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Young People

For young people aged 11 and over

Hot Topics

Current support and information that may be useful right now.

Updated regularly

Supporting you transition from primary to secondary school

There can be lots to remember when you start a new school. Childline has some tips to make things easier and is also available for support if needed.

Looking After Yourself At Uni

University is an exciting time in your life, but it can also feel overwhelming. This Young Minds guide can help you prepare and find ways to look after yourself.

Problems sleeping?

Lots of people struggle to fall asleep at night. Thinking about school, people or events can leave you feeling restless.
Childline has a few things that just might help, including a video, some calming activities and 10 top tips.

There is so much information available out there, but it’s not always easy to know where to find it.

It’s so important that you speak to someone if you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental wellbeing. Parents, Carers, Teachers, and Pastoral teams can all help. Young people are also able to independently access support from their GP and Practice Nurse.

Every school in Dudley has a named School Nurse who is there to offer advice, help and support. School Nurses hold regular drop-ins in secondary schools. If you want to know when your school drop-in is, you can ask at school reception or call the Dudley 0-19 Service 01384 492615 and choose the School Nurse option.

ChatHealth

The Dudley School Nursing team now has a new confidential texting service called ChatHealth, allowing you to reach out for confidential advice and support on a range of health and wellbeing topics.

Young Persons Chathealth 2026

Support services for young people

These services can offer information, advice and support for young people.

Kooth Logo

Young People aged 11-18, who live in Dudley or attend a school/college in Dudley, have access to KOOTH, an online service specifically designed to support young people’s mental wellbeing.

wysa Logo transpareny

Wysa is a mental health app that has been commissioned by Black Country Health NHS Foundation Trust. Wysa provides you with a safe, anonymous, and non-judgmental space where you can talk about anything and everything that’s bothering you. You’ll get full access to all of Wysa’s self-help tool packs free for 12 months from when you download it.

To access Wysa Digital Premium, please click the web link from your smartphone. If you are asked to input a code, please use BCDU2023.

A here4youth logo

Here4YOUth is specifically designed for Children & Young People to receive harm reduction information and ongoing support if using alcohol and other drugs. Here4YOUth also provides a social prescribing service that connects and supports access to hobbies, activities, and other areas of support.

ROUTES Dudley

ROUTES hub is a walk-in, youth-friendly space at Merry Hill shopping centre, where young people can access information, advice, and early support from our friendly team and various services.

It’s a place for young people to turn to when they’re facing challenges or tough times in their lives. The team is dedicated to empowering young people to achieve their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. 

The What? Centre

The What? Centre is a Young Person’s Advice and Counselling Service with bases in Stourbridge (main base) and Dudley.

Dudley Talking Therapy Service

Dudley Talking Therapy Service supports individuals aged 16 or over (school leavers and adults) who are experiencing common mental health problems; such as anxiety, depression, low mood, panic or phobias. The service accepts self-referrals.

The links in the next section of the site are to websites specifically designed for young people, and will hopefully provide you with the information you want, in a language you understand.

If You Are Feeling Lonely

Loneliness can affect us all, at any time in our lives. Everyone’s experience of loneliness is different. You should not blame yourself for feeling lonely now or at any other time, and it’s also really important to remember that loneliness and difficult feelings can pass.

The NHS Every Mind Matters has some useful information and sources of support.

HAppier Minds Mental HEalth Loneliness

Getting Support When Someone Has Died

When someone dies, it can be hard to know what to think, feel or do next. Whether it’s a parent, sibling, friend or someone you admired from afar, suddenly not having them in your life can feel scary and upsetting. Winston’s Wish provide lots of online support that can help you to make sense of your grief, express your feelings and find healthy ways to cope.

Looking after your mental health

It’s important to look after your physical health, but it is equally as important to look after your mental health.
Below are some useful links to help you do that.

Exam Stress

It is normal to feel a bit worried about exams. Be kind to yourself and make sure that when you’re thinking about how to use your time before exams, you factor in time to look after yourself. You deserve it!

Here’s some help and advice if it’s all getting a bit too much.

Reading Well

Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading. The books are chosen by health experts and people living with the conditions covered.

Self Care and Emotional Health Toolkit

However you’re feeling, it can be great to express yourself and do things you enjoy. Take your mind off things or find new ways to handle your emotions.These activities are not a substitute for seeing a mental health professional. Sometimes we need outside help and advice. Getting help is good.

Five Ways to Wellbeing

Have you heard about the 5 Ways to Wellbeing? They’re five actions that are easy to build into your everyday life and the evidence shows they are great for our mental health. They’re not just for young people, they’re for everyone.

Helping a friend

It can be difficult to know how to respond when someone opens up to you about their mental health. Childline, Anna Freud and Young Minds all have useful information and advice on what you can say and how you can support a friend, while looking after your own mental health too.