This page gives information about help and advice for people affected by social, emotional, or mental health issues.
Our getting advice section shows a broad range of organisations which can offer support.
If you need extra help, or are looking for professional input, our getting help section for children and parents has useful information.
If you need more specialist or urgent support, read our getting specialist help and getting help in a crisis sections.
Getting advice
Are you worried about something at school, your friendships, or at home? If you need to talk to someone, or help to make friends and be more active, then the groups below can help. There is also advice for parents of children who need help and support.
Organisations in Enfield
- Enfield Children's Centre provides activities for young children as well as access to a range of early childhood services
- Enfield Women's Centre offers support to vulnerable and disadvantaged women and their families living in Enfield.
- Mind in Enfield offers a range of services for young people with mental health difficulties or who are struggling with their mental wellbeing. Services include counselling, advocacy, and housing.
- Youth Enfield is where young people can find information, advice and guidance on a whole range of activities, programmes and services available in Enfield
National organisations
- ChildLine is a free 24-hour phone and online counselling service for children and young people up to the age of 18. You can call, talk to a counsellor online, send an email or post on the message boards.
- Dad info gives fathers gives free expert advice and support for legal issues, child development, financial advice, and more
- Family Lives offers parenting and family support, online chats, a helpline and parenting classes
- Gingerbread supports free support to one-parent families, including local friendship groups, an online forum, plus stories and advice from other single parents
- Kooth is a free, anonymous and safe online wellbeing platform for young people. It includes a text-based counselling service, helpful articles, forums, activities, a daily journal and messaging. The site is open 24 hours a day. One-to-one counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor are available from 12 noon until 10pm on weekdays, and from 6pm until 10pm on weekends.
- MeeTwo App promotes mental wellbeing of young people with peer support through social media
- MindEd is a free educational resource on children, young people, and adult's mental health
- NSPCC is a charity campaigning and working in child protection
- Samaritans is a 24-hour telephone helpline offering emotional support to people experiencing distress or despair
- The Mix offers free information and support for young people aged 13 to 25 about sex, relationships, drugs, mental health, money and jobs
- Think U Know is a guide to internet safety for young people (5 to 14+)
- Young Minds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people
- Young Minds for Parents gives advice and support for parents worried about their child's behaviour, emotional problems and mental health
- Youth Access can help you find your nearest youth counselling services for young people aged 12 to 25.
Activities to improve health and wellbeing
The Youth Alive programme (PDF, 2452.16 KB) is for children and young people aged 10 to 19 who live or study in the Edmonton ward.
Through the programme, children and young people can take part in activities including basketball, football, cooking, acting and drama lessons. It encourages them to look after their wellbeing, build their confidence and happiness, feel empowered, learn a new skill, and take part in physical activities.
All activities will be carried out in line with Public Health England guidance on coronavirus infection, prevention and control.
Children and young people will be referred to their local health champion, who will discuss what the child or young person's interests are, and signpost them to free or low-cost activities. To take part, you can complete a referral form (PDF, 205.77 KB) and send to a link worker via email at socialprescribing@enfieldva.org.uk. Alternatively, you can telephone 020 8373 6268. Following the referral process, a young person will be contacted by a specialist Health Champion.
Bullying
If you’re worried about bullying, you should check your school website to see their anti-bullying policy. You can also get support from:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) support
- Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre provides teenagers aged 13 to 19 with the opportunity to meet other young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, or think they might be
- The Albert Kennedy Trust supports LGBT people aged 16 to 25 who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment
- Gendered Intelligence is a community interest company that runs arts programmes, creative workshops, mentoring, and youth group sessions for trans youth across the UK
Eating disorder support
- Beat is the UK's leading charity supporting anyone affected by eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), or any other difficulties with food, weight and shape
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) support
- Living with ADHD offers advice on ADHD for young people, parents and teachers
- Addiss offers information about ADHD and support
- ADHD - parent advice (PDF, 351.04 KB)
- ADHD - teacher advice (PDF, 345.74 KB)
Getting help
Talk to a child you’re worried about
If you're worried about a child or young person, encouraging them to talk can be very helpful whether you're a family member, friend or teacher. See advice about how to do this at NHS – talk to children about feelings.
Talk to your doctor about mental health
If you're worried about your mental health, telling your doctor is the first step to getting help. You can speak to your doctor about your mental health and wellbeing at any age and it is confidential for anyone over 16, unless there is a concern about risk.
You should get help if you're experiencing anything that's worrying you, including:
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Exam stress
- Family problems
- Grieving
- Relationship problems
- Self-harm
- Struggles with sexuality
- Substance misuse
Help for children and young people
- Kooth is a web-based, confidential mental health and wellbeing support service for young people. They offer text-based conversations with a qualified counsellor, regular booked online counselling sessions, and out of hours next day messaging. For help signing up, view the Kooth sign-up infographic (JPG). The site is open 24 hours a day. One-to-one counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor are available from 12 noon until 10pm on weekdays, and from 6pm until 10pm on weekends.
