These are challenges that some young people experience and may need support with.
The degree to which a young person feels low or depressed appears out of context or disproportionate to the reason why they might be feeling sad. Episodes of low mood might be more frequent or prolonged and cause the young person distress or might have some mild impact on their ability to cope with everyday life such as going to or coping at school, seeing friends or taking part in leisure activities.
Examples of situations that may cause/ contribute to a young person feeling low in mood or depressed:
- Being routinely teased or bullied (including being or feeling left out or excluded)
- Grief or loss (including romantic relationships ending)
- Witness or experience of conflict (at home or school)
- Change and uncertainty (such as family breakdown)
- Family and relationship stressors (parent/ sibling ill-health, financial or social stressors)
- Academic pressures/ demands including exam stress and worry about the future
Please note, there are occasions when there is no apparent trigger/ cause/ contributory factor as to why a young person may be experiencing episodes of low mood/ depression. A young person can still be low in mood without clear reason.
What you might see or a young person might report
As well as the features in getting advice the following might also be present:
- Disrupted sleep (difficulties getting to or staying asleep, waking very early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep)
- Seeking physical or verbal seeking reassurance or wanting to withdrawn from social contact and communication
- Resistance to doing things; appearing unmotivated and disinterested
- Poor personal hygiene (not washing or changing clothes regularly)
- Emotionally labile; frequent changes of emotion, more sensitive (e.g., irritable, upset, confused)
- Thoughts or urges to harm self or some thoughts to end life; some infrequent or superficial (not requiring medical attention) self-harm may occur.
Please note that not all young people who engage in self-harm behaviour are depressed or suicidal. There are many reasons why a young person may engage in self-harm behaviour.
If families or professionals are concerned that a young person is experiencing any of the issues above support is available, this includes:
Kooth
Kooth is a free online counselling and wellbeing support service, which is available to all young people aged 11-25 in Portsmouth.
Young people can access self-help resources, moderated peer support and professional support from counsellors.
There are no waiting lists or referrals, young people can visit Kooth.com and register anonymously. The site is available 24/7 with counselling available 12pm – 10pm on weekdays and 6pm – 10pm on weekends, all year round.
Hampshire Youth Access counselling (HYA) service
Hampshire Youth Access offer counselling, mental health and emotional wellbeing support to people aged 5-17 (or up to age 24 for care leavers or those with SEND). Sessions will be delivered by No Limits in schools, in the community or, for older children, sessions may be online via Zoom.
Young people aged 11 and over can refer themselves to HYA or be referred by a parent, carer or professional.
To refer a young person: call 023 8214 7755, email enquiries@hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk or refer online at Hampshire Youth Access.
Support in schools
All secondary schools have a named Mental Health Lead and within schools there is a range of pastoral support available. Schools also work with other professionals in order to gain advice and guidance on how best to support children’s social and emotional needs. These services may include the Portsmouth Educational Psychology Team, the Multi Agency Behaviour Support Team and the Inclusion Outreach team.
Within many schools, pastoral support may be provided by Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)
ELSAs are teaching assistants or learning mentors in schools who have been trained by Educational Psychologists to work with children who are showing a wide range of emotional or social needs for example; anxiety, low self-esteem, problems with anger etc. Through individual (and small group) support programmes ELSAs help children to develop their social and emotional skills.
Support will also include Mental Health Support Teams (MHST’s) who are available in all secondary schools.
MHST’s support children and young people who are struggling with low mood/depression. They use cognitive behaviour therapy informed interventions to make changes in the way young people think and behave, improving their outlook on life.
The school should make contact with MHST for consultation and support for MHST referral where appropriate.
For professionals such as GP’s they should encourage young people to register with Kooth and to link in with the school-based support described above. The CAMHS Single Point of Access is also available for consultation and advice.
Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Contact: 0300 123 6632.