Patient Advice and Signposting
There are many resources you can use to help you with your mental health diagnosis. We’ve collated information on a range of resources and services for you - take a look below to find out more.
Your clinician may have advised you on which specific resources they believe would be most beneficial for you—all the information you need can be found below.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Services
-
Sometimes, you just need to have a chat with someone. NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershier Talking Therapies is a free self-referral service where you can talk to a member of the team trained and experienced in supporting people through common mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety or low mood.
For self referral, click here
For urgent help, click here
-
You can call the Worcestershire Crisis Team on 0808 196 9127
-
Cranstoun can provide you with the help and support you need to battle your drug and alcohol problems, and enable you to improve and rebuild your life after managing addiction.
You can self-refer to Cranstoun by completing a self-referral form, found by clicking here.
-
The NHS website provides a wide range of advice for both drug and alcohol concerns, including other services you can self-refer into for specific worries.
For alcohol support, click here
For drug addiction support, click here
-
You may find it beneficial to join an ADHD support group to help you manage with your new diagnosis. Support groups allow you to discuss your feelings and concerns with others who may also have similar experiences, as well as speaking to experts who can provide advice and guidance.
To visit the ADHD UK website, click here
To visit the Adult ADHD websitie, click here
-
The Worcestershire Parent and Carers Community offers support for families who have a child with a disability or additional need.
For more information click here.
-
A new neurodivergent support service aiming to create a neuro-affirming, needs-led offer for children, young people and their families.
Find out more by visiting their website, or calling the Worcester team on 01905 673549
-
To help families find clear and reliable information, every local authority has created a Local Offer. This brings together advice, guidance, and details of local services across education, health, and social care. To find out more about our Local Offer, click here.
-
Navigating the transition to adulthood can feel overwhelming for young people with SEND and for their families. This free interactive workshop provided by Learning Partnerships Worcestershire is designed to equip parents and carers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support their young person in planning for the future.
To find out more, click here.
Websites
Take a look at the websites linked below, which provide a host of information on autism, ADHD and neurodivergence in general.
Books
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
Dr Russell Barkley shares his thoughts and insights into the challenges that ADHD poses in adults, and provides science-based strategies to help adults with ADHD achieve their goals, improve focus and much more.
The Adult ADHD Toolkit
J. Russell Ramsay & Anthony L. Rostain show us how using CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can help adults cope with ADHD.
Dirty Laundry
From the creators of the Late Bloomers podcast, Dirty Laundry is a guide to getting rid of the shame of having ADHD and learning to live life to the fullest. The book also contains tips for family and friends of people with ADHD to help them navigate interacting with people with ADHD.
Anxiety and Worry
There are a range of books that cover anxiety and worries that parents, carers and children can commonly experience. We’ve listed a few here for you to check out.
Mindfulness for Children
Help your child to be calm and content, from breakfast till bedtime. Author: Uz Afzal
Starving the Anxiety Gremlin for Children Aged 5-9:
A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook on Anxiety Management by Kate Collins-Donnelly.
Hey Warrior
For ages 5-12 (and up); A book for kids about anxiety by Karen Young.
Books to Support Anger
A Volcano In My Tummy
Helping Children to Handle Anger. Primarily created for ages 6 to 13, by Élaine Whitehouse & Warwick Pudney.
Starving the Anger Gremlin
For ages 5 to 9. By Kate Collins-Donnelly.
Overcoming Your Child's Fears and Worries
A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques. Author: Cathy Cresswell.
What to Do When You Worry Too Much:
A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety for 6-12 year olds by Dawn Huebner.
Too Shy for Show and Tell
A story book which talks about the physical signs of anxiety by Beth Bracken.
What to Do When Your Temper Flares
A Kid’s guide to overcoming problems with anger, by Dawn Huebner.
Hello Happy! Mindful Kids
An activity book for ages 7+ who sometimes feel sad or angry. By Sharie Coombes and Stephanie Clarkson
Podcasts & Videos
Some people prefer to listen to podcasts or watch instead of reading pages of information, so we’ve also collated some useful podcasts and video playlists for you to check out.
All Aboard ADHD
This podcast is great for parents and carers looking after children with ADHD. If you’re looking for guidance on navigating caring for a child with ADHD, including topics such as medication, give this podcast a listen.
