Health and Wellbeing

This page is all about supporting you to care for your wellbeing, whether accessing mental health services or finding out how to improve your sleep. There is so much information these days on how to improve your health and wellbeing and it can often be really overwhelming. We hope you can use this part of the website as a simple and easy starting point. Knowing what steps we can take to support our wellbeing can help us feel better, sleep better and have better relationships with the people around us.

If you are struggling with your mental or physical wellbeing Carefree really recommends in the first instance chatting to someone you trust about your concerns, maybe your PA, a teacher, a friend or your doctor. Maybe they could even look through this page with you! If you are struggling right now and have no one to talk to just scroll down and ring one of the support lines.

Support

If you are struggling right now and have no one to talk to you can ring

NHS Mental Health Line– 24/7 Call 0800 038 5300

Open to anyone, of any age. If you or someone you know feels they need to access urgent mental health support, they will listen to you and assess how best to help.

Childline –24/7 up to 19. Call: 0800 1111. 

Go on the website to be able to email or chat with a counsellor. Get Support | Childline

Samaritans – 24 hours a day. All ages. Call free: 116 123. Email: [email protected]  

Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen

Shout -24/7 Text support.Text SHOUT to 85258

Papyrus-9am to Midnight. Call 0800 068 4141, text: 07860039967. Email [email protected]

Offers confidential advice and support for young people struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Calm – 5pm until midnight. For men who need support. Call 0800585858for men who need support 5pm to midnight call 0800 58 58 58

Important information on help with health costs 

Here you will find useful information on how to access help with health care costs when you are 18 e.g. sight tests, prescriptions and dental treatment. 

Talk to your Personal Advisor who can help you with applying for financial support to cover these health related costs 

Food and Nutrition

Physical Health

Sexual Health and Relationships

Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health

Sleep

Frequently asked questions

What is good mental health and well-being?

Our bodies and our minds are linked, as they can both change depending on different situations and experiences. Sometimes our bodies can feel unwell, and this will have an impact on our physical health. Our mind can also vary in how it is feeling, and this impacts on our mental health. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health! Looking after our mental health and physical health allows us to live well and feel good about ourselves. Good mental health can help with a lot of things, for example, it can help us to build healthy relationships with other people, help us to plan and solve problems, help us cope with stressful events, help us to concentrate, and help us to manage our emotions.

It is very common for people to avoid talking about their mental health as they worry about what other people might think of them.

Did you know, that 1 in 4 people will struggle with their mental health each week? It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you are from, as human beings we all struggle at different times.  It’s very normal, and by talking about it you will be more likely to get the support you need and feel better.

It can be helpful to talk to someone you trust and feel safe with about your mental health. That could be a friend, family member, your social worker, personal assistant or someone from school. It’s also really helpful to talk to your GP if you’re worried about your mental health.

There are lots of websites full of great information and resources if you would prefer to look through those first!

We’d recommend Young Minds and a Cornish Charity Mind Your Way.

  • Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health. On their website you will find lots of information about different feelings, coping with life, mental health conditions, medications, supporting a friend and ways to access support and what this looks like.
  • The website includes videos to help explain things, and real stories from young people who have experienced difficulties. YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
  • Mind Your Way is a Cornish website designed by young people as a central place to find accurate information about mental health, emotional wellbeing and how to get help. On this site you will find information about mental health and mental health problems, learn how to look after your mental health and promote wellbeing, find out how to get help and what services are available locally, and hear from other young people sharing their experiences. Mind Your Way | Help with your mental health and wellbeing.
I sometimes feel very anxious and can start to panic, how can I keep calm?

When we feel anxious it’s really common to experience physical symptoms in our bodies. You may feel short of breath, disoriented, nauseous, sweaty, shaky and have an irregular heartbeat.

If you are experiencing any of those symptoms at the moment try following the instructions from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNXKjGFUlMs

If you can’t watch the video right now, try taking a deep breath in for 4 seconds, and breathing out for 6 seconds until you start to notice your body relax.

If you want more tips on how to manage panic attacks visit https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/panic-attacks/

Someone important to me has just died. Can I talk to someone?

Losing somebody close to you is never easy. Feelings of sadness, anger, depression, denial and worries are natural. Everyone manages grief differently, and if you’re finding it hard there is support out there!

This website has some more information and top tips: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/grief-and-loss/.

You can also get support from the Cornish charity, Penhaligon’s friends: Penhaligons Friends – A Cornish charity supporting bereaved children & young people

I’ve been encouraged to go for counselling/therapy, what would this be like?

Lots of young people have told us that the thought of therapy is scary as they don’t know what will happen there. Do you have to talk about things you don’t want to? Will you be made to lie on a sofa?

To learn more about what to expect, have a look on these links where there is more information and quotes from young people who have experienced it first-hand.

1. What to expect from counselling | YoungMinds 

2. Counselling & Therapy | How To Access Therapy | YoungMinds