- YoungMinds: a mental health charity for children and young people. Whether you want to understand more about how you're feeling and find ways to feel better, or you want to support someone who's struggling, Young Minds can help. For more information visit: www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/loneliness/
- Anna Freud, a world leading mental health charity for children and families has looked at how we can tackle feelings of loneliness through self-care. Developing a self-care resource, co-produced with young people, called 90 self-care strategies that young people said help support them to look after their mental health. Six key strategies include:
- being kind to yourself
- spending time with supportive people
- being outside
- online chat or peer support groups
- volunteering and taking care of others
- text message support
- NSPCC Building Connections programme. Building Connections is an online service provided by the NSPCC for young people up to the age of 19, empowering them to find a way through loneliness. Young people work with a trained befriender, who guides them and champions them each step of the way. Building Connections gives young people tools that can help them build their confidence and better equip them to manage loneliness. To access the service, young people will need an internet connection and an email address. If you know a young person who would benefit from this service, you can make a referral.
- NHS Better Health; every mind matters. There's loads of things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing, and taking any time you can for self-care is massively important. Share this website page with your child, for mental wellbeing self-care tips for young people where they can find out more information and watch videos on dealing with unhelpful thoughts, sleep, social media, anxiety, exercise and more.
- Cruse Bereavement Support. Grief can be a big cause of loneliness. The charity Cruse can offer support and help for children, young people and adults experiencing feelings of loneliness after a death.
- Crane Quality Counselling Bereavement Support is offered to Children and Young people who live or attend school/college in Shropshire. Young people’s bereavement counselling is available for up to 6 funded sessions in school or at their suite in the Royal Fletcher Centre. You can access the service by calling Shropshire first point of contact team on 0345 678 9028 who will connect you. Appointments are available immediately within 7 to 14 days of contact.
- Challenging Perceptions is a registered charity, who provide services for Children and Young People with mental health, Learning Disabilities, and Autism needs.
- LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (one’s sexual or gender identity), and intersex) young people are more likely to feel lonely and worry about their mental health than their non-LGBTQI+ peers. There is support, the Shropshire Youth Association, a Shropshire charity, run a group called XYZ which is a youth club for LGBTQI+ young people, they meet regularly in Shrewsbury.
- Young carers who care for a family member who is ill, disabled, suffering with mental health difficulties or has alcohol/drug related issue have a tough job – it can mean unrelenting pressure, little chance to relax and a lot of worry. Being a young carer can lead to loneliness and isolation. There is support for these young people aged 5-18, who are carers:
Further information and advice
If your child isn’t comfortable talking to someone they know, consider these websites for chat services and information:
- Breathe. A simple and free online breathing app: breatheapp.uk.
- Self-help App for the Mind (SAM). SAM is a non-profit app to help you manage anxiety, depression and loneliness with self-help techniques and social support.
- Headspace, is an everyday mental health app which provides free meditations to help with feelings of loneliness. There is a free 7-day trial period before a monthly charge is required. Find out more here: www.headspace.com/meditation/loneliness