Emotional wellbeing
Becoming an adult can be a very exciting time as you gain more independence but it can also be a time that can make you feel worried as it comes with more responsibilities. You may have experienced emotional difficulties which can be a result of living through hard times. We all need to look after ourselves and our emotional wellbeing. Here are a few tips to help:
- keep physically active or sign up for activities that you are good at or you enjoy that will help you to feel good about yourself; also being in education or working can give you direction and boost your confidence
- stay in contact with important people in your life, such a friend or, a previous foster carer or key worker, who can give you practical and emotional help, which is important to improve the chances of not feeling alone
- it is common to seek out your birth family around this time; sometimes these relationships can become complicated so be mindful about whether these relationships make you feel good or not so good about yourself
Sometimes people find the process really difficult and sometimes more is needed. Below are a few indicators, which might help you to recognise whether you or someone you know is having a difficult time coping:
- mood swings
- behaving erratically or having unpredictable behaviours
- feeling agitated or anxious
- withdrawing from friends or family or avoiding social interaction
- unexplained or long periods crying
- loss of appetite / can’t sleep at night
- feeling paranoid / hearing voices
- having poor physical health
- having thoughts of suicide or self-harming
It is important to notice if these are happening because they can have an effect on your ability to deal with everyday life, including:
- staying in education
- finding employment
- managing your tenancy
- sustaining relationships
Some young people turn to drugs and/or alcohol to help them cope, which make the situation worse.
Young people can find it difficult to ask for help because it makes them feel weak or they are worried about being labelled as not coping. Knowing when and where to ask for help is essential to prevent the situation from becoming worse. If you notice a difference in how you are feeling it is important that you speak to someone who can help you get in touch with a service that can help.
Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services (EWMHS)
This service is for anybody aged 0 to 18, living in the:
- Southend
- Essex
- Thurrock areas
The service is also for young people with special educational needs (SEN) up to the age of 25. Any young person experiencing emotional wellbeing or mental health problems may access the service.
Call 0300 300 1600 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday to be put through to the Locality teams across:
- Southend
- Essex
- Thurrock
For the out of hours and weekend Crisis Support Service, call the general NELFT switchboard on 0300 555 1201 to be put through to immediate Crisis Support help. For further advice and support, please go to the Livewell website or The Schools Learning Network Website.
If you live outside of Southend-on-Sea ask your GP to make a referral to a local counselling service. If the situation is urgent, you should call A and E on 999.