This page contains resources and support if you are concerned about your child’s emotional health and wellbeing.
We understand that emotional development is vital for children's overall growth and happiness. Here, you'll find a range of local and national support services, including counselling, therapy, and community programmes designed to nurture emotional resilience and provide guidance. Explore our resources to discover tools and support available.
Local Support:
Your school may have emotional and mental health wellbeing support available, please check with your individual school for further information.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire 24-hour urgent mental health helpline:
If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, or worried about your mental health, or a loved one, contact the Herefordshire and Worcestershire 24-hour urgent mental health helpline by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option. The service is available to people of all ages, including children and young people and those with neurodevelopmental needs.
If you’re deaf or have hearing loss, please use the following link to be connected to local crisis service – NHS 111 – SignVideo. If you aren't able to make the call yourself, then anyone can call on your behalf — for example a friend, carer, loved one or even your GP.
You can also have a look at the sections below to gather more information:
Melo is available for children and young people aged 0-25 and their families, across Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Melo provides a range of early intervention and preventative support options tailored to meet individual needs, identifying what matters for each child or young person and where appropriate, their family.
Health and wellbeing for children with special educational needs and disabilities – Herefordshire Council
As a parent, you may find it useful to look through this information - it contains links to organisations who can help and support children and young people with their emotional and mental wellbeing, including self-help guides.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) | Herefordshire and Worcestershire provides information on the local CAMHS service and also has some practical tips and resources.
Wellbeing and Emotional Support Teams in Schools | Herefordshire and Worcestershire CAMHS
The Wellbeing and Emotional Support Teams (WEST) in schools service is designed to help children and young people aged 5-18 years access mental health and wellbeing support early on in educational settings. Referrals into this service can be made through the mental health lead within the specific education setting, the child or young person can also self-refer via the school staff, who will then discuss it with the Mental Health Lead. Parents/carers can also refer to the service via the designated Mental Health Lead within the school.
Please note that this service is not available in all schools.
NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Talking Therapies provides a range of free, confidential support to people aged 16 and over across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. All services will have their own specific criteria, so we recommend contacting the service for further information. This includes:
Herefordshire & Worcestershire ICB have commissioned Lumi Nova app, a digital therapy platform aimed at CYP aged 7-12 with anxiety and phobia issues. The platform is primarily self-led and/or parent supported. This is an unlimited offer from 1st October 2024 available to anyone living in, or attending a school in, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The Cart Shed offers a range of Programmes for children, young people and families throughout the year to support emotional wellbeing and resilience. Activities take place in their woodland sites in Norton Canon and there is currently no charge to attend sessions.
Family programmes available include:
- Young Cart Shed
- Explore the Woods – for young people aged 10-13 (Tuesdays and Thursday 10am – 2pm)
- Into the Woods – For young people aged 13-18 (Tuesdays 10am-2pm)
- Through the Woods – For young People aged 18-25 (Wednesdays 10am – 3pm)
- Escape to the Woods is our holiday programme which is advertised on our website. There is a charge for places on this programme.
Different not Less - A six-week programme for parent/carers of Autistic children to support them to better understand Autism, how it impacts their child and how to find adaptations for their child at home, in school and in the wider community.
Other programmes to support adults include:
- Being Autistic and Being ADHD. A psychoeducation programme (developed by and with those with lived experience) supporting adults with a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD or who are in the process of seeking a diagnosis, led by an Art Psychotherapist who is Autistic and a Tutor who has Autistic family members.
- Woodland connection, Moving Forward and Resilience programmes run Monday to Thursday and are for any adult experiencing emotional distress, however caused.
The Cartshed Contact details
Email - info
Tel: 01544318231
5 - 11 Years | School Mental Health
Practical tips and videos to help with feeling sad or worried.
Helpful information for parents and carers | School Mental Health
Support for parents and carers.
National Support:
Along with all the local support there is a variety of national support as well provided below:
Kooth is an online, mental health and wellbeing service for children and young people. It is free and provides a wide range of therapeutic tools to help children and young people and support their mental wellbeing. The team of accredited counsellors provide safe and effective support to children and young people.
Kooth also have a useful guide for parents on supporting your child with mental health concerns.
Find Help With How I'm Feeling | Advice For Young People | YoungMinds
Support and information on services for children and young people up to 25, and their parents and carers.
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. They will 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. Talk to them via their online community, on social, through their free, confidential helpline or their counselling service.
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope. To start a conversation, text the word HERE to 85258. Shout's trained volunteers are there to listen at any time of day or night, and messages won't appear on phone bills.
Shout 85258 is a de-escalation, volunteer-driven service. Shout work with people in immediate distress to take them through text conversation to a calmer moment and empower them with support and techniques to take their next steps to feeling better and handle future issues, as well as possibly signposting someone to further support services or their GP so that they can get continuous and long-term support. There is no limit on the number of text conversations.
Find out more about Shout.
