Where you can get support
We will support your emotional and mental health and help you get specialist support if you need it. You do not have to deal with things on your own.
If you need urgent help or are in crisis
If you are having a mental health crisis, you can:
- Phone NHS 111 – If you have been given a crisis contact number by a mental health service, please use that number.
- Call Samaritans – Free and confidential available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone: 116 123
- Call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) – Out‑of‑hours social care support. Phone: 0300 123 2224
- Somerset Talking therapies and self‑help – Offers helpful self‑help guides on topics like:
- anxiety
- anger
- low mood and depression
- mental wellbeing
You can access these through your GP. You can also share them with a friend if it helps.
Activities that support wellbeing
Tackling Minds | Fishing for Mental Health and Well-being UK
If you are a care‑experienced young person aged 16 to 25, you may be able to get a free fishing licence.
- The licence can be used at 6 local fishing venues
- To find out more, visit the Taunton Angling Association website
Counselling and emotional support
Kooth -Free, safe and anonymous online mental health support for young people.
The Mix – A UK support service for under 25s. They offer free and confidential support online, by phone and through social media.
Extra emotional support from us
Alongside support from your Personal Adviser, we may also be able to help by:
- providing a mentor or peer mentor
- helping you keep in touch, or reconnect, with people who are important to you
- (such as former foster carers, Independent Visitors or Social Workers)
- supporting you to reconnect with family, where this is in your best interests
Local counselling services
- Somerset Counselling Centre
- Care Leavers Counselling
You can also read our leaflet: Thinking About Counselling Information Leaflet
What is counselling?
You can watch this short video to find out more about counselling and what to expect.
Access to counselling
Somerset Counselling Centre offer a safe and confidential place to explore feelings, anxieties and hopes. It is a place where you can be really listened to. Every individual is allocated a specific counsellor that best suits their personal circumstances.
Your Leaving Care Worker can refer you for counselling or you can refer yourself by completing a short online form Contact – Somerset Counselling Centre (scctaunton.org.uk). Add your Leaving Care Worker details in the enquiry details box to make sure Somerset Counselling Centre know these sessions are funding by Somerset Council.