Emotional Health And Well-Being
Mind - Young People 16+:
01495 757393
Child and Adolescent mental health Service (CAMHS):
01873 735567
www.youngminds.org.uk|
or tel 08000 182138
Gwent Health Care NHS Trust
on 01633 623714
The Basement Project PO Box 5, Abergavenny,
Tel 01873 856524
CRUSE, bereavement support:
Tel 01633 489 418
Samaritan's:
Tel 0845 7909090
What are the signs of stress?
Many people suffer from stress in their everyday lives due to pressure of work or school and when having personal difficulties at home.
Stress may make you irritable, aggressive, unable to sleep/eat properly. Stress can also have many physical symptoms - it can make you have headaches, diarrhoea or vomit and cause high blood pressure.
What can be done to prevent/reduce stress?
When you feel yourself getting uptight try to make yourself relax if possible take yourself away from the situation that is making you feel stressed even if it is just for five minutes, take deep breaths and try to calm yourself down. Think about the areas in your life that cause you stress, see if there are ways of overcoming these difficulties or preventing them from becoming stressful. Talk to friends or somebody in your family about it often talking things through with somebody helps you to see things more clearly.
I'm worried about one of my friends. Recently she tried to commit suicide by taking an overdose but her mum found her and took her to hospital. When she came out she seemed quite happy but in the last few weeks she seems really down and I'm worried about her. What can I do to help?
You appear to be a very caring person and your friend is very lucky to have a friend like you. It seems that your friend needs to meet with a health professional to assess how 'down' she is. Your friend could visit her doctor, who can decide whether she might need support from professionals who are skilled at providing this support, and the doctor will have information from when your friend previously took the overdose, and any support recommended for her then. In addition, it might be helpful to discuss this with your friend's mum, so that you are not worrying about this alone, but supported by an adult.
When I have problems I feel like there is no one available to talk to. I bottle my feelings up and then end up fighting. Why can't there be someone available in school who I can talk to?
Some schools have drop in facilities which are provided by School Health Nurses, where young people can talk about worries / concerns. In addition, there may be a particular teacher in school that you get on well with, whom you could talk to. There is also confidential talking support provided to young people in Torfaen via outreach workers, who work in the Young People's Clinics. There is no need for an appointment. You could telephone Gwent Health Care NHS Trust to find out where there is a clinic near you, and opening days / times see back page for details.
I'm really worried about my friend who has been drinking and cutting her wrists. I'm worried about what she'll do next. She shows everyone her wrists and laughs. Please help.
If your friend is cutting her wrists, then she needs support from professionals. People who self-harm are trying to communicate to you how they feel inside. Her doctor would be able to assess where support could come from. If your friend is unwilling to contact her doctor, you might suggest they contact a help line: Child line (24 hour support); The Basement Project provides literature (books and info) to professionals and family and friends. The Substance Misuse Service that covers Torfaen and works with young people that are misusing drugs and/or alcohol accepts direct referrals from young people. Please see back page for contact details.
I'm always worrying if my mates still like me, about homework, drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, war and life. A day never goes by where I'm not worrying about something and I can't talk to anyone about it. So what should I do?
It can be really difficult to find someone that you trust to talk with, but it is important that we do talk about worries, so that we can let go of difficult feelings. If we have no way of letting them go, they can pile up until they're like a big heavy sack we have to carry around with us. There is confidential talking support provided to young people in Torfaen via outreach workers, who work in Young People's Clinics. There is no need for an appointment. You could telephone Gwent Health Care NHS Trust to find out where there is a clinic near you, and opening days/times - see back page for details.