Online chat or peer group support

Everyone communicates in different ways, and sometimes it can feel easier to talk about what’s on your mind via an online chat. Some people find this quieter and less pressurising than face-to-face conversation.

If you’d like to give it a try, you could try setting up a WhatsApp or Facebook group with your peers so you can support each other. It’s important to remember, however, that you’re never obligated to be online and available to talk late into the night or when you’re not feeling up to it, as that can become too much to handle. Childline has some great advice on how to make sure you are safe online.

If you’d prefer to speak to a volunteer, the following charities have online chat services.  Click on the relevant image to access support

General

          

LGBT+

                  

 

Advice on homelessness

Advice on drug or substance use

 

Advice on Eating Disorders

 

If you or someone you know needs help right now, you should, if possible, try to talk to a parent, carer or trusted adult. 

If talking to an adult is not possible, our Urgent Help page lists organisations which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

What young people have told us:

'It gave me some useful information and suggestions.'

'Yes it did as it helped me manage my emotions better.'

What young people have told us:

There isn’t much academic research in the area of self-care for young people who are living with mental health issues. We are trying to find out more about what works for different people so we can better advise other young people what to try.

If you’ve tried this activity when you were struggling in relation to your mental health, please let us know if it helped you and how by clicking on the ‘Did this activity help you’ button.