- Big White Wall provides online early intervention for people, aged 16 and over, who are experiencing psychosocial distress. They offer self-management tips and virtual live therapy. Big White Wall is available free in many areas through the NHS, employers, and universities. It's also free to all UK serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
- My Time Child and Young People's Counselling Service is a specialist counselling service for children and young people aged 5 to 18
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a free NHS talking therapy for people 16 and over, who are worried or have low mood. They provide a range of treatment programmes including one-to-one therapy, counselling and group work.
- Our bereavement service gives information on bereavement charities which offer help and support for those suffering a loss
Help for parents
- Every Parent and Child enhances the life chances of children, young people and their families. They focus on vulnerable children and children with special needs.
- Young Minds Parents Helpline offers free and confidential expert advice for parents worried about their child
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a free NHS talking therapy for people 16 and over, who are worried or have low mood. They provide a range of treatment programmes including one-to-one therapy, counselling and group work.
- Parent Support Unit work with families to achieve positive outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 years and offer parenting support programmes
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists offer help for children and young people if their parents are going through divorce or separation, or if there are family problems
- Relate offers relationship counselling and mediation in North East London. There may be a cost for these services depending on your income.
- Tavistock relationship centre also offers support around family relationships. There may be a cost for these services depending on your income.
Help offered by schools
Your school may provide the following support:
Nurture groups
Children may attend a nurture group in particular schools. These support children with social, emotional and mental health needs. The children can play, explore and learn in a small group with two trusted adults in a home-like environment. There is an emphasis on emotions and feelings, raising self-esteem, identity and self-expression and verbal communication. The school curriculum will be covered at the same time. Children must be appropriately assessed before entering the nurture group. For more information, check their SEN info report or speak to the SENCO.
Language and Social Skills (LASS) groups
Language and Social Skills (LASS) groups are small groups which run approximately twice a week in particular schools in Enfield. These are for children who have moderate difficulties around language and social skills. The groups follow a given structure that meets the needs as identified by an initial assessment. The activities are as practical as possible and allow many opportunities for speaking and listening, making choices, expressing needs, turn taking, and relating to others.
Place2Be
Place2Be provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools. They help to build children's resilience through talking, creative work and play.
Specialist help
If you're finding it difficult to cope and haven't been able to find support or get help from our services, you may need some more help.
Domestic violence
If you are a victim of domestic violence or you know someone who is, help and support is available form the following organisations:
You can also visit our safeguarding page to report abuse or find out more.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a specialist community multi-disciplinary mental health service for children, young people and their families.
They provide assessment, treatment and support for the mental health, behavioural and emotional wellbeing of under 18s, working closely with families and carers.
The following film shows young people talking about their experience of dealing with a mental health issue and how CAMHS has helped them to overcome their problems:
Our team of mental health professionals includes:
- CAMHS practitioners
- child and adolescent psychiatrists
- child and adolescents psychotherapists
- clinical psychologists
- family psychotherapists
- specialist nurse therapists
We also work closely with the Educational Psychology Service.
How CAMHS can help
The types of problems CMAHS can help with include:
- behavioural problems, such as aggression, delinquency, unmanageable behaviour and hyperactivity
- eating and feeding disorders
- emotional difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, phobias, OCD and school refusal
- self-harm or risk of self-harm (those who have taken overdoses should always be taken to the local A&E department)
- severe psychiatric illness and psychosis
- sleeping, feeding and behavioural difficulties in under-fives that result in severe disruption of family life and development
- trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma following abuse
There is a range of treatment available from therapeutic support and counselling, to medication prescribing and monitoring by a variety of professionals.
CAMHS also provide:
- a specialist team working with looked after children
- consultation, advice and support to professionals working with your children or young person
- Enfield Parent Infant partnership, which is a specialist team providing therapeutic support for babies struggling to develop a secure attachment with their primary caregiver
- specialist adolescent teams working with young people aged 12 to 18 years with severe and complex mental health difficulties
- specialist teams, providing assessment, support and treatment for children and young people with combined mental health problems and learning disabilities
- support to hospital based paediatric services
- therapeutic support for under-fives delivered in Enfield children's centres
Accessing the service
Referrals are accepted from schools, GPs, social care services, youth centres, youth offending organisations and other health and social care professionals.
Make a referral
To make a CAMHS referral, see referral forms for professionals.
For more information on referrals, email beh-tr.enfieldcamhs@nhs.net.
Help in a crisis
Urgent and emergency help
24 Hours Crisis Telephone Service
Young people and their families in need of urgent help with their mental health can get free 24/7 support from trained NHS professionals by telephone.
