Emotional health and wellbeing for 13-19 year olds

At times we all have worries and anxieties in our everyday lives. We can become worried about anything from, friendships to school or college work and exams.

Are you a young person in crisis? Need help now?

Call Childline on 0800 1111 or visit the Childline website.

At times we all have worries and anxieties in our everyday lives. We can become worried about anything from, friendships to school or college work and exams.

Sometimes the feelings can get worse and don’t go away and it can begin to have an impact on our everyday lives. If this is happening to you it’s time to speak to someone and get some support to help you managing those feelings.

Please watch this short film to learn more about how to cope with a range of life difficulties:

When you are worried, anxious or have a low mood it can feel really confusing. We often try to understand why we feel like this and it can be difficult to know where to turn to.

If you don’t feel like you can talk to your parents/carers or another trusted adult your School Nurse may be able to offer you support and give you advice about local services that are available.

Issues your School Nurse may help with:

  • Anger management
  • Low level stress and anxiety
  • Bullying
  • Death and loss
  • Eating problems
  • Feeling low in mood
  • Problems at school
  • Self harm
  • Sleeping problems

If you have any serious concerns about your emotional health you should always discuss these with your GP.

The good news is there’s lots of steps you can take to improve your emotional wellbeing. Here are some links to coping strategies that other young people have found helpful:

Five steps to mental wellbeing

Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life. Learn more here:

https://issuu.com/neweconomicsfoundation/docs/five_ways_to_well-being?viewMode=presentation

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/

Mindfulness

Mindfulness involves learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen, it trains us to respond skillfully to whatever is happening right now, be that good or bad.

Why not try this simple Body Scan Mindfulness exercise?

Some useful links

Tips for exam stress

Bullying and Cyber-bullying

Compass REACH – North Yorkshire Service for Young People

Bereavement