In a crisis and nothing is open?

Listening and support services have been there for me when I have felt hopeless and unable to cope. When it’s late at night, living on the outskirts of the city, it becomes almost impossible to access services. I cannot drive, neither can my mum.  Buses and trains go every hour and stop running making it difficult to get home.

Support over the phone

Sometimes I don’t feel like having face-to-face support as I am already tired, emotionally and physically. I need sleep but can’t sleep because there are too many thoughts going round in my head or something is worrying me. I want to stay in bed, in my pjs and not move. I can talk over the phone whilst in bed. I can use my laptop to access their online support in bed.

Talking over the phone, online or face-to-face is not easy. Some days I know how I am feeling. Other days I don’t and struggle to express myself through talking or typing and thinking alone. I work this through with the Connect Helpline worker on the other end of the phone or online and we figure out how I am feeling together. On many occasions I continue talking to Connect until I feel that I can no longer stay awake.

Struggling to keep my eyes open, I say “I think I’m going to sleep now”. I am given the reminder that I can make contact again tomorrow night. I thank them. The words “goodbye” and “night” are exchanged before my eyes fully shut.

There’s a new helpline for 13-18 year olds

The Connect Helpline is expanding this week with the opening of the Teen Connect helpline. Teen Connect is just like the Connect Helpline but for 13-18 year olds only with staff who have been trained to work especially with children and young people.

Call Teen Connect free on 0808 800 1212 (open 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. any night of the year)

Urgent help in Leeds for young people in crisis