Harrogate pupils welcome new text service for mental health
Published at 8:03am 8th February 2018.
A new mental health service for children and young adults in North Yorkshire has been launched.
Children’s mental health charity Place2be is now in its fourth year of children’s mental health week.
This week (5-11 February 2018) highlights the importance of ‘being ourselves.’
Place2Be invites everyone to come together and celebrate the unique qualities and strengths in themselves and others.
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke out earlier on in the week in support of all children being themselves.
Harrogate offers many services to aid children and young people who are suffering with mental health issues such as CAMHS and Harrogate’s Clinical Commissioning Group.
The Clinical Commissioning Group has recently been involved in launching a new service called Compass Buzz.
Compass Buzz is a school mental health and wellbeing project in North Yorkshire.
The project offers training for schools on how to deal with mental health and wellbeing by training teachers and staff to deal with difficult issues, it also offers them support in referring children on to get more specialised support
The service also offers in a confidential text messaging service for children aged 11-18 across North Yorkshire.
By texting the service, they will be able to receive confidential advice, support and signposting from a wellbeing worker within one day via text.
The service launched a few weeks ago and already has young people texting in.
Team leader Emma Tymon said, “The feedback we’ve received already has been really good from the young people that have texted into the service already.”
The service, explains Emma “offers help and advice or if we think that a service could help them, we can signpost them of where they can go to get that support.”
Students Stray FM spoke to at St Aidan's School, Harrogate, thought that the idea of Compass Buzz can only be positive.
One student said, “I think the anonymity of that sounds really good.
"You can compartmentalise mental health a bit so you don’t have to worry about it at school if you know there is someone else to talk to.”
However, schools in the area are already doing a lot to improve their mental health and wellbeing services.
The students (pictured above) also referred to the many outlets of support available to them including school nurse and Chaplin.
One said, “From personal experience it is good here at Aidans.
"Specifically, the nurse referred me straight away to counselling unit called Compass reach and I know others who have had the same experience.
"The school is good at referring student on or if you just want a drop-in session that is also available.”
More news from across Harrogate, Craven and Wharfedale

Sign up for exclusive news, competitions and offers.
Proper Local News updates from Stray FM
Share your disability story in Harrogate
Health: Disability Action Yorkshire introduces online feature allowing disabled people to share their stories.
Keeping Your Heart Happy and Healthy
Health: February is the month of love, but did you also know it's National Heart Month? Keeping the heart healthy is of huge importance as we age and Home Instead Senior Care are on hand to offer advice.
Stunning Starling murmuration in Skipton
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: Thousands of birds perform an aerial stunt.
Pensioner dies after mugger tries to steal handbag in Birmingham
National: A 73-year-old woman has died after a mugger tried to steal her handbag.
Roger Stone hit with gag order after posting edited image of judge
World: A former adviser to Donald Trump has been hit with a gag order by a judge after he posted a photo on Instagram showing her next to what appeared to be the crosshairs of a gun.
Joe Root is England's rock, says Eoin Morgan after first ODI win over Windies
Sport: England captain Eoin Morgan hailed Joe Root as "our rock" after the tourists' record-breaking win in the first one-day international against Windies.
The Monkees star Peter Tork dies aged 77
Showbiz: Peter Tork, a member of The Monkees, has died aged 77, according to his official Facebook page.
EXCLUSIVE: Emmerdale producer feels amazing to win NTA for third year running
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: The Yorkshire Soap was voted Best Serial Drama at the glittering National Television Awards last night.
Bonkers bingo is coming back!
Business: Did you miss the last one?
North Yorkshire children to perform in an online folk concert
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: It's to create more music opportunities for children living in rural and isolated areas.
Harrogate children enjoy cookery with local chefs
Education: In a three-part series of sessions.
New Rocketman trailer released
70s: The Elton John biopic is being released in May 2019 (picture credit: Rocketman Twitter).
A sad end for this Motown legend
70s On This Day: We said goodbye to Florence Ballard
Yorkshire breast cancer charity ball arrives in Harrogate
Health: Raising funds to help local people.
"We're really astounded": Harrogate charity thanks people for Christmas generosity
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: Harrogate Lions runs a huge fundraising drive over the Christmas period.
Hear what happened when Santa phoned some local children
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: Live on the radio - Santa, Beth and your children!
Behind The Scenes: Policing rural North Yorkshire
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: Stray FM went out on a shift with Craven's Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Healthy fish and chips now available in Skipton
Food and Drink: One restaurant is busting the stigma.
Can owning a pet make you live longer?
Health: Pet owners are reaping the benefits.
Popular car showroom re-locates to Thorp Arch
Business: Buying and selling new and used cars.
Top Party Dresses for the Festive Season
Christmas: Local Blogger, the Harrogate Girl, picks the best frocks, gowns and outfits for the big Christmas parties of 2017.
"I grew up thinking I must be the only person like this": What it's like being a young carer?
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: 16-year-old Jacob Heagney from Masham is helping raise awareness.
"This will make my kids' Christmas"
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: Stray FM and Slingsby Gin offer a little light to a family who've had a tough year just before Christmas
Delve into deliciousness at Mother Shiptons Inn
Test pages: We sent Stray FM's James Stanley to try out the new menu at Mother Shipton's Inn Knaresborough.
A59 CLOSED in both directions at Upper Poppleton
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: It's after an accident - emergency services are on scene
LIVE: Stage 4 of the Tour de Yorkshire
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: The Final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire is on today today, passing through Otley, Blubberhouses, Pateley Bridge and Skipton.
Tour de Yorkshire host venues confirmed
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: There'll be no re-run of this year's memorable Tour de France stage finish in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire districts among best places to live in UK
Harrogate, Craven & Wharfedale: Three parts of North Yorkshire have been named in the top ten places to live in the UK.