While we know many children are thriving and pleased to be back in school there are also many, some invisibly, dealing with much more than they should have to right now. We have therefore compiled a list that we hope you will find useful.

• Children and young people can find online information on COVID-19 and mental health on the Young Minds website (https://youngminds.org.uk)
• Kooth has a wealth of general help and wisdom for children and young people and provides a pathway into clinical support already paid for by BCC (www.kooth.com)  
• For support with an eating disorder, children and young people can ring Beat’s Youthline on 0808 801 0711.
• The Think Ninja (freely available and adapted for COVID-19) app educates 10-18 year olds about mental health, emotional wellbeing and provide skills young people can use to build resilience and stay well.
• Rise Above (adapted for COVID-19) website (https://riseabove.org.uk/) aims to build resilience and support good mental health in young people aged 10 to 16.
• BCC have a COVID-19 site full of resources for SEND and additional support which can be found here
• PHE School Zone will now host a wellbeing hub as part of the NHS approved Every Mind Matters campaign. They have a variance of resources for supporting families and tips for teachers. Read on here

‘Need someone to talk to? Struggling to cope with feelings?

Pause is here for you, if you are under 25 and have a Birmingham GP.

We offer a non-judgemental listening ear, self-help strategies plus skills for managing difficult situations and feelings. We are open 10am-6pm, Monday to Friday and 10am-5pm on Saturdays.

To register and request a session via our website 

https://www.forwardthinkingbirmingham.org.uk/services/13-pause 

or call our registration line on 0207 8414470.

Testing

The fastest way to get a test result is to go to a testing site. Individuals will need a pre-booked appointment or they will not be given a test. People can also order home test kits to be sent directly to them. To book an appointment or order a home kit, please visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Mental Health Support - ResourcesBlack, Asian, Minority Ethnic Mental Health Support - Resources

The mental health of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities is important because people from these communities often face individual and societal challenges that can affect access to healthcare and overall mental and physical health. 

Financial Wellbeing –

Claim tax relief and financial health checks

To register your interest for a financial health check, please email financialwellbeing@hsbc.com  with the subject ‘Bham City Council F.A.O Pat Johnston

Stop Loan Sharks Team

This team operates within the Council and are the only government agency in the UK who have the power to investigate and prosecute loan sharks and illegal money lenders.

You are not in trouble if you have borrowed cash or have been paying back a loan from an illegal money lender, the loan shark is. You can report a loan shark/illegal money lender to them in full confidence and anonymity.

You will have a Liaise Officer who will support you throughout the investigation, visit the Stop Loan Sharks Website - https://www.stoploansharks.co.uk/

Mental Health Support for Up To 25 year olds

Forward Thinking Birmingham offer services and offer emotional support, guidance and reassurance to young people in Birmingham. The organisation is a partnership between Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Simplify Health, The Priory and The Children’s Society

The services they offer include:

Free 'stop smoking' app enabled in Birmingham

A free 24/7 on demand artificial intelligence stop smoking service called Quit with Bella is now available, The mobile app includes Bella, your personal stop smoking robo-coach, Bella Community, a community of users supporting each other to be smoke free, and free* NRT/E-cig provision with local pharmacy integration. Advanced artificial intelligence allows you to have a fluid and human like conversation with Bella.

Quit with Bella has been built on a decade worth of stop smoking service delivery expertise, including knowledge from the NHS Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training  and the National Institute for  Health and Care Excellence, insights from 200+ stop smoking experts, and service user feedback to provide an expert and engaging service. It has already supported thousands of people to give up smoking around the world and has been rolled out in other towns and cities across the UK.

Smoking damages your lungs and weakens your immune system, increasing your risk of developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19. Now, if you’re in Birmingham, you can get free support for smoking cessation wherever you are, whenever you want.

COVID-19 has presented many challenges for all of us, but Birmingham City Council are committed to helping to take care of the local community by offering the Quit with Bella app, available on all smart phones.

Now, more than ever, is a great time to stop smoking and Quit with Bella is here to help, there are no waiting times, doesn’t require you to take hours out of your day and offers personalised support whenever and wherever you want”

You’ll find Quit with Bella on the App Store and on Google Play – and don’t forget if you’re a Birmingham City resident, it’s completely FREE!