We know childhood and adolescence can be a really difficult time, especially for young people’s mental health.
They’re often described as “the best years of your life”, so there can be an expectation that they’re trouble-free.
However, the mental health charity Young Minds estimates that three children in every classroom nationwide have some form of diagnosable mental health condition.
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So it’s vital that young people have somewhere to go where they can have their problems listened to, and discuss things that might be affecting their day-to-day lives with caring, listening professionals.
And our team is there to help.
Outside In
Our young people’s counselling team, Outside In, works across Wrexham, with services provided at eight primary schools, all of our secondary schools and the Info Shop on Lambpit Street.
In the last year, the team has helped nearly 1,000 children and young people, providing them with support, advice and a confidential, non-judgmental ear when they’ve really needed it.
The team is made up of experienced counsellors, all of whom can tailor their sessions according to each individual’s needs and wishes.
Young people can be referred to counsellors by school staff, pupils themselves, parents, school nurses and others.
Each young person receives an individualised approach to attaining their goals, which could be helping them to reduce social isolation, specific work on confidence and self-esteem, managing their emotions including anger, bullying, and/ or self-harm.
Counselling is extremely important because we need to take care of ourselves both mentally and physically. Counselling can support young people with education, training and employment, relationships and many other areas of their life that they may not feel able to speak to anyone else about, such as LGBT issues, gender identity, sexuality, family issues, and anxiety.
If you’re a young person who feels they might benefit from counselling, contact Outside In on 01978 295600
10 year anniversary
Earlier this month, we welcomed young people’s counsellors from across North Wales to a celebration at Alyn Waters, marking 10 years of counselling within schools. In April 2008 the Welsh Assembly Government published the National Strategy for School based Counselling services and set out a commitment that all school pupils in Wales would be able to access counselling.
During the celebration day, the teams shared how they have addressed the stigmatising of mental health, how they have created positive environments to minimise emotional distress, and to how to keep young people learning while addressing their emotional needs.
Cllr Andrew Atkinson, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-Poverty, said: “The Outside In team does incredible work in providing a reassuring and confidential setting for young people to discuss a variety of issues that may be causing mental health conditions, or other problems in their day-to-day lives.
“Any young person who thinks that they might benefit from some counselling should get in touch – there’s no need for them to stay silent or feel alone.”
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