The crisis in children and young people’s mental health is real and it is urgent. More children, young people and adults than ever before are reaching out for help with their emotional and mental health.
There are now more organisations available locally and nationally for children, young people and adults offering support, advice, information and guidance.
We all need a bit of help sometimes. But it can be difficult to know how, or who, to ask. We look at some ways you can ask for the help you need.
Get mental health support right now
If you need to talk to someone now, you can contact your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Crisis and Intensive Home Treatment (IHT) service on the numbers below. The service is available 7 days a week and available for people to call when they are experiencing a mental health crisis or are worried about someone else who may be in crisis.
Mental health crisis contacts
- Craven: 01274 221181 open 24 hours a day
- Hambleton and Richmondshire: 0300 0132000 (Option 6), open 24 hours a day
- Harrogate & Ripon: 01423 544335, 10am–10pm
- Selby & Easingwold: 01904 615348, 10am –10pm
- Scarborough & Ryedale: 0300 0132000, 10am–10pm
- Whitby: 01723 346502, open 24 hours a day
Or this:
In a mental health emergency, you can contact your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services crisis and liaison team using the freephone telephone number below:
- Freephone: 0800 0516 171
- Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
In North Yorkshire we have strong partnership arrangements which work to deliver the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families.
Agencies need to work together to ensure all children and young people enjoy good mental health and emotional wellbeing, including those who are most vulnerable in society, such as children looked after by us and those with SEND needs.
You can find information, advice and signposting about children and young people's mental health in North Yorkshire on The Go-To website.
Children and young people who experience behaviour, emotional or social difficulties at school or related to schooling can access different types of support, such as our educational psychology service, or our educational social workers. You can find out more about these types of support here on our behaviour, emotional and social difficulties page.
If your child is being bullied, you can find information and help on our page about school bullying.
Our children and families section gives more information including about children's centres which provide support and activities from birth until age 19.
You can also talk to your GP if you have a concern. There are also various other sources of help and support you can access either through school referral, or directly.
Help and support contacts
There are a range of national and locally funded support services for children and young people in North Yorkshire, including:
The Go-To website: The home of wellbeing and mental health in North Yorkshire. The website helps young people find the right help and support to stay well, whatever is happening in their life
The Childline website: Free, confidential, anonymous 24/7 service for anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue including emotional and mental health
YoungMinds Textline: Free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis, with texts answered by trained volunteers supported by experienced clinical supervisors
BUZZ US Text messaging service: Confidential advice, support and signposting from a wellbeing worker within one working day via text for young people aged 11-18 across North Yorkshire and York
NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group website: Here there is further information – including health professionals' referral forms.
Kooth online mental health wellbeing website (Craven only): A service to deliver online chat/text-based counselling, discussion forums and online self-care resources for children and young people.