Health & Wellbeing Services

Support and guidance for people experiencing problems with substance misuse and co-occurring mental health problems in Torquay. Please visit the rehab4addiction website.

Guidance and revised support for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) intervention is available on the Children and Family Health Devon website. CAMHS are also offering additional 24/7 telephone support. Please contact 03300 245 321 during normal hours (8am-5pm, Mon to Fri) or 0300 555 5000 outside these hours.

Young Devon provide information, advice and counselling for children and young people over 11. If you need to talk to someone, please email wellbeingenquiries@youngdevon.org. Anyone already receiving support through Young Devon’s Wellbeing service should email yes.exeter@youngdevon.org or call 07935364652 and leave a message with your name and contact details.

Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online support and counselling for young people.

Young Minds offer a range of support and assistance for young people and parents of young people.  Visit the Young Minds website.

Childline have a similar advice page on how to cope during lockdown and also offer a free counselling service online or over the phone. Or you could try PsychCentral’s 49 phrases to calm an anxious child.

Meanwhile, the NHS Every Mind Matters website has tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus and how to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home – you can even make your own Mind Plan.

Bristol Mental Health Trust and Trauma Foundation have developed a document to help people who are struggling with anxiety at this time. This document is available in 15 different languages.

The NHS has produced a mood self-assessment tool to help you better understand how you’ve been feeling. And if you become aware that you would like to talk about how you are feeling, mental health helplines can provide support.

For anyone experiencing suicidal feelings, Samaritans offer free online advice and are ready to answer calls and emails at any time day or night. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org if you need to talk.

Government guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is available on their website.

Domestic Violence & Abuse

This is a difficult and worrying time for everyone – but particularly so for adults and children living with abuse, and the professionals working hard to support them.

Devon and Cornwall Police are eager to remind victims of domestic abuse that you are not alone. If you need support and advice, please visit their domestic abuse support page or contact Devon Victim Care.

Devon’s regional domestic violence and abuse support charity, Splitz, continue to offer support to anyone suffering abuse.

National charity Refuge have a free 24-hour helpline. If you need help now, call 0808 2000 247 for expert advice and support.

More information about domestic abuse is available on the Devon and Cornwall Police website, and the NSPCC also has guidance on how to keep children safe from abuse.

SafeLives also have resources for parents, children families and practitioners available on their website. New resources are being added every day, and you can sign up for updates. You can also join SafeLives’s community platform to access webinars and resources as well as to network with others across the country.

Please also note that Boots chemists are offering safe spaces within their pharmacies for victims of domestic abuse.

Sexual Abuse

The Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) advice line is still fully functioning and available 24/7. Call on 03003034626, or visit the SARC website.

Stop It Now offer confidential support for those who are worried about their or someone else’s sexual thoughts/behaviour. Visit the Stop It Now website or call 0808 1000 900.

Information on how to protect children from child sexual abuse is available on the Parents Protect website, while the NSPCC’s PANTS rule provides simple and clear messages that are easy for children to understand.

In an emergency, call the police on 999.