If you or your child need support with improving emotional wellbeing / mental health, there are lots of self-help resources and services available in Hertfordshire all year round.
Please always ask for support if you need it. Don’t ever struggle alone.
The services below are all free. They don’t need a professional referral, so you can contact them directly.
If you or someone you know of any age is having a mental health crisis and needs help right now, call:
If you or someone else is seriously ill or injured, dial 999 for the emergency services, or go to your nearest A&E.
Additional national helpline numbers and websites:
With Youth | Digital Wellbeing Service
For ages 5-18, parents/care givers
Available to help children and young people to cope with what’s going on for them. They have a helpline and instant messaging service for young people and/or their parents or care givers.
Friendly advisors can listen and chat with you online or over the phone 020 8189 8400 2pm-10pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays), give their advice and offer you more one to one or group support if you need it.
With Youth | Lumi Nova Tales of Courage
For ages 7-12
With Youth Digital Wellbeing Service and Lumi Nova therapeutic gaming app can help with problems such as mild to moderate anxiety, low mood, low self esteem, stress and any other worries. The service is not for children and young people who are in crisis.
Herts Haven Cafés in Hemel Hempstead, Watford and Ware
For ages 10-18
Safe and welcoming drop-in cafes for young people to embrace their emotional wellbeing
Compassionate face to face emotional wellbeing support and guidance from trained workers, without the need for a professional referral.
The Sandbox
For ages 10-25
Sandbox offers online advice and guidance and is free to sign up. They help young people to understand and learn ways to manage their feelings, so they feel happier and more able to cope with the ups and down of life that we all experience.
Sign up for this free NHS funded service. It offers a website with access to games, worksheets, group chats and online events for children, young people, their parents/carers, teachers and other professionals. The Sandbox provides access to internet enabled Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT), or one to one support from professional therapists by text, phone, online chat or video call, based on a triage of the young person’s needs:
- Website: 24/7
- Therapy sessions: Mondays-Fridays 7am-10pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10am–10pm
- Live chat: Mondays-Fridays 10am-8pm.
Hertfordshire's NHS Talking Therapies
For ages 16+
Confidential talking therapies and other practical support to help improve emotional wellbeing.
Togetherall
For ages 16+
Offering a range of support, courses and advice, Togetherall is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing.
First Steps to Understanding Eating Disorders (First Steps ED)
For ages 5-18, parents/care givers
Digital and face to face one-to-one support sessions, as well as weekly psychoeducation and group support programmes (Wellbeing Workshop, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) support group, binge eating workshops, etc). Parents, carers and older siblings can also gain access to First Steps ED’s Parent Support Programme.
ChatHealth available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm excluding bank holidays.
Text a school nurse on 07480 635050 for young people ages 11-19.
This is a confidential service where young people can ask for help on a range of issues including weight and exercise, healthy eating, stress or anxiety, relationships and sexual health.
Text a school nurse on 07312 263002 for parents and caregivers of 5-19 year olds.
A new service from Chat Health launched in summer 2024 for parents/carers to ask for advice on supporting children and young people's health and wellbeing.
Text the health visiting service on 07480 635164 for parents and caregivers of 0-5 year olds.