Staying Mentally Well
This page provides information about looking after your emotional wellbeing and mental health, and where you can get advice and support.
How to look after your mental health
We all have mental health!
"Good mental health is a general feeling of happiness where we can cope with the normal stresses of life and can do the things that we want to do."
Being emotionally well means that we:
- Have a positive state of mind and how we feel from day to day
- Feel good about ourselves as a whole.
Our mental health is just as important as our physical health
We often focus on keeping our bodies healthy and not think about what keeps our minds healthy! Our brain is a muscle that we also need to keep in shape.
There are lots of easy, and simple things that we know can help us to look after our mental wellbeing, such as, eating well, getting enough sleep, doing activities that help us to relax and reduce stress in our lives.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing sums up what other things we can do every day to keep ourselves feeling emotionally well. Watch the video below which explains about the '5 ways to wellbeing'.
I am an adult looking for support
Where can I get support?
Speak to someone you trust
- You may find it helpful to talk to your partner, a relative or a friend about your problems. If this is not possible, talk to someone else you can trust, like a faith leader or a tutor, or try a helpline.
Speak to your GP
- To find a GP visit NHS website
Speak to Suffolk Wellbeing Service
- If you are East and West call 0300 123 1781
- visit www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/suffolk
- If you are in Waveney call 0300 123 1503
- visit www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/norfolk
Speak to Suffolk Mind
- call 0300 111 6000
- visit www.suffolkmind.org.uk or Norfolk and Waveney Mind
Other resources and places you can go for information and support:
- Keep well and active page
- NHS Choices
- Healthwatch Suffolk
- Healthy Suffolk
- Dementia
- Feel Good Suffolk
- Suffolk User Forum is a user-led mental health charity which supports people with mental health problems.
Speak to the Samaritans who offer free emotional support 24 hours a day - in full confidence.
- Call 116 123
If you are emotionally distressed and need urgent mental health support:
- Call 111 and press option 2 for the NHS Mental Health Crisis Support line.
- If someone is in immediate danger of harming themself call 999,
I am a parent looking for emotional wellbeing advice for my child
Where can I find support
Parents and carers can contact:
- Barnardo's general wellbeing phoneline service
- Emotional Wellbeing Hub East and West Suffolk Or Just One Norfolk Lowestoft and Waveney
- Wellbeing Suffolk or Wellbeing Norfolk and Waveney
- Suffolk Mind or Norfolk and Waveney Mind
A-Z of Mental Health issues to help parents find advice and support
Anxiety
Anxiety in children and young people
The Source Anxiety information - advice for young people.
Clear Fear App (Free downloadable app) - This app has been designed for teenagers experiencing anxiety. It has exercises which target thoughts and behaviour, and aid relaxation to alleviate anxiety.
Autism, ADHD, and special educational needs
Parents guide for improving the wellbeing of young children with learning disabilities - Guide created by the University of Warwick and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation to help families promote the wellbeing of their children with learning disabilities, including their own wellbeing.
Local Offer website - - Suffolk SEND Local Offer information about support for families.
Suffolk Sendiass - A confidential and impartial information, advice and support service on issues related to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
Bereavement and loss
Cruse Bereavement Care booklets - Child Bereavement UK has a number of booklets for helping children understand loss on their website.
Depression and low mood
Depression and low mood in children and young people.
The Source Depression page - Advice for young people in Suffolk.
Eating difficulties
The Source about eating disorders - for young people
Beat eating disorders charity - The UK's Eating Disorder charity, includes helplines for support and resources on their website.
Recovery Record App - Designed for every stage of recovery from anorexia, bulimia, OED, BED, CED and other eating disorders.
Wednesday’s Child leaflet - Leaflet providing psychoeducation around eating disorders and information around what the charity can provide.
LGBTQ+
Mermaids - Offer information and support for both young people and parents around trans-gender, non-binary, and gender diversity.
Guide for Supporting LGB young people - This workbook is designed for professionals and people who work with young people who may be lesbian, bisexual, or gay. It provides information and tips on supporting these young people.
Self-harm
Self-harm in Children and young people
The Source Self-harm advice - Advice for young people in Suffolk
Self-harm information for young people - Z card for young people in Suffolk
Sleep
How to get a goodnight's sleep podcast - This podcast discusses the challenges with sleep, with reference to covid-19, and tips for helping a young person’s sleep routine.
Stress
Stress in children and young people
Suicidal
Suicidal feelings in children and young people
Feeling overwhelmed or suicidal, or know someone who does? - Information from The Source for young people in Suffolk.
Feeling overwhelmed or suicidal - Young Suicide Prevention z card
Papyrus website - A charity supporting the prevention of young suicide.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - Male suicide prevention website.
Stay Alive App - This app helps you and others stay safe and provides information on steps to stay safe when feeling suicidal.
Parents and Carers can find virtual workshops which offer support, advice and guidance on how to support a child or young person with various emotional health and wellbeing issues on the Wellbeing in Education website
I am a young person how can I look after my emotional health
How to feel better and build your resilience?
- Speak to someone – family and friends are a great support. If someone comes to you, listen without judging.
- Try to surround yourself with positive things, photos, quotes, people.
- Offer to help others, as doing kind things help us feel better about ourselves as a person.
- Do something you enjoy, anything - even if it's a small thing (small things all add up) like putting on your feel good songs! Going for a walk/run, doodling or reading a book.
- Practice self-care - run a bath, do your nails, put on a face mask, change your sheets, organise your room - focussing on pampering your body and de-cluttering things around you can help you relax and feel good about yourself.
The 30 Day What’s Up Challenge – is 30 simple fun things you can do with friends and family to help you look after your emotional wellbeing.
Where can I get information and support if I am worried about my mental health?
Kooth - A free, safe and confidential online chat service.
Emotional Wellbeing Hub - Mental health support services for young people in East and West Suffolk.
Just One Norfolk - Mental health support services for young people in Lowestoft and Waveney.
Go to The Source website for further advice and support.
If you are emotionally distressed and need urgent mental health support:
- Call 111 and press option 2 for the NHS Mental Health Crisis Support line.
- If you have self-harmed and need urgent medical attention go to your emergency A and E department or call 999.