Support and Guidance
Kooth
A handy guide for Parents and Carers
Mental Health Foundation
Mental Health Foundation Website
Connect to Nature – A Guide For Parents/Carers
Body Image Parent Guide
Uniquely Me – A Guide To Building Girls Body Confidence
Health and Well-being helpline
ChatHealth Message For Students
ChatHealth Message For Parents
A new helpline has been launched to support parents and carers who are worried about how their child is coping during the Coronavirus pandemic. Dorset Council’s Educational Psychology Service has set-up the helpline to support those who are worried about their child or teenager during the lockdown.
The helpline number is 01305 228300. It is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.45pm. Callers need to ring and make an appointment for a 30-minute phone consultation.
ChatHealth is a confidential and anonymous text messaging service that enables children and young people aged 11-19 (year 7 and above) in Dorset to send health related questions via text to the ChatHealth School Nursing Team. just text us on 07480635511 between 8.30 and 4.30 and a nurse on duty will text you back. In relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), ChatHealth will still be available to access Monday – Friday 8.30 – 4.30 (not Bank Holidays), even if schools are closed, for any queries or concerns around emotional health, physical health, sexual health, family, exams, relationships etc.
Waiting for your referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) can feel like a slow process. To find support while you wait? Our bloggers and Activists share their tips.
We aim to support young people who are or may be LGBT+ and empower them have positive self-esteem, to know they are supported, to have a sense of community and to overcome issues caused or intensified by prejudice in order to facilitate freedom of expression.
Wellbeing Check-In Service
Dorset Mind Your Head, the children and young people department of Dorset Mind, has launched a new FREE service to provide support for young people (age 11-25) to help improve their emotional wellbeing.
The 1-2-1 support is delivered by trained volunteers as a weekly (or fortnightly) telephone or online session via Zoom. All staff and volunteers involved with the service are experienced at working with Children and Young People (CYP) and are fully trained, supervised and DBS checked. They will primarily be providing a non-judgemental listening service, helping young people express themselves and feel heard. They will also help them set meaningful, achievable goals and learn effective coping strategies.
The online/telephone meetings with the young person will carry on for a maximum period of six months and each session will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
It is important to point out the sessions are not counselling or advice but rather trained volunteers offering emotional support to help the young person to find their own goals, coping strategies and solutions.
Any (self) referrals can be directed to dmyh@dorsetmind.uk
Please provide contact details for both the prospective client (name, DOB) and, if need be, primary contact (parent/caregiver). A member of staff will be in contact at the earliest opportunity.
Some of the other services provided by Dorset Mind Your Head include:
If your young person is interested in joining either group, email dmyh@dorsetmind.uk to find out more.
1-2-1 Services for young people
Counselling – 6 sessions free (online and face to face)
Our 1:1 counselling can support young people aged 11-25 with 1-hour sessions every week for a maximum of 6 weeks. Normally face to face, but currently this service is run online via Zoom and other means
Big Umbrella – 5 free sessions (online and face to face)
Offers 1:1 support for young people aged 10 and above through a series of 40-minute sessions once a week for 5 weeks.
If you would like to refer a young person to this service, please contact dmyh@dorsetmind.uk for a referral form. The appropriate 1-2-1 support will be discussed once a referral has been received.
Dorset Mind
Dorset Mind YPS aims to help 11-18 year olds of Dorset; by providing them with the resources, tools, information and advice and the services to support learning to live well with good mental health and resilience. Services they offer:
Active monitoring for young people
Dorset Mind is pleased to announce a new service for young people called Active Monitoring. Active Monitoring gives people aged 11-18, through a programme of 1-2-1 guided self-help sessions, the opportunity to explore their feelings and emotions with a friendly trained practitioner. Active Monitoring provides pathways to help support mild to moderate mental health issues such as: Grief and Loss, Anger, Low Mood, Self-esteem, and Anxiety and Stress. Active monitoring gives young people valuable input into their own wellbeing plan, in a safe and confidential space.
Referrals can be made via GPs. This service is available in certain GP surgeries across Dorset, please see our website for more details: Young People Active Monitoring – Dorset Mind
Eco in Mind for Young People
At Eco in Mind, we support young people through social-emotional learning outside in nature. The service has been successful in supporting young people struggling to attend at school due to anxiety, depression, bereavement and self-harm. Young people feel they can relax, connect with nature, learn about growing vegetables and be active through a wide range of tasks. They feel a sense of purpose and meaning as they know what they are growing is supporting local food banks and the wider community. We also focus on nature-based arts to help to take notice of nature helping support both mental well-being and behaviours to help look after the earth such as wildlife habitats, recycling and bird feeders. This service is currently run in Dorchester, anyone with mild to moderate needs can attend with the supervision of a parent or teaching assistant. Referrals must be completed by the schools. YP Eco in Mind – Dorset Mind
Weymouth Women’s Refuge
Telephone 01305 772295 Between 9:00am -5:00pm Monday – Friday