Student Support Services
From time to time all students may need a helping hand - some extra care and support when the going gets tough. Within the School we have a number of ways in which we can provide support and there are also many other places where students can help if needed.
In School Support
At Holyrood Academy, we have a number of ways to help support our students.
Students can speak to their Tutor, Head of Year or Subject Teacher if they have any concerns or worries and are finding it difficult to cope. But there are also other places that students can turn for support.
Student Safeguarding & Wellbeing Team
Our Student Safeguarding & Wellbeing Team are based in school and are here to provide additional support to our students. For further information about this service, please contact your child’s Head of Year.
For more information on supporting our students and keeping them safe, please see our
Safeguarding Page which has useful information including various factsheets and articles.
External Support and Resources
ChatHealth 07520 631722
ChatHealth is a text service for young people aged 13-19 at secondary school to reach out to the School Nurse team for confidential advice on a wide range of issues such as bullying, emotional health and wellbeing, sexual health as well as illnesses.
For more information please visit: Home Page - ChatHealth
ChildLine 0800 1111 (Freephone)
Childline is a free and confidential service. It offers children and young people a safe way to explore their worries however big or small. Support is available by phone or online any time day or night plus there is lots of information and advice on their website on wide range of issues.
For more information please visit: Childline | Childline
The Mix 0808 808 4994 (Freephone)
The Mix provides safe and confidential group chat and discussion boards, plus messaging support service and telephone counselling for young people under 25. You can visit the website, call the freephone number, or if you need help immediately you can also text The Mix on their crisis messenger text service which provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you’re aged 25 or under, and are experiencing any painful emotion or are in crisis, you can text THEMIX to 85258.
For more information please visit: Get Support - The Mix
Online Counselling – Kooth.com
Young people aged 11 to 18 years have access to online advice, self-help tools and counselling through Kooth.com. This is available 365 days a year and interactive counselling is available until 10pm every night.
For more information please visit: Home - Kooth
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
CAMHS are offering additional crisis support during coronavirus. If a child or young person (under 18) is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can now access CAMHS 24/7.
Please contact 03300 245 321 during normal hours (8am-5pm, Mon to Fri) or 0300 555 5000 outside these hours. Callers will speak to a call handler, their call will then be forwarded to a voicemail service and their message will be returned within one hour.
For more information please visit: CAMHS - Children and Family Health
Papyrus UK 0800 068 4141
Papyrus UK provides support for young people thinking about suicide
For more information please visit Papyrus UK - Suicide Prevention Charity
Child Bereavement UK 0800 02 888 40
For more information please visit Child Bereavement UK
Self Help - Mental Health and Wellbeing
The following websites, apps and courses are particularly useful sources of self help.
Coping with Loneliness
Loneliness affects many young people, especially those living in rural areas. Some people can be alone and not feel lonely and others can be surrounded by people and feel lonely. If loneliness affects you then you can use the support numbers above. Or try some of the ideas in one of these 3 booklets:
Anxiety Canada
Information to help young people manage anxiety plus self help strategies for many disorders.
For more information please visit:
Anxiety in Youth - Anxiety Canada
SAMApp
Free app (and advert free) for Supporting Anxiety Management. SAMapp will help you to understand what causes your anxiety, monitor your anxious thoughts and behaviour over time and manage your anxiety through self-help exercises and private reflection.
For more information please visit:
Self-help App for the Mind (SAM)
Living Life to the Full for Young People
Free online course covering low mood, stress and resilience especially for young people. Work out why you feel as you do, how to tackle problems, build confidence, get going again, feel happier, stay calm, tackle upsetting thinking and more. Use Code YPVC84475 to access for free
To access the site please go to LLTTF for Young People
Understanding your Brain (for teenagers only)
Find out what's happening in your brain! Your brain changes as you hit adolescence. See how the changes in your brain explain some of the changes in your behaviour.
Use the code TAMAR to access the course for free!
To access the site please go to:
Online Learning (Understanding you Brain)
Self Help - Online Safety
The following websites, apps and courses are particularly useful sources of self help with issues relating to young people’s online safety
General Advice and Guidance:
Think U Know
Reporting Harmful Content:
Report Harmful Content – We Help You Remove Content
Reporting Inappropriate Images (Nudes) and Getting Help to Remove Them:
Report Remove: Remove a nude image shared online | Childline