South Tyneside Lifecycle Primary Care Mental Health Service

This free and confidential NHS service helps young people overcome depression and problems with anxiety and stress. It provides classes and courses, group therapy and one-to-one therapy.

Talking Therapies are delivered from Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre and Flagg Court in South Shields. We can also see young people in the community, such as in school or at Family Hubs.

There are two services; one for children and young people and another for young people and adults. They are free for people registered with a GP in South Tyneside.

What support is offered?

• A range of psychological therapies to help you feel better if you’re feeling anxious, depressed, stressed or worried.
• Talking Therapies (one to one or group) – CBT (cognitive behaviour therapies)
• Eight week courses in mindfulness, anger management, overcoming depression/low self-esteem and worry, sleep course and bereavement, low mood/anxiety, increase motivation/mood course
• Employment advice
• Urgent help

Speak to your GP who can refer you to us.

Visit South Tyneside Lifecycle Primary Care Mental Health Service

South Tyneside Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services: Lifecycle Services

This website summarises the support available to children and young people with a range of mental health issues in South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Once we have received your referral you will be offered an assessment appointment with one of our workers, or you will be signposted to another suitable service. The assessment appointment will last approximately one hour and will be either in person, via telephone or video call.

The purpose of the assessment is to gather information to ensure we are offering you the most appropriate treatment. Sensitive information may be discussed, therefore if you choose the appointment to be held via telephone or video call please ensure that you are in a private place.

Below are some of the things we ask about:

• Presenting difficulties relating to mood, behaviour, and worries.
• Routines and daily life such as sleep, appetite, and activity levels
• Safety and vulnerability
• How things are at nursery/school/college
• Family life and friendships/relationships
• Early history (development and milestones)

Following the assessment, we will discuss the most suitable treatment options and an appropriate care plan will be agreed with you.

If you are unable to make this appointment please let us know. Please ensure we have the correct contact details for you. For any queries contact us on 0191 2832937.

What happens next

Once the assessment has taken place and a treatment plan has been agreed, you will be placed onto the appropriate pathway (or signposted to another suitable service). Once a slot opens up, a therapist will be in touch to book in your first treatment appointment.

This could include any of the below:

• Programmes with parents and carers
• Therapeutic work with families
• Programmes/groups for children and young people
• Individual therapy sessions with children and young people
• Transfer to the Adult Team within the Lifecycle Service

Sessions with your mental health worker are usually weekly and last between 30-50 minutes. You will receive treatment that is based on research and evidence – interventions we know work!

During treatment we may assess that other services, such as the Children & Young Peoples Service (CYPS) may meet your needs better. We would always discuss this with you, and we can make any appropriate referrals or signpost you to these services.

Visit South Tyneside Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services: Lifecycle Services

Kooth

A fast growing digital mental health support service for children and young people has been launched in South Tyneside.

Kooth gives 11 to 25-year-olds easy access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced counsellors.

Access is free of the typical barriers to support: no waiting lists, no thresholds, no cost and complete anonymity. Launched in 2004 and accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Kooth is the UK’s leading mental health & wellbeing platform for children and young people.

It has:

• 100 new registrations every day
• 1,500 log-ins each day to Kooth
• 34,000 one-to-one online chat sessions per year
• 300,000 message exchanges between young people and Kooth counsellors per year.

Of its users:

• 18% of children and young people registering on Kooth identify as black, Asian or minority ethnic
• 95% of young people would recommend Kooth to a friend.

Find out more on Kooth’s video here.

Visit Kooth

An Online Mental Wellbeing Community

The Crisis Team

The Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team is a team of experienced mental health staff offering assessment and home treatment for people over 16 experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to hospital admission. The team operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

• The crisis team does not provide an ’emergency’ service such as a 999 response.

Visit The Crisis Team

Samaritans

If you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide, you can call the Samaritans.

Visit Samaritans

Other mental health helplines

The NHS has listed a range of mental health support helplines.

Visit other mental health helpines