The community-based Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health service offers help to children and young people from birth up to the age of 18 who are experiencing emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. EWMHS includes the Wellbeing Hub and specialist CAMHS services.

Feeling anxious or depressed

Emotional Wellbeing Peer Support Group (integrated youth service)

Opening time: Monday 4-6pm

Are you aged 11-19 (or 11-25 if you have a disability) and experiencing stress or difficult situations? Do you want to support friends through learning about physical and emotional wellbeing, and how you can help improve it?

Grace and Alex run a peer support group for 11-19 year olds where you can learn how to build a healthy mind, body-image and lifestyle, reduce stress, depression, self-harm and eating-disorders through group work and 1-2-1 support.

Contact
The Vibe Youth Centre, Becontree Ave, Dagenham, RM8 2UT

Grace Kihu, 07875993500, grace.kihu@lbbd.gov.uk
Alex Perry, 07530262770, alexandra.perry@lbbd.gov.uk

Kooth

Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people:

• Friendly counsellors
• Self-help
• Community support

Contact
W: www.kooth.com
Opening times: Monday-Friday 12pm-10pm, Saturday-Sunday 6pm-10pm

Place2Be
Place 2 Be offers a flexible menu of services, tailored to meet schools' needs. The typical model is based on a team of five or more Place2Be personnel (both clinical staff and highly skilled volunteers) delivering a range of services in a school. Each school has a Place2Be Project Manager, an experienced clinician who oversees service delivery and assessment and works in close partnership with Head teachers and their school teams. 

Services include:

• For children: individual and group counselling
• For parents or carers: dedicated therapeutic support
• For Head teachers and school staff: training, individual advice and support

Contact
Development Manager:  development@place2be.org.uk to see how Place2Be could support your school.  To arrange training, workshops or tailored packages for your organisation or school, please email: training@place2be.org.uk  
or call on 020 7923 5535.

Problems at home/ Being abused

The Huggett Centre

We provide free support groups, workshops, training, and more, to women and girls who face multiple discrimination and disadvantage. In particular we work with those who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence and/or exploitation.  As many survivors do not identify their experiences in these terms, we open our doors to all women and girls. We take referrals pan London, although most of the women and girls who use the space are from Barking and Dagenham”

Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 10am–5pm Saturday mornings
We are also open for occasional evenings. Please check with the centre directly as these times are subject to change.

Contact details
T: 020 3813 2955
E: HWC@niaendingviolence.org.uk
321-329 Heathway, Dagenham, RM9 5AF http://www.niaendingviolence.org.uk/huggett/index.html

East London Rape Crisis Centre (ELRC)

ELRC offers a range of services including a helpline, criminal justice advocacy, health, welfare and benefits advocacy, support and specialist counselling to women and girls who have experienced any form of sexual violence, even if it has not been reported to the police.

Contact
0207 683 1210

Getting active and feeling healthier

Change 4 Life
The Change4Life Healthy Lifestyle Programme is for young people aged 5-17 years who live within Barking and Dagenham and who meet the following criteria:

• Child/teenager is overweight/obese (BMI on or above 85th percentile)
• Family/young person would benefit from guidance around eating habits and physical activity
• Family/young person is motivated and able to commit to attending 10 weekly sessions

Contact
Barking and Dagenham Exercise Referral Team
Barking Town Hall
Room 300
1 Town Square
Barking
IG11 7LU

E: Active.referral@lbbd.gov.uk

Schools Out: Get Active!
A scheme that offers a wide variety of free and low cost activities available for children, teens and family during school holidays including dance, sports, crafts, reading and performance skills. There are activities too for parents, cares and grandparents; so everyone has the chance to get active, get involved-and relax.

Google: schools out, get active! For an up to date PDF on free local events.

The Health Visiting service
The HV service works towards health and wellbeing for children and their families and supports government initiatives such as the Child Health Promotion Programme and the Every Child Matters agenda.

Contact
Wigham House
16-30 Wakering Road, Barking, IG11 8PB

T: 0844 6001 285

Youth services

Gascoigne Youth Centre
Club night: Friday 4-6pm

Contact:
Gascoigne, Barking Youth and Community Centre, 120-124 St. Ann’s, Barking, IG11 7AD
M: 07870278387
E: Mary.mensah-shofolahan@lbbd.gov.uk

Children centres

Beacontree CC

• Speech and Language Advice Session
• Weaning Group
• Baby Weighing Clinic
• Parenting Courses

Contact
Beacontree CC, Steven’s Road, Dagenham, RM8 2QR
T:02087241830
E: beacontreechildrenscentre@lbbd.gov.uk

The Heathway Centre
An inclusive resource centre for families with children and young people aged 0-17 years (up to 18th birthday) with additional needs or disabilities.

