Wellbeing resources and mental health support for young people in Greater Manchester August 2025

 It’s good to talk…

 Sometimes all you need is to share how you feel with someone you can trust. Is there anyone you can talk to about how you are feeling?

Maybe:

  • Your family members.
  • People at university – lecturers, tutors, friends?
  • People outside of university – sports coach, dance instructor, club leader, someone from within your faith community?

There are also plenty of ways you can help yourself to feel better at home. Finding ways to relax and unwind such as listening to music or writing down your thoughts and feelings.

I need information and advice

 There’s lots of online support and advice available.

42nd Street is an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity with 40 years’ experience of providing free and confidential services to young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/

Anna Freud is a world-leading mental health charity for children and families. Their wellbeing resources aim to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health and wellbeing. Their pages have been co-produced by young people to help other young people. Self-Care Resources For Young People | Anna Freud

The Children’s Society provide specialist support that empowers young people to make positive changes and rediscover their hope.  Their Wellbeing Activities | The Children’s Society include: Building your self esteem; How to create a healthy routine; Adapting to change; Asking for help.

Free online wellbeing programme:  SilverCloud – aged 16 years+. Online programmes to help ease your levels of stress, sleep better or to build resilience. You can choose to use any of the programmes. They are self-help, confidential and secure. gm.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/

NHS Greater Manchester. These resources provide guidance and information that has been quality assured by a Clinical Psychologist in Greater Manchester. There are resources on:

Eating disorders

Self-harm. NHS Greater Manchester created this advice for young people, parents and carers about why people may self-harm, how to talk about it and strategies to help young people manage their emotions:

Trauma

Greater Manchester Resilience Hub. A guide to understanding and managing trauma: This guide is for children and young people. It looks at what trauma is, how you might be feeling, triggers, and some things that can help.

UK Trauma Council videos

These videos have been created by UK Trauma Council, a project by Anna Freud to help children and young people following traumatic events and experiences.

I need someone to talk to

Free digital mental wellbeing support. Join the community and access free, safe and anonymous professional support online. There are   no waiting lists for support and no referral needed. Access to these platforms is available instantly   24/7. Support available includes:

  • Live chat or messaging with qualified mental health professionals
  • Self-help tools and activities
  • Online community

Kooth (for ages 10 to 25) http://www.kooth.com and Qwell (for ages 26+)  www.qwell.io/

Papyrus

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE available 24/7 on 0300 102 2470 or text 88247. You can also get in contact via email. 

BSL users can get support through the InterpretersLive! service, you can speak to a HopeLine 24/7 suicide prevention adviser with a qualified, NRCPD-registered BSL video interpreter – on-demand, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need follow-up support after your call, a HopeLine 24/7 adviser will arrange a time that works for you – with BSL support included.

HopeLine 24/7 also offers Language Line, a free, confidential translation and interpretation service-  available 24/7 – so you can get support in a language that feels right for you.

www.papyrus-uk.org/

Samaritan volunteers listen in confidence to anyone in any type of emotional distress, without judging or telling people what to do. Call 0116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (24 hours, 7 days a week) www.samaritans.org/

YoungMinds. If you need help speaking to someone Young Minds have produced a useful guide to reaching our for help www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/reaching-out-for-help/

Need more help?

Greater Manchester Universities Student Mental Health Service is a partnership with the region’s five universities: University of Bolton; University of Salford; University of Manchester; Manchester Metropolitan University; Royal Northern College of Music. Supported by NHS Greater Manchester the service aims to provide proactive mental health assessment, support, and interventions to help students succeed academically and manage their mental health.

Based at The University of Manchester, with satellite clinics at the University of Bolton and University of Salford, the service is accessible via referral from university counselling services. Key goals include reducing waiting times, improving access for vulnerable groups, integrating university and mainstream mental health services, and enhancing student satisfaction. More information can be accessed here Greater Manchester Universities Student Mental Health Service | News and Events | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT

 NHS Talking Therapies (for anxiety and depression).  Psychological treatments, including cognitive behaviour therapy, are effective in treating anxiety   and depression and are often recommended first, particularly for mild to moderate anxiety and   depression. If you are aged 16+ you can make a self-referral to NHS Talking Therapies (for anxiety and depression).  You can find the service in your area here                    

I need urgent help

Urgent mental health support Call NHS 111 and select Option 2 if you, or someone you know, needs urgent mental health support. Available 24/7, you’ll speak to a mental health professional who can help you find the right support.

If there’s an immediate risk to life ring 999 or go to A&E.