Mental health support following an upsetting event
The thoughts of everyone at our Trust are with those affected by the Manchester synagogue attack. Following an upsetting event like this, it is common for people to experience a range of feelings.
No matter who you are or what your age, if you have been affected by this, you might find it hard to talk about how you feel - or you might feel an urge to express your feelings to others. We won’t all be affected in the same way.
It is normal for an upsetting event to impact our normal levels of happiness and resilience. However, if you continue to experience some of these negative effects which do not seem to be improving, there are a range of sources of support for both adults and children.
Below are some of the places which can offer you support.
Mental health support
Resources and organisations providing support
- The charity Mind has published information on trauma as well as where to find peer support
- The NHS website Every Mind Matters has published information on traumatic events and mental health as well as help if your sleep is affected
- The NHS website also has some helpful information on post traumatic stress disorder which can be caused by very stressful events, as well as a leaflet on coping with stress following a major incident
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists has published information on coping after a traumatic event
- Anxiety Canada offers resources and programmes to help people better understand and manage anxiety
- Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) offers self-help worksheets for a variety of mental health problems
- Shout! is a free, confidential, 24/7 text support service for anyone in who is struggling to cope.
Support for children and young people
- After the Event has a leaflet for parents about supporting children after a frightening event.
- Kooth offers an online support service for children and young people aged 11-25.
- The Anna Freud Centre has a useful resource, My Self Care Plan, which walks young people through a series of steps, helping them create a detailed self-care plan that works for them.
- Off the Record offer free counselling and mental health support to children and young people in Croydon, Merton and Sutton.
- Childline offers general emotional support
- How To Get Up And Go When You Are Feeling Low is a booklet to help children think about what helps them when they feel upset or stressed
- The Mix provides non-judgmental support and information for young people under 25 on a variety of issues including mental wellbeing, sex & relationships, bullying, exam stress, money, drugs, and self-harm. Crisis text service: Text THEMIX to 85258.
- YoungMinds offers information, support, and advice for children and young people on mental health, wellbeing, racism, and self-harm. YoungMinds Crisis Messenger: Text YM to 85258.
Support and resources around racism and religious hate crime
- Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights across England, Scotland, and Wales.
- The Monitoring Group provides support to victims of race and religious hate crime through the provision of information, advice, advocacy, and representation.
- Stop Hate UK provides independent and confidential support to people affected by hate crime, including confidential hate crime reporting services in various parts of the UK.
The following organisations may also be able to offer additional advice and support around racism and racist hate crime:
- Family Lives provides help and support in all aspects of family life, including bullying, special educational needs, and support for specific communities.
- Victim Support provides emotional and practical help to victims or witnesses of any crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police.
