Staffordshire from 5 years to 18 years with their mental health

Childline - Depression and feeling sad

MIND for better mental health

Rethink Mental Illness gives support and advice for people living with mental illness.  Phone: 0300 5000 927 

Samaritans is a confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Phone: 116 123 (free 24 hour helpline) 

Young minds - Depression and low mood

Divorce

For young people and children, divorce can be stressful, sad, and confusing. At any age, you may feel uncertain or angry at the prospect of Mum and Dad splitting up. If this is a problem either you or a friend is going through, then you do not have to deal with it alone. With divorce rising, there are certainly a lot of people feeling the effects. Don’t bottle up your feelings. Speak to someone and share the problem. The web link below could be helpful.

Childline - Divorce and Separation

Young Minds - Divorce & Separation Mental Health Guide

Drugs and Substance Misuse

There are a vast number of drugs out there that people use. The majority of them can be found in a chemist or prescribed by the doctor. However, there are also dangerous and illegal drugs about that damage and kill thousands of people every year. These drugs are illegal for a reason but people still show an interest in them. If you are concerned about yourself, a friend or anyone you know, then you will find some great advice in the webpages below.

Childline - Why People Take Drugs

FRANK is free, confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law. FRANKS's live chat service runs daily from 2pm to 6pm.

Phone: 0300 1236600 (24-hour helpline)

Text a question to 82111 

T3 is a confidential service for young people up to 20 years living in Staffordshire.

Young Minds - Drugs & Alcohol Mental Health Guide

Eating Disorders & Health Eating

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you feel your best. It doesn't have to be difficult either. The key to a healthy diet is to do the following:

1 - Eat the right number of calories for how active you are, so that you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use. If you eat or drink too much, you’ll put on weight. If you eat and drink too little, you’ll lose weight. The average teenage boy  needs around 2,500 – 3,000 calories a day and the average teenage girl 2,000 – 2,500 calories .

2 - Eat a wide range of foods to ensure that you’re getting a balanced diet and that your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs. A number of people suffer from eating disorders which can and must be treated. These include: anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating. All of these can be treated. You can speak to an adult about your concerns or use the links below for help and support. 

Beat (Beating Eating Disorders) provides information on all eating disorders

Youth Line: 0808 801 0711

Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677 

Beat - Learn About Eating Disorders 

Childline - Eating Disorders

Kidshealth - Food Fitness

Talk ED Anorexia and Bulimia Care has over 23 years experience, providing advice and support to anyone affected by anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

Phone: 03000 11 12 13 

Young Minds - Eating Disorders Mental Health Guide

Grooming

Grooming happens when someone tries to get to know you with the intention of sexual abuse. This doesn’t have to be online, but the internet gives people more opportunity not to be noticed. If someone you do not know tries to be your friend, then be wary. They may not be who they say they are. Do not give out private information, secrets or photos. If you are concerned that this might be happening, then speak to an adult that you trust immediately. They can help no matter what you may have already said or done. If you need any help or advice, then the following websites are excellent.

Think U Know 

Childnet

Internet Matters - Grooming

Location Services

What are they? Your smart phone, android, tablet will probably have location services built in. They are there to make it easier than ever for you to show your friends and family where you are in real time. You can set your phone to update where you are as you move from location to location. This sounds great, but beware.  Your friends maybe able to see where you are but so can many others. Before you use location services, make sure your settings are correct so that only friends and family can track you. If in doubt, turn it off.

Mobile Guardian

Think U Know 

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Childline is a free, private and confidential service where children gan talk about anything.

Call: 0800 1111

You Are Not Alone

NHS signposting for a range of Support Services

The Sandbox - Digital Mental Health for Children and Young People

Urge Surfing - Urge surfing is a technique for managing your unwanted behaviours. Rather than giving in to an urge, you will ride it out, like a surfer riding a wave. After a short time, the urge will pass on its own. This technique can be used to stop or reduce drug and alcohol use, emotional reactions such as “blowing up” when angry, gambling, and other unwanted behaviours.

Young minds gives information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544

Self-esteem

Self-esteem is the way you feel about yourself. Lots of things can lower our self-esteem, such as a relationship break-up, not doing well in an exam or putting on weight. None of these things makes us worth less, but it can feel that way.

