Mental health support for children and young people

Shout: text support

Shout is a free, confidential and anonymous service, designed to provide people with in-the-moment support. 

Text the word IMATTER to 85258 to be connected to a trained Shout Volunteer.

The service is open to all, 24/7, and can help with issues such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts.

The conversation, which takes place entirely by text message, aims to help the texter reach a calmer place with a plan to move forward. It will also signpost them to further support available locally. 

Texting 'IMatter' does not appear on phone bills and all messages are confidential unless there is concern about someone’s safety.

Calm Harm App

An application designed to help young people aged 13 years and above resist or manage the urge to self-harm, using timed activities designed to help you ride the wave. It is private and password protected.

Visit the CalmHarm website to try the app.

Tellmi App

An app that provides a safe and secure forum for teenagers wanting to anonymously discuss any issue affecting their lives. You can get advice from experts or other teenagers going through similar experiences in areas such as mental health, relationships, self-harming and friendships.

Visit the Tellmi website for more information on this service.

Text a School Nurse

Text 07507 329600 on Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm for friendly and helpful advice, for 11 to 19 year olds.

Find out more about the Chat Health - Text a School Nurse service.

CHAT Youth Counselling

A confidential youth counselling service offered free to young people aged from 9 to 25 years in the North East Northamptonshire area.

For more information, call 01832 274422 or email [email protected].

Find out more about the CHAT Youth Counselling service.

Counselling by The Mix

A telephone counselling service available to young people aged 25 years and under, suitable if you are looking for short-term help with your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Please complete the counselling form on The Mix website if you are thinking about this service.

Espresso Yourself Wellbeing Café

A service for young people aged 11 to 18 years, and their parents/carers, providing support if you are struggling with your mental health or if you find yourself in crisis. Please drop in to talk to a mental health professional in a safe space.

Check out the updated dates, times and locations for the wellbeing cafes.

ServiceSix

A charity committed to changing lives and creating futures for disadvantaged children, young people and their families.

Call the Service Hub team on 01933 277520 or email [email protected].

Visit the ServiceSix website for more information about the available services.

The Mix Helpline

A support service for young people to talk about any issue troubling them.

Call 0808 808 4994 or live chat 1-2-1 between 4pm and 11pm from Monday to Saturday.

Alternatively, you can email via the The Mix website and will get a response within 24 hours.

Time2Talk

A counselling service for young people in the Daventry District and South Northamptonshire, offering a range of free services. The counselling service is by appointment only and is available for young people between the ages of 11 and 18 years, and up to 25 years with a special education need.

Find out more about Time2Talk.

Counselling by The Lowdown

A counselling service for anyone aged between 11 and 25 years within the NN1-NN7 postcode area. You can fill out an online referral form and can be self-referred.

Find out more about the Counselling by The Lowdown service.

CAMHS Phoneline

A consultation line for parents, carers, young people and professionals.

Call 0800 170 7055 between 9am and 7pm from Monday to Friday. Find out more about the CAMHS Phoneline.

Children's CTPLD

A service for children and young people aged up to 18 years, and their parents or carers, who require specialist learning disability healthcare services.

If you would like to discuss referring a child, please contact the Admin Hub on 0800 170 7055 or email [email protected].

Find out more about the Children's CTPLD service.

Children and Young People ADHD and ASD Service

A service for children and young people aged 5 to 18 years, offering full diagnostic assessment and post-diagnostic support for ADHD, ASD and Asperger's Syndrome.

If you would like to discuss referring a child, please contact the Admin Hub on 0800 170 7055.

Find out more about the CYP ADHD and ASD Service.

Children's SALT

A service that supports children who have speech, language and communication difficulties, helping them to achieve clear and fluent speech and understand spoken language.

Find out more about the Children's SALT service.

Community Paediatrics

A service for children up to the age of 18 years, for concerns about developmental delay, neuro-disability, or other complex health needs. This support is available for the north of Northamptonshire.

Find out more about the Community Paediatrics service.

Short Breaks for Disabled Children and Young People

A service that offers a residential respite facility for children with disabilities, who have either a diagnosis of autism, complex health needs and/or complex behaviour. There are two locations in the county, giving parents and carers the opportunity to recharge their batteries knowing their child is in a safe, supportive and stimulating environment.

Find out more about the Short Breaks service.

Children and Young People Community Eating Disorder Service

A community specialist eating disorder service offering countywide treatment to children and young people up the age of 18 years. The service offers a wide range of evidence-based interventions.

Find out more about the CYP Community Eating Disorder Service.

EACH Helpline

Call 0808 1000 143 (open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4:30pm) for free and confidential reporting of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying for children and young people up to 18 years old. This service can signpost you to the most relevant agency in your area.

OUT THERE Pen Pals

Call 01604 634385 or find out more on the Lowdown website.

OUT THERE for 13 year olds

An LGBTQ+ support service for 13 year olds, every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8pm (term time only). 

Call 07507 716106 or 01604 634385, or find out more on the Lowdown website. 

OUT THERE Youth Group

An LGBTQ+ support service for young adults every Friday:

• 5:30pm to 7:30pm for school years 7, 8 and 9
• 7pm to 9pm for school years 10, 11, 12 and 13

For more information please email [email protected] or call 07585 737482.

Find out more about the Youth Group service.

0 to 19 Services

A service that provides the Healthy Child Programme, a planned series of interventions for children and families from birth to age 19 years to support healthy growth and development, alongside a range of short term interventions to support babies, children, young people and families across a range of common childhood needs like: toileting and continence; sleep; emotional and behavioural regulation; family relationships; emotional wellbeing; nutrition and healthy weight; sexual health.

If you would like to discuss referring a child, please contact the Admin Hub on 0800 170 7055, open 8:30am to 4:30pm from Monday to Friday.

Find out more about the Children's 0 to 9 Services.

Community Children's Nursing

A service where nursing teams support children up to the age of 18 years, and their families, manage acute and long-term illnesses.

Find out more about the Community Children's Nursing service.

Sexual Health Service

A service for integrated sexual health and HIV in Northamptonshire.

If you are under 19 years and would like advice, call:

• 0300 027 4100 for the north of the county
• 0300 027 0110 for the south of the county

Opening hours vary.

Find out more about the Sexual Health Service.

The Lowdown

A mental health charity that provide free and confidential emotional wellbeing, counselling, LGBTQ and sexual health support services for those aged 11 to 25 years.

Find out more about The Lowdown.