Late Bloomers Podcast
The Late Bloomers Podcast, hosted by Rich and Rox Pink, covers a wide range of topics including all things mental health, addiction, debt and more. Rich and Rox talk about their experiences throughout their life and how to turn bad situations around.
The Hidden 20%
The Hidden 20% is a UK charity and podcast hosted by Ben Branson, who learned after 39 years that he has autism and ADHD. Ben uses his platform to talk about neurodivergence as a whole, breaking the silence on mental health conditions.
H&W Health and Care NHS Trust
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have a whole catalogue of videos on their YouTube channel produced by their Occupational Therapy team, including topics such as getting school ready, sensory processing, calming strategies and more.
General Support for Families
-
Worcestershire support for all families including parenting groups (including The Incredible years), financial support and support around behaviour, sleep, feeding, and other difficulties
More info can be found by clicking here.
-
Provided by Worcestershire county council children’s services, families can ask for a family support worker to help with difficulties by contacting your local team.
Click here for more information.
-
A national family support charity providing help and support in all aspects of family life. Click here to visit their website.
Confidential Helpline service: 0808 800 2222
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk
-
A national service offering advice on a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, work, debt, law and courts, immigration and more.
-
Worcestershire County Council have provided a whole host of information on preparing for adulthood, such as living independently and getting involved in your local community.
Preparing for adulthood (16 to 25 years) (SEND) | Worcestershire County Council
-
BENS Youth and Community Groups possess a strong commitment to support young people, along with other services, providing a whole family approach. They promote independence and a growth mindset, giving young people the tools to solve their own problems and communicate with others within the groups and their community.
More information and full contact details can be found by visiting their website.
-
Set up by parents of autistic children in 2010, Sky Autism Support, based in Malvern, offer support and community groups to parents of autistic children.
To find out more, click here.
School Concerns and Difficult Behaviour
NHS Starting Well Service
This service offers a range of courses and support for families including around difficult behaviours.
Challenging Behaviour Foundation
This service offers support for parents and carers through an email network, peer support and family support service.
You can contact this service via phone: 0300 666 0126, or by email: support@thecbf.org.uk
Child Against Parent Violence
The Parental Education Growth Support charity (PEGS) offers support for families dealing with child against parent violence. Families can self-refer via the website linked below.
Suicide Prevention & Bereavement
There are a few charitable organisations concerned with the prevention of young suicide. You can contact these organisations if you’re having a difficult time and need support.
Suicide Prevention
Papyrus
Samaritans
Phone: 116 123
Mind
Text SHOUT to 85258
Phone: 0800 068 4141
Childline: 0800 1111
Bereavement
Child Bereavement UK
Footsteps
Phone: 0845 467 6065
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677
Teenage Concerns & Resources
-
For local health clinics as well as information and advice regarding contraception, pregnancy and sexual health, click here.
-
Worcestershire County Council provides a hub for local resources that teenagers can access.
Click here for more info.
-
NSPCC has a guide for parents about keeping children safe online: click here.
Catch 22 also has a number of resources around staying safe online: click here.
Young people accessing inappropriate online content may also be at risk of sexual exploitation by those they encounter online, or in the real world. The below sites have signs to look out for and steps you can take if you are concerned about your young person.
-
MindJam are supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing through gaming, game design and digital skills.
Find out more about their 1-to-1 sessions by clicking here.
Autism Resources
Your Ideas
Your Ideas is a youth and community organisation based in Redditch. They deliver a varied programme to ensure each individual is given enough time and support. They specialise in supporting young people and adults who are autistic, with challenging behaviours and are from hard to reach backgrounds.
Aurum Autism Support
Aurum Autism Support, based in Malvern, provide specialist support services for autistic women and girls, with both online and face-to-face support services available.
National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society provide in-depth advice and guidance on the challenges autistic people and their families face. Please be aware that the Autism Helpline is not a crisis or emergency service.
Child Autism UK
Child Autism UK provide services to enable children to overcome difficulties with communication, learning and life skills and give families the techniques and strategies to cope with autism through the use of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
Autism West Midlands
The leading charity in the West Midlands for people on the autism spectrum. They work across all age groups and abilities, providing direct advice and support sessions for families and carers of children on the autistic spectrum.