It’s OK not to feel OK, and there is help out there for apprentices who are struggling to cope.
Life can sometimes be overwhelming, and starting a new apprenticeship can be hard to cope with. But there is always help and support available.
According to UK charity Mates in Mind, 73% of apprentices experienced stress, and only 55% say they would reach out to someone if they were experiencing stress, depression, or anxiety.
Whether you’re feeling sad or hopeless, have problems with your friends or family, feel anxious about the future, have trouble sleeping or are struggling to concentrate or control your behaviour, remember, you’re not alone. If you experience these feelings, try talking to someone at work or college, a parent, or your GP about your mental health.
Understanding mental health can be tricky, but there is plenty of help available for teenagers and young people and finding the right support is important. We have put together a list of resources available and details of how to get in touch if things are getting too much for you.
Childline
Childline is here to help anyone under 19 years old in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything to trained counsellors who are there to support you. It’s normal to feel worried about your future and Childline can help you work through it.
Call Childline free on 0800 1111. For more information, visit www.childline.org.uk.
Kooth
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community, offering free, safe and anonymous support. You can join a discussion board, chat or message a member of a team, or write in your own daily journal, to track your feelings or emotions and reflect on how you’re doing. They also provide a magazine with helpful articles, personal experiences and tips from young people.
For more information, visit www.kooth.com.
Mental Health UK
The charity has developed a young people’s programme to help equip 14 to 18 year olds with the tools and knowledge to maintain their mental health through life’s transitions, both now and in the future.
For more information, visit www.mentalhealth-uk.org.
NHS Better Health: Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters has plenty of free tools and support to help you kickstart your physical health too. With a focus on the impact of COVID-19, it looks at anxiety, job worries and how to sleep better. Self care is important, so check out their videos for loads of tips and techniques to help you do just that.
For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters.
PAPYRUS
PAPYRUS is the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. With a vision to speak openly about suicide, it provides resources to help young people who may have suicidal thoughts, giving support and advice to struggling young people through their helpline, HopelineUK.
For more information, visit www.papyrus-uk.org or call HopelineUK on 0800 068 4141.
Maximus
Maximus supports individuals with mental health issues and provides confidential work or apprenticeship-focused mental health support tailored to an individual’s needs. The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, can help if you’re on an apprenticeship programme and are finding it difficult to attend or concentrate due to a mental health condition, or you have been signed off sick with a mental health condition but want to go back to your apprenticeship.
For more information, visit atw.maximusuk.co.uk.
Samaritans
If you’re having a difficult time, you can get in touch with the Samaritans about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels. They are here to listen, with no judgment and no pressure, only to help you work through what’s on your mind.
Call the Samaritans for free on 116 123.
Shout 85258
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. After launching in May 2019, they have had more than 500,000 conversations with people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed. If you’re struggling and need to talk, the trained volunteers are here for you, day or night.
To start a conversation, text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258. For more information, visit www.giveusashout.org.
The Mix
Whether you’re worried about your mental health, or someone else’s, The Mix have everything you need to know about mental health, from anxiety and depression to self-care and counselling. You can find plenty of information and expert advice on the website, or for more support, visit their discussion boards, use the group chat service, or speak to a member of their trained team.
Call the free helpline on 0808 808 4994. For more information, visit www.themix.org.uk.
YoungMinds
The charity’s purpose is to stop young people’s mental health reaching crisis point by making sure young people get the support they need, when they need it, no matter what. Their three programmes include Never Alone, helping young people to look after their own mental health; Someone To Turn To, making sure young people have adults around them who can really help; and Powerful Young Voices builds a youth-led movement to make sure support is there for anyone who needs it.
For more information, visit www.youngminds.org.uk. If you need urgent help, text YM to 85258.