• Income Raising Advice Clinic
• Carers of Barking and Dagenham
• P&C Group for families with deaf children
• Parents' Forum
• Parenting Courses

Contact
The Heathway Centre, 512a The Heathway, Dagenham, RM10 7SJ
M; 0208 227 5500
E: theheathwaycentre@lbbd.gov.uk

I have special needs

ADDUP
Provides support and information for parents with children who have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Contact
59 Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX
Tel: 01708 454040
Weekdays 10.00am – 4.00pm (except Wednesday)

Find them on Facebook ‘Add+up’, Follow on twitter - @Addup4adhd
W: www.addup.co.uk

Sycamore Trust
Offers information to parents whose child has a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum.  They provide newsletters, offer parent support groups, information days, and social and play activities for parents and their families. 

Contact
27-29 Woodward Road, Dagenham RM9 4SJ  
T: 020 8517 9317
W: www.sycamoretrust.org.uk

Bringing Us Together
Bringing Us Together is led by parents of children and young people with a variety of SEN and Disabilities (SEND). We offer an independent and proactive community where we bring families together so they can create a life worth living.

Contact
W: http://www.bringingustogether.org.uk/ 

Sexual orientation and Gender identity

GID, Gender Identity Clinic
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Service for children and young people under the age of 17 with gender identity issues

GIDS
Tavistock and Portman
NHS Foundation Trust
120 Belsize Lane
London
NW3 5BA

Lead Clinician: Dr Polly Carmichael
www.gids.nhs.uk
Telephone: 020 8938 2030/1
Email: gids@tavi-port.nhs.uk gids@tavi-port.nhs.uk
Website: NHS official page and http://gids.nhs.uk/

Struggling with Eating

EDS: The eating disorder service

Our eating disorder service (EDS) offers specialist assessment and treatment to people aged eight and above (adults, adolescents and children). The service works with individuals and their families to support them in their recovery.

Services provided by the eating disorders service include:

• psychological treatments delivered on an individual basis, to families and in groups;
• dietetic input and nutritional support;
• medical and nursing assessment and intervention

Contact

Doctor: Dr Salma Suri
Lead person for queries: Rory Harnett - team manager
Email: nem-tr.eatingdisorder@nhs.net

The Orchards Health Centre,
Gascoigne Road,
Barking,
Essex,
IG11 7RS

Tel: 0300 555 1216
Fax: 0300 300 1940
Email: nem-tr.eatingdisorder@nhs.net
(Please ensure patient identifiable information is password protected)

Satellite site (if you are unable to get to Barking)

30 Coleridge Rd 
Walthamstow
London
E17 6QU

BEAT charity

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

I'm worried I'm putting on too much weight/not losing weight

What is Anorexia Nervosa ?

Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder that causes people to become preoccupied with controlling their weight and shape, and consequently they engage in behaviours that result in severe weight loss. The disorder is  powered by the fear of gaining weight coupled with a relentless pursuit of thinness. People with Anorexia Nervosa are severely underweight. Overall, body shape and weight concerns dominate the individual’s thoughts and the way in which they see themselves; it also affects the way they feel.

The strategies used for weight control vary from individual to individual. Restriction of food intake is the most common strategy used. Other strategies include over-exercising, self-induced vomiting and laxative misuse.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is similar to Anorexia Nervosa in the way that those suffering from Bulimia Nervosa share the same distorted thoughts concerning body shape and weight.

People suffering with Bulimia Nervosa binge regularly on large amounts of food and then compensate for the food they have eaten. Individuals with Bulimia Nervosa use extreme compensation methods such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics and over-exercising to try and prevent weight gain. As a result, life is a constant battle between the desire to lose weight and the overwhelming
compulsion to binge.

I find myself binge eating

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is also characterised by bingeing. Individuals with BED consume large amounts of food whilst feeling out of control and powerless to stop. Individuals with BED tend to eat food even when they are not hungry and continue
eating long after they are full. They may also eat as fast as they can, while barely registering what they are consuming or tasting.

People with Binge Eating Disorder may struggle with feelings of guilt, disgust and depression.

Relationships, drugs, alcohol, eating healthy and much more

NHS Go is a confidential health advice and information service for young people. Available for free on iOS and Android, NHS Go provides you with:

• Free, confidential advice.
• Instant access to find local services.
• Quizzes and guides around key health issues.
• Notification on topics and events relevant to you.
• Information about your rights under the NHS.

Visit https://nhsgo.uk/ to find out more