If your self-esteem is low, it's important to learn how to improve it. The best way to improve your self-esteem is to "treat yourself as you would treat a valued friend", in a positive but honest way. Staff are always willing to lend an ear and the links below also provide help and guidance. 

Young Minds - Self-esteem and believing in yourself

Self-Harm

Self-harm involves somebody intentionally damaging or injuring their body.  Often their intention is to punish themselves, express their distress or relieve unbearable tension. Self-harm can also be a cry for help.  That help is available and you can speak to anyone in school, but below are some useful links that could help and support you.

Action for children - Mental health support for children from 5 to 18 years in Staffordshire and around the UK.

Alumina -(formally known as SelfHarmUK) supporting young people 11 years-18 years, with a safe place to talk and ask questions.

Childline - Self Harm

National Self Harm Network is a site with monitored forums to support people self harming. 

NSPCC help for Self Harm, depression and Mental Health. 

Young Minds - Self Harm

Sex and Relationships

 Intriguing, interesting, embarrassing! Everyone has questions about being in relationships but it’s not always that easy. Who to talk to, how much to say, and how to know if the information you are getting is right. You may have someone you feel you can confide in and you may not but these websites are very helpful in answering all those awkward questions.

Childline - Sex and Relationships

Sexting

Sexting is the act of sending sexual messages to someone else by mobile phones or through social networking sites and instant messaging. The biggest problem is that sexting photos and messages can be shared with people and sent everywhere. Research suggests that 88% of self-made pictures and photos are stolen and made available on other websites. This means your picture can be seen by absolutely anyone at all! Be very careful what you send and who you send it to, and never send a photo that you would not want seen in public. If you have any concerns, the following websites are very helpful.

Childnet - Sexting Help and Advice 

Internet Matters - Sexting

Think U Know

 Smoking

Unless you have been living on a desert island, you know about the dangers of smoking. Regardless of that, some people still choose to smoke. If you, a friend or family member smokes and needs help and advice on quitting, the links below will help. If people need more convincing, just show them some of the pictures.

Childline - What you need to know about smoking

NHS - Smoke Free

Social Networking

Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, Reddit, Threads, Discord, YouTube - we have probably all used at least one of these and more besides. They are great fun and a useful way of keeping in touch with family and friends. We can share photos, videos and just catch up. But there is also a dangerous side to Social Networking sites. It is important that you keep your information safe and secure, that you keep private information private, and that you are careful what you say about and to others. If you have any concerns with regards to these type of sites, then you can speak to an adult that you trust. Another option is to visit one of the websites below for very useful advice, hints and tips on keeping safe while online.

Think U Know

Childline - Your online community

Internet Matters - Socialising online safely

NSPCC Net Aware - online safety

Safer Internet Centre - Social Media Guides

Young Minds - Social Media

Stress

Stress is a feeling of strain and pressure. Small amounts of stress are good and useful. Positive stress can help us perform better, for example in exams or sports for example. It can help with our motivation. Too much stress, however, may lead to problems in the body that could be harmful. Stress can be caused by what is happening to us and around us, but also by how we see a situation or how bad it might be. We get stressed when we do not think we have the ability to cope with a situation. The important thing to know is we never have to cope alone. Help is available both in school and via the links below.

NHS - Stress busters

NSPCC - Stress and mental health information

Suicide Prevention

Samaritans Confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK. Available 24hrs a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts that might lead to suicide.

Phone: 116 123

Email:jo@samaritans.org

PAPYRUS gives advice and support services for the Prevention of young suicide.

Trolling

An internet 'troll' is someone who posts unpleasant comments about people online. They may just want to shock, start an argument or in some cases bully someone. They will say very unpleasant things about a situation or a person which is only meant to cause upset and emotional damage. People have been jailed for this, so be careful what you say online. However, if you or anyone you know is a victim of a troll, either speak to a trusted adult or look at this website:

Think U Know

Internet Matters - Cyberbullying

Other Support Services

Family Action is a family support service offering emotional, practical and financial support to help children, young people and their families through a programme of referral-based support, targeted outreach visits and support to access community support, groups, universal offers and entitlement.

Chat Help is for 11-19 year olds to text about a range of subjects such as Bullying, health, self-esteem, relationships and sexual health

Young people: 07520615721 (staffordshire)

Parents: 07520615722

School Nursing Hub for families help and wellbeing service - giving young people and families advice on how to access healthcare services and advice.

Phone: 0808 178 0611