Health & Wellbeing

Submitted by admin on Fri, 2009-08-14 16:12

This section is all about your health and wellbeing – staying healthy and where you can get help if you’ve got a health problem. There are some things that you can do for yourself like:

having a healthy diet
taking some exercise
staying off things that could affect your health like alcohol, drugs and smoking.

But you may have some health issues that are affecting the quality of your life and want some more information. Connexions can give you help and advice about keeping healthy and your Adviser can also put you in touch with more specialist services should you need it. So whether you are concerned with diet, drugs, sex - or any other health-related issues, we can help you. In this section you’ll find some information on specific health topics and some useful websites if you prefer to do your own research before you talk to someone. If you need to find and register with a new doctor or find other health services try this NHS link. For free confidential advice on any issues you are dealing with visit KOOTH

EATING DISORDERS

If you require help and support in dealing with an eating disorder click here

SEXUAL HEALTH

There are lots of places to get free advice about sexual health, contraception and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Talking about sex doesn't have to be as difficult as you think. Click here to find out more.

LOCAL SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES

If used properly, a condom is one of the best ways for people who are sexually active to help avoid sexually transmitted infections as well as to help prevent unwanted pregnancies. However, it’s important to know how to properly use a condom and to use one every time you have sex for them to be most beneficial.

You can access free condoms from Connexions. There are trained staff that can shown you how to use condoms properly at our Hubs and bases. Click on the links below for more information on where you can access condoms.

WEST CHESHIRE : The RU Sure website gives all the information about Sexual Health for young people in the West Cheshire area including Chlamydia screening. Condom Distribution services.

West Cheshire Health and Care lists all the young people's contraceptive and sexual health clinics (CASH clinics).

EAST CHESHIRE : There is a young person's clinic in the Hub@Connexions Centre, 23-25 Market Street, Crewe. Tel: 01270 251002. Mon 315-4.45pm and Sat 11am-12.45pm (no appointment necssary). Condom Distribution services.

The CEPCT website gives information about preventing teenage pregnancy or dealing with being pregnant.

Worried about Chlamydia and want to get a test, goto GET TESTED or call 01270 277477

NHSDirect has a self help section to help you work out if you've got a medical condition that requires treatment. You could visit Teenage Health Freak or Need2Know for further help.

Alcohol

Are you worried about your own or someone else’s alcohol use?

Alcohol includes beer, lager, wines and spirits. Many people have a drink and enjoy it, everything in moderation! Too much though can mean risking your health and your safety; you could damage your liver, have an accident or get involved in a fight, and potentially end up being arrested. If you're old enough to have a driving licence and are ‘over the limit’ then you could be convicted for drink driving and lose your licence for 12 months. Take a look at the Young Peoples Drinking Factsheet

Here are some websites that give you more information and help:

Addaction
Know Your Units Alcoholics Anonymous
Truth about Booze
Down Your Drink

Drugs

Drugs includes a wide range of substances from medicines that you can buy over the counter or those which are prescribed by your doctor which are legal compared to illegal drugs like cannabis and heroin.

All drugs are potentially dangerous so prescription drugs have precise instructions on how and when to take them, including finishing the course of treatment. If you mis-use drugs you could risk damaging your health, and possibly die if you ‘overdose’.

If you're worried about your own drug taking, or know someone who is abusing or misusing drugs, it's good to know The facts.

Mental well-being

Most people experience a few ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ in their lives like feeling happy, feeling sad and miserable. You might be worried because you’ve got exams coming up or about getting a job or going to college.

These can all make you feel down; as can falling out with your friends, family or finishing a relationship. You might feel stressed or depressed; it’s quite common, and usually the feelings will come and go.

Sometimes though you might not be able to shake off your feelings so you should talk to someone you feel that you can trust – friends, parents, your Youth Worker, Careers Adviser or your GP.

Self Harm

Self-harm might be something that you don't hear about often, but it is a problem that is very common. From time to time feelings inside you can build up and give you a lot of stress and worries. Sometimes you bottle things up so much and things get so bad that the pressure builds up and it is usually at this point that people harm themselves.

Problems that can trigger self-harm include worrying about schoolwork or exams, parents or carers divorcing, bullying or bereavement, but it could be anything that is worrying you that could set off the problem.

If you do self-harm, you may be thinking about stopping, but don't know what else to do to stop. You may have lots of thoughts going round in your head - You might feel guilty, as you want to stop but can't, you might feel alone, as you've no one to talk to or you might feel embarrassed because people might think you are odd. These are all natural feelings and something you will overcome with help. Please visit Young Minds for further information

What should I do?
Self-harm is a problem and something that must be dealt with. If you self-harm, try and find someone to confide in such as your parents or carers, a friend or a teacher. If you think someone you know is harming themselves try and get them to talk to you about it and encourage them to get medical help. Get Connected is a free confidential helpline for support and information you need via telephone, email or webchat.

Depression

Everyone feels unhappy sometimes, but when it's most of the time, you just can't pull yourself out of it, or feel like you're totally alone - that's when depression is a more serious issue. Visit Young Minds for further information

Some of the possible symptoms of depression include: