Mental Health First Aid Kit

Things can be overwhelming sometimes, but making a first aid kit can help you to cope when things are tough.

What is a Mental Health First Aid Kit?

If you’re struggling with how you’re feeling, it can be hard to know what to do. Your first aid kit is there to help make things easier.

It includes:

  • ways to distract yourself
  • what you can do