Quick guide for parents and carers of 11-16 year olds

Kooth is a free online counselling and wellbeing support service, which is available to all young people aged 11-25 in Portsmouth.

Young people can access self-help resources, moderated peer support and professional support from counsellors.

There are no waiting lists or referrals, young people can visit Kooth.com and register anonymously.  The site is available 24/7 with counselling available 12pm – 10pm on weekdays and 6pm – 10pm on weekends, all year round.

All secondary schools have a named Mental Health Lead and a range of pastoral support available. Schools also work with other professionals to gain advice and guidance on how best to support children’s social and emotional needs. These services may include the Portsmouth Educational Psychology Team, the Multi-Agency Behaviour Support Team and the Inclusion Outreach team.

Within many schools, pastoral support may be provided by Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs). ELSAs are teaching assistants or learning mentors in schools who have been trained by Educational Psychologists to work with children who are showing a wide range of emotional or social needs for example anxiety, low self-esteem or problems with anger. Through a range of support programmes ELSAs help children to develop their social and emotional skills.

MHSTs deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems. This includes 1:1 high/low intensity CBT work with parents and group work.  MHST are available in all secondary schools across Portsmouth.

Young people/parents can speak to their school about making a referral to MHST.

Hampshire Youth Access (HYA) offer counselling, mental health and emotional wellbeing support to people aged 5-17 (or up to age 24 for care leavers or those with SEND).

Sessions are delivered by No Limits in schools, in the community and, for older children, the sessions may be online via Zoom.

Children aged 5-10 will need a referral from a GP, CAMHS, or the MHSTs. Children aged 11-17 (or up to 24 with SEND/care leavers can refer themselves, or be referred by a parent/carer or any professional.

To refer a young person: call 023 8214 7755, email enquiries@hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk or refer online at Hampshire Youth Access.

Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS delivers evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. This can include medication and talking therapies on a 1-2-1, group or family basis.

Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Contact: 0300 123 6632

Listening Ear offers a specialist counselling service for children and young people who have lost someone by suicide. Any parent, guardian or professional can refer the young person by visiting the Listening Ear website

Things that could help

• BEAT is a national charity providing information, help and support for people affected by eating disorders. Support includes a helpline, online support groups and advice and guidance
• Kooth provides an online emotional health and wellbeing service for young people aged 11-25
• The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families and YoungMinds provide a range of different types of support for children, young people, parents and their families
• The Little Blue Book of Sunshine has tips on how to deal with problems such as anxiety, stress, body image, relationships and anger. It is available for free from Google Play Store  and Apple Books

 Getting advice 

You may notice some or all the following things which might be signs of an eating disorder in a young person:

• Body dissatisfaction/worrying about appearance
• Comparing themselves to other people
• Taking a more active interest in food, fitness, health or wellbeing

 Things that could help 

• You or the young person could speak with a teacher, youth worker, peer or GP
• You could share ‘Things that could help’
• See your young person’s GP for physical health observations to be done – height, weight, blood pressure and pulse
• If the young person improves, support them to continue to thrive with ‘Things that could help’
• If the young person continues to struggle or is getting worse, see support options in ‘Getting More Help’ – see below

Getting help

You may notice some or all the following things which might be signs of an eating disorder in a young person:

A committed and persistent effort to lose weight or control weight or shape through dieting/ restricting food intake/exercising/ increased activity/purging (self-induced vomiting).

Things that could help

• You or the young person could speak with a teacher, youth worker, peer or GP
• You could seek advice and consultation from the CAMHS Specialist Eating Disorder Team (correct link?)
• If the young person improves, support them with a robust maintenance plan and signpost ‘Things that could help’
• If the young person continues to struggle or is getting worse, see ‘Getting More Help & Crisis Support’ – see next section

Getting more help and crisis support

You may notice some or all the following things which might be signs of a worsening eating disorder in a young person:

• Significant restriction of food (and fluid) leading to rapid weight loss
• Significant distress prior to, during or after meals
• Significant preoccupation with food/eating/weight or shape or having rituals around eating/preparing food

Things that could help

• Seek urgent advice and consultation from the CAMHS Specialist Eating Disorder Team
• Your young person requires urgent medical attention either through an urgent GP appointment or urgent visit to hospital emergency department
• Identify a lead professional and support the young person with discharge plan actions

Description of support services

CAMHS Eating Disorder Team

The focus of the team is on anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders.

They offer face-to-face, web based, and telephone support on a needs-led basis.

Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Contact 0300 123 6632

Documents

You can find a quick reference guide on eating disorders here