A NEW team has been launched in Worcestershire to help young children and young people experiencing anxiety, low mood and self-harm.
The Reach4Wellbeing group, part of Worcestershire Health and Care Trust’s Starting Well service, was launched today (Monday) and aims to reduce the stigma of mental health by promoting positive wellbeing in communities as well as offering short-term group programmes.
These will initially focus on anxiety and eventually progress to offer sessions on low mood and self-harm.
The programmes are open to children and young people aged between five and 19 and those aged over 13 can refer themselves onto a course.
Anybody aged under 13 must have a referral from parents, carers, teachers or any other professional agency.
However, consent needs to be given by the child or young person.
The team are also working closely with a counselling service called Kooth – an online emotional well-being platform staffed by qualified counsellors for children and young people over the age of ten which can be accessed on mobiles, tablets and desktops and is free to use.
The sessions will take place during school terms in all high schools across Worcestershire.
To find out more about the Reach4Wellbeing service visit www.hacw.nhs.uk/starting-well/reach4wellbeing.
