Mental health support – guidance for 11-16 year olds

Lots of people experience anxiety. For some people it can impact on everyday life and get in the way of school, socialising and home life.

We are all different so some people find it easier than others to regulate their emotions. At times everyone struggles to manage their emotions.

Lots of people worry about what they look like and from time to time and might be unhappy with their weight or shape.

The term ‘bereavement’ refers to the whole process of grief and mourning and is associated with a deep sense of loss and sadness. Young people will grieve when a person they love dies, although they vary tremendously in how they react. They are more resilient than adults in the face of bereavement, and in general they seem to be less affected in the long term by death than by parental separation.

Depression is a mental health difficulty that involves persistent low mood (continuing for a long time). It impacts on the way people feel, think and behave. Depression can happen as a reaction to difficult experiences such as bullying, bereavement or family relationship difficulties. It can also happen without any obvious trigger or reason.

Young people may worry that they are ‘going mad’ when they are feeling stressed, confused or very upset. In fact, worries like this are rarely a sign of mental illness or psychosis. Psychosis is when your thoughts are so disturbed (and confused) that you lose touch with what is real and what is not.

• Kooth provides an online emotional health and wellbeing service for young people aged 11-25
• The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families and Young Minds provide a range of different types of support for children, young people, parents and their families.

Self-harm involves the act of doing something to cause harm or omitting to do something which in turn may cause harm (such as not taking prescribed medications).

There are many forms of self-harm.  There are many reasons why a young person may engage in self-harm and each individual episode of self-harm may have a different trigger or reason. The most important thing to know about self-harm is that it is purposeful and meaningful; it serves a need or function.

If you are reading this because you or a young person you know is having suicidal thoughts try to ask someone for help. It may be difficult at this time, but it’s important to know that you are not beyond help and you’re not alone.

Whatever you’re going through, call the Samaritans free anytime, from any phone on 116 123. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Tics and/or Tourette's syndrome are neurological conditions of unknown origin characterised by tics. Tics are vocal sounds or body movements that are made involuntarily (not on purpose) and are repetitive. People who have both vocal and motor tics for a minimum of twelve months may receive a diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome if this is helpful to them.

Reactions to a traumatic experience can differ greatly from person to person. It is important to understand that just because a child/young person has experienced a traumatic event, this does not mean that they will inevitably suffer severe emotional consequences as a result.

Factors that influence how much children and young people react to a traumatic event include; their age and their ability to understand the event, the nature of the event, how quickly they can return to a normal lifestyle, their support network and the people around them.

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder which means that a child or young person is unable to speak in select situations and environments – for example, at school. They are, however, able to speak well in other places – for example, at home. Children who experience selective mutism can often freeze when they are in situations where they are expected to speak to someone, which makes talking impossible.