Mental Health & Wellbeing
YG knows that life isn’t always straight forward, we know there are lots of challenges that people may struggle with. YG are here to help you work through them with lots of opportunities that will focus on your mental health and wellbeing.
We offer support to 14-25 year olds facing a range of issues including; low mood, social isolation, anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, self-harm and general mental health concerns.
Our core mental health offer
Practical and emotional support for young people facing mental health challenges.At Young Gloucestershire (YG), we offer a range of services for young people who are beginning to experience challenges with their mental health. Due to funding, the type of support we provide may change from time to time.
Youth Work and Counselling – Working Together
Combining practical support and therapeutic counselling. Our Mental Health Youth Workers and professional Counsellors work hand in hand to support young people with their mental health. Mental Health Youth Workers focus on practical steps you can take to improve your well being and manage everyday challenges. Counsellors provide a safe space to explore deeper emotional issues through a therapeutic process. Depending on your needs, you might work with a Youth Worker, a Counsellor, or both.
Flexible Support
We know everyone’s different, so we’ll work with you in the way that feels most comfortable. Support can be offered:
* Face to face
* By phone
* Over text
* Online
Our staff are approachable, supportive, and will always work at a pace that suits you. We want you to feel at ease and in control of your journey.
Who Can Access This Support?
Young people aged 16–25 and living in Gloucestershire
👉 You can make a referral through the link below.
Other Mental Health Support
Our Specialist Mental Health Programmes:Alongside our core mental health support, we also run a range of specific programmes:
* Support for 11–18 year olds on the CAMHS waiting list
(Referrals must come directly from CAMHS)
* Youth Work and Counselling for 14–25 year olds who are self-harming
(Referrals can be made through our website)
* Youth Work interventions with local Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
Currently available in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean
(Referrals from participating PCNs only)
* Youth Work support for those aged 18+ who have been an inpatient due to mental health
(Referrals can be made through our website)
⚠️ Please note: these programmes may change over time depending on funding.
Partnering with the NHS to provide complex Mental Health Support
Support for young people who are experiencing a complex level of mental health.The Young Adults Service (YAS) is part of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (GHC). It’s a community mental health team for 16 to 25 year olds registered with a Gloucestershire GP.
YAS supports young people who might not meet the usual access thresholds for adult mental health services or find it difficult to engage with existing mental health services. The team provides mental health assessments and person centred, goal focused support designed to improve emotional wellbeing. They also help young people make the transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) into adult mental health services.
YAS works in partnership with Young Gloucestershire (YG) to offer a more holistic approach to care. Together we aim to give young people the right support at the right time. YG youth workers and counsellors work alongside the YAS team. YAS provides consultations and training to support YG staff. YG supports YAS by offering practical help to young people in their daily lives. A YG youth worker is based within the YAS team, helping young people feel supported after discharge. YG staff can refer directly into YAS, making it easier for young people to access NHS mental health services if needed.
Support is tailored to each young person’s needs. This could include:
* One to one sessions with a team member to work on personal mental health goals
* Guidance on accessing other NHS services
* Referrals to one of YG’s programmes for additional support
While YAS is a nurse led service (without in house doctors or psychologists), they work closely with other GHC mental health services. If a higher level of support is needed, YAS makes onward referrals to ensure young people get the right interventions.
Referrals to YAS can be made through the YG online referral form, simply tick the “NHS Young Adults Service” box.
Support for Young People in Hospital
We’re excited to be working in partnership with the NHS to provide youth work support for young people staying on the paediatric ward at Gloucester Royal Hospital who are experiencing mental health challenges.Our youth workers are based both on the ward and out in the local community. While a young person (aged 11–18) is in hospital, we can offer:
* Advocacy – making sure their voice is heard
* Positive activities – to help make time on the ward easier
* Resilience building – supporting wellbeing and confidence
When a young person leaves hospital, our support continues. We help them settle back into the community and make sure they have the right services in place to move forward positively.
Referrals to this service are made directly by the hospital team when a young person is admitted.
Wait times and our approach
When a referral is made to Young Gloucestershire (YG) through our website, it’s reviewed and assessed (we usually do this on Fridays). This helps us understand the needs of the young person and match them with the most suitable service. Sometimes this may mean we can’t provide the right support if that’s the case, we’ll let the referrer know by email. If we can help, a member of our team will get in touch to explain which programme the young person has been allocated to.YG is receiving a high number of referrals. This means that all of our programmes have waiting lists. To make sure young people still get the right support, we do monthly check ins with anyone on a waiting list. These check ins help us:
* Keep up to date with any changes in need
* Confirm the service is still required
* Share updates about waiting times
It’s really important that young people respond to these check-ins, if we don’t hear back, we can’t keep them on the waiting list.
Please note: our waiting lists are managed in date order, and unfortunately we can’t fast track referrals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the wait for support.
The waitlist for our services varies. Once you have made a referral a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your options and the wait times.
How long does the support last?
The support can last from six weeks to 6 months depending on your needs and the programme.
Who can access mental health support at YG?
Our services are for young people aged 11-25 years old, the services available will depend on the current programmes on offer.
Who can request Support?
To access services click the ‘Access Services’ button at the top of your screen and complete a referral form. Anyone can fill out the referral form on behalf of someone else if they have their permission. We also welcome self referrals. Please provide us with as much information as you can so we can provide you with the most appropriate support.
What should I include in my referral?
Please provide as much information as possible. It helps us to make sure we can get you into the best service for you and gives our staff background information that will help them tailor their support. If you are a professional completing the form on behalf of a young person please include the young person’s voice so we can understand things from their perspective.