Support for young minds this Children’s Mental Health Week
With around one in five young people experiencing mental health difficulties, Children’s Mental Health Week (9 to 15 February 2026) is being marked across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire by highlighting the support available to children and young people.
NHS survey data from 2023 revealed that 20.3% of 8 to 16-year-olds, 23.3% of 17 to 19-year-olds and 21.7% of young adults aged 20 to 25 were identified as having a probable mental disorder, underlining the scale of mental health need among children and young people.
Dr Natasha Ward, local GP and Clinical Lead for mental health at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said:
“We know that too many children and young people are struggling with their mental health, and we are committed to making sure they can access the right support, at the right time.
“A range of mental health and wellbeing services have been put in place across our three areas to provide early help, specialist care and advice for families, schools and professionals, helping to prevent problems from escalating and ensuring young people get the support they need as early as possible.
“However, we know there is more to do, and we are continuing to work closely with health and care partners to make sure local services meet the needs of children and young people now and in the future.”
Local services for children and young people
Silvercloud
SilverCloud, delivered in partnership with mental health charity, Northpoint, offers confidential online guided self-help programmes to support young people with anxiety, low mood and stress, and to help build resilience. The clinically developed tools can be accessed anytime on a computer, tablet or mobile phone.
SilverCloud is suitable for young people aged 13 and over and parents and carers of children aged 5 and over. Northpoint’s trained practitioners are available to guide young people – and their parents or carers – through the programme, with additional bespoke modules available to help parents and carers support their child’s mental wellbeing.
The service is free, no referral is needed and support can be accessed by completing a short online form.
Kooth
Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous online mental health platform for children and young people aged 10 to 18. Delivered in partnership with the NHS, Kooth provides immediate access to online counselling, messaging with qualified professionals, moderated peer-support forums, and self-help resources 24/7.
Young people can access support directly without a referral, including self-help resources, peer support and professional help.
Find out more on the Kooth website.
Off The Record
Off The Record (OTR) is a mental health organisation led by and for young people aged 11 to 25 in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and 11-18s in North Somerset.
OTR provides a range of free wellbeing support, including group sessions, work in schools and colleges, one-to-one therapies, and advocacy, to improve the mental health of young people across the area. OTR’s safe spaces, activity-based outlets, and professional support help young people express themselves, find community, and access vital services.
Find out more on the Off The Record Bristol website.
School Mental Health Support Teams
Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) are available in educational settings for children and young people aged 5 up to their 18th birthday. Teams work with mild to moderate mental health difficulties delivering evidence-based individual interventions and group interventions with a strong focus on whole school approaches to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people.
Mental health support teams are delivered in partnership with Off the Record and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP).
One-to-one interventions are called low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy and can include supporting children and young people with anxiety, low mood and exam stress.
Children and young people can access support through their school mental health lead, school health nurse or through local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Find out more on the AWP website.
You can find out more information about all the services available in the area, including what they offer, the age ranges they support and how to access, on the in our mental health section.