If you are based in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington, and you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please call our 24-hour Crisis Telephone Service on 0800 151 0023. You can call this number to get help or advice in a crisis from our trained mental health advisors and clinicians, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
If you are based in any other boroughs in London, you can find your local crisis line number.
More information:
- NCL crisis line information sheet
- NCL crisis line poster
- Urgent mental health support for children young people and families information sheet
- Mental health support for children young people and their families easy read
If a young person or child's life is at risk and needs urgent medical assistance, you should call 999 or go to an A&E department.
If you're concerned about the well-being of a child, due to risks such as emotional cruelty, neglect, physical or sexual abuse, contact Enfield Safeguarding.
Specialist child and adolescent mental health services
Enfield Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides a range of specialist services for children, young people and families in need of help due to or at risk of self-harm, suicidal feelings or severe psychiatric illness and psychosis.
The Service for Adolescents and Families in Enfield (SAFE) is a specialist team within CAMHS providing rapid, community-based intervention to young people aged 12 to 18 years in need of crisis mental health support. This includes young people who have harmed themselves or who are at risk of suicide.
SAFE also offers specialist assessment and intervention to teenagers who may be experiencing severe mental health difficulties, such as severe psychiatric illness and psychosis.
Referrals to CAMHS are accepted from schools, GPs, social care services, youth centres, youth offending organisations and other health and social care professionals.
Exclusion from school
If a child or young person is at risk of permanent exclusion, see our exclusions from school page. The child or young person may be referred to the Fair Access Panel where they will be discussed amongst a multi-agency group and further support and advice will be given to the school. Following this there may be a further meeting between the Senior Leadership Team in the school and professionals such as the Behaviour Support Service, Educational Psychology Service and CAMHS. This is called a multi-agency consultation meeting (MAC) which aims to support the school's thinking in preventing a permanent exclusion.
Youth offending
Our Youth Offending Unit also offers help and support to young offenders and their families.
Helplines:
- The Samaritans offer a 24-hour telephone helpline for anyone in emotional distress. Call them free on 116 123 (textphone: 08457 90 91 92).
- ChildLine is a free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people under 19. You can call them on 0800 1111, chat to a counsellor online, send an email or post on the message boards.
- Papyrus is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide
- Harmless provides postal and email self-harm support through a counsellor and other volunteers that have personal, supportive and professional experience
- If you're concerned about the well-being of a child, contact Enfield Safeguarding directly.
Critical incident response for educational settings
The definition of what constitutes a critical incident, tragic event or trauma depends on the particular needs and perceptions of staff, pupils and parents at the time. The Educational Psychology Service and Local Authority CAMHS Team offer help in relation to traumatic events such as the violet or sudden death of a pupil, a school fire or a meningitis scare. Consultation with an outside professional has been valuable in considering the following issues:
- How and when to share initial information with staff, children or young people and parents
- Maintaining the school routine
- Planning whole school response, such as assemblies and letters
- Responding to a bereaved family including attendance at funerals
- Clarifying who is most affected by the incident - staff, children or young people, parents
- How to offer support to staff and pupils
- Clarifying which children and young people may be helped by individual or group work or referral to CAMHS or another agency
- Longer term needs, such as memorials and anniversaries
- Evaluating and learning from the experience
If schools, colleges or other educational settings would like support following a critical incident, they can contact the Educational Psychology Service or speak with their allocated Educational Psychologist in the first instance.
Glossary
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust have developed the Thrive framework as a new model for CAMHS. It is a way of thinking about the needs of children, young people and their families. With this model needs are measured under four categories:
- Getting advice
- Getting help
- Getting more help
- Getting risk support
You may encounter some of the following professionals:
- Advocacy helps you to access information and services and helps you to make decisions about your life, exploring choices and options
- CAMHS practitioners involve lots of mental health professionals working together to provide individual and family work helping children and young people under the age of 18, who experience emotional difficulties or mental health problems.
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists are medical practitioners who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health.
- Child and Adolescent psychotherapists may see children and young people individually or with other family members. The therapy may be through talking or play, depending on age. The child has an opportunity to work towards understanding themselves, their relationships and their behaviours.
- Psychologists can assess and help with young people's psychological functioning, emotional wellbeing and development. There are different types of psychologists, such as Clinical Psychologists and Educational Psychologists, but they all help with the way you behave, feel and think about things.
- Counsellors are trained to give guidance on personal or psychological problems.
- Family psychotherapists work with young people and their families together. If you're referred to a family therapist you might meet them regularly so they can help you manage the difficulties happening in your life. You can decide who comes to the meetings and what you will speak about.
- General practitioners (GPs) are doctors based who treats patients with minor or chronic illnesses and refers those with serious conditions to a hospital.
- Specialist nurse therapists are dedicated to a particular area of nursing providing direct patient care, and play a vital role in educating patients on how best to manage their symptoms.