Get help now
This Children and young people’s infographic of services contains all of the information. It is also listed below.
For a full list of services available to support young people visit our ‘Services for Young People‘ page.
Emergency medical help
If you need emergency medical help to preserve life following an accident or serious injury – call 999 immediately or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) at a hospital.
If the young person is in a mental health crisis call 111.
Specialist support to meet significant mental health needs
Some children or young people will show signs of significant mental health problems that are impacting on activities of daily life, preventing them functioning within the norms for their age. These may be persistent and of a moderate to severe nature, causing significant difficulties with their achievement and relationships. Children and young people with emerging eating disorders fit in this group.
Call the Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0800 011 3474 or make a referral.
Speak to someone
Does your child need some extra help?
Some children/young people show signs of emerging mental health problems and/or are struggling with their emotional wellbeing. To know if this is relevant to your child these issues will be starting to cause difficulties with their school work, friendships or family relationships.
The School Health Service delivers emotional wellbeing services to all children and young people. You can call them on 0300 123 5205 or make a referral on their website.
Family issues – Integrated Children’s Services – Kent Integrated Children Services can be accessed via 03000 411111. For further information on these services you can visit the Early Help (support for families) website or the Integrated Children’s Services website.
Support for parents and carers of LGBT+ young people
The BeYou project provides support for parents and carers of LGBT+ young people in Kent. They offer meet-ups, advice and support. For more information visit the BeYou website.
Difficulties with drugs or alcohol
If you are worried about yourself, your child or someone you know We Are With You offer free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs or mental health from one of their local services or online.
Contacts for children and young people
Kooth.com offers free, safe and anonymous support and online counselling for young people in Kent. Young people can access self-care tips and advice, daily journals, articles and more. Fully trained counsellors are available 365 days a year.
MoodSpark is a dedicated website for young people to explore emotional resilience and mental health. It is designed by young people for young people. Children and young people can take the quiz and find out how you they’re doing. They can find lots of helpful information, videos and playlists to help them feel your best.
ChatHealth is a confidential texting service for young people aged 11-19. It is run by the school health service and young people can message about anything related to their physical and emotional health. If children or young people need help they can text 07520 618850. They don’t have to be in school to use this service. Chathealth is not a crisis line, if you need urgent help call 111 and they will be able to support you.
Childline offer information and advice on lots of different topics that affect children and young people’s mental and physical health. Children and young people can phone Childline on 0800 1111 to speak to someone in confidence. Childline also offer 1-2-1 counsellor chat online for children and young people to speak to a counsellor.
National support numbers
Young Minds Parent Helpline – If you are a parent needing help, please contact the helpline on 0808 802 5544.
Advice and information
Kent Resilience Hub ‘supporting your child’ pages– there is a lot of useful information on this website for parents and young people. Have a good look around and learn about emotional growth, when you should be worried and what you can do to support your child.