020 8770 0172
Our telephone lines are open:Mon 11am - 1.30pm, Tues, Thurs & Fri
10.30am - 2.30pm
Support for young people
Life can be very challenging for young people, and mental health struggles are increasingly common. Pressures from school, social media, relationships, identity, and the future can feel overwhelming — and it’s not always easy to know where to turn. This page brings together support available across Sutton for young people who are finding things difficult. Whether it is someone to talk to, help managing anxiety or low mood, or support with more complex issues, there are services here that are free, confidential, and designed with young people in mind.
The information below is divided into three sections;
- services that work with young people up to the age of 25
- services that work with young people up to the age of 18
- links for parents and families who are supporting young people with their mental health
Support up to 25
If you want to talk about what’s going on for you and work through your thoughts and feelings, you can contact Off the Record to speak directly to a mental health practitioner who will listen to you, offer emotional support and can give you information about our services or signpost you to services that might be relevant to you.
The Support Line is open Monday to Friday from 3-6pm. Call 0800 980 7475.
If you don't have any phone credit, you can call through WhatsApp.
OTR on line counselling service is a free service for young people aged 11-25 in Sutton - you can make a self referral here: https://www.talkofftherecord.org/sign-up/
Or you can use their text based counselling and online workshops https://www.talkofftherecord.org/sutton/online-service/
Self-care is about the things we can do to look after our own mental health. Anna Freud has a self-care hub with a range of techniques for you to try, including colour therapy, mindfulness, light therapy and meditation.
Weblink: https://www.annafreud.org/resources/children-and-young-peoples-wellbeing/self-care/
SHOUT provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone who is struggling to cope and anyone in crisis.
You can:
- text SHOUT to 85258
Weblink: https://giveusashout.org/
Kooth provides free resources and activities to support you with your mental health, including information about common mental health conditions and suggestions for supporting your mental wellbeing.
Weblink: https://www.kooth.com/
Young Minds offer information to young people and children about mental health and emotional wellbeing. Specific sections on mental health services, treatments, and looking after yourself.
HOPELINE247 is a helpline for young people experiencing thoughts of suicide. Their advisers will 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
Our advisers are all trained to help you focus on staying safe from suicide. Their training enables them to provide advice and support that may help you to move forward and stay alive.
- Call: 0800 068 4141
- Text: 88247
- Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Lines are open 24 hours every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included
The Mix has information and advice to help you take on any challenge you're facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.
Weblink: https://www.themix.org.uk/
Weblink: https://www.themix.org.uk/explore-our-topics/mental-health/
Papyrus is a charity specialising in the prevention of young suicide. From coping techniques to conversation starters, distraction techniques and dealing with anxiety, they have a broad range of help and advice resources for you to access, including advice and information on self harm.
Weblink: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/help-and-advice-resources/
Support up to 18
- One-to-one mentoring for young people aged 8–18 who need support with emotional, social, or educational challenges. Meet with a mentor once a week for a year, for support, guidance and to try new activities.
- Weblink: MAPS MENTORING FAMILY/SELF-REFERRAL FORM
This service is for children and young people up to the age of 18 registered with a Sutton GP, their families and/or carers across the borough. CAMHS Team members include child and adolescent psychiatrists, social workers, clinical psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, child psychotherapists, occupational therapists and other therapists.
Referrals can be made by GP's, other healthcare professionals, schools, and others via the single point of reference.
Weekly drop-in sessions at all Sutton secondary schools. Offers mood assessments and mental health screening tools. Contact the school pastoral team for more information.
Getting it on - information and LOCAL services for 13-19 year olds on sexual and mental health issues, drugs & alcohol and relationship problems.
Weblink: https://www.gettingiton.org.uk/
Alumina is an online course started by selfharm.co.uk for young people aged between 10 & 17. It doesn't matter how long you've been self-harming or what it means to you, Alumina is an opportunity to think more about it and work out what your next step might be.
Weblink: https://www.selfharm.co.uk/
ChildLine offers information, advice and confidential counselling to anyone aged 18 and under on any issue affecting them.
Their phoneline is open all day every day by calling on 0800 1111, or you can go to www.childline.org.uk to access their webchat service. They also have a message board for young people on their website.
Support for parents and families
Practical suicide prevention for every situation
The C.A.R.E. Kit is made up of three modules to help you support young people - from introducing the topic of mental health through to what to do in a crisis.
Each module contains four vital actions that can help prevent suicide: Check-in, Ask, Remain close and Expert help
Talking to your child about complex mental health and wellbeing issues is rarely easy. That’s why the Kooth team put together a range of support materials for parents, including helpful guides and webinars on a range of topics.
If you're worried about your child or young person’s mental health or wellbeing, you can speak to Young Minds over the phone or chat to them online. Helpline advisers can provide information, advice and support to help you take the next step.
Call the Parents Helpline for free on 0808 802 5544.
Open from:
- 9.30am - 4pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays
- 9.30am - 6pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Or chat online Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 4pm at https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline/#Chattousonline
Young minds also have a range of online guides to help parents their child and navigate their mental heath journey.
If you are concerned for a young person who might be having thoughts of suicide you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice.
- Call: 0800 068 4141
- Text: 88247
- Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Papyrus is a charity specialising in the prevention of young suicide. From coping techniques to conversation starters, distraction techniques and dealing with anxiety, they have a broad range of help and advice resources for you to access.
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/help-and-advice-resources/
These guides may be of interest:
We offer a freshly cooked meal (which varies daily), at a very reasonable cost. A vegetarian option is always available. We also offer tea, coffee, squash and snacks.
On fridays we serve fish or sausages with chips. Lunches need to be ordered before 11:30am and can be placed over the telephone as well as in person.
Sunday's member-led session offers a set cooked breakfast which must be ordered before 1:00pm.
Activities
We offer a selection of free weekly activities, which are currently taking place online, including:
- Coffee Mornings;
- Art 4 Wellbeing;
- Drama Group;
- Mindfulness; and
- Yoga.
Further information and booking details can be found on our Events page.
We provide a selection of board games such as bingo, scrabble, chess and draughts. For the more sporty we also have a snooker table and a table tennis table.
There is no obligation to participate in any activities, if you prefer to just sit quietly and take a moment for yourself, a variety of newspapers are available on a daily basis.
Activities
While we are called a Crisis Café, we don't really offer food - although a cup of tea can be very helpful. And don't expect lots of activities - if you want yoga, art or mindfulness, we offer those in our daytime service at the Belmont Connect.We are aware some people are having issues with the referral forms, if you are having problems, please email us at admin@smhf.org.uk or give us a call on 020 8770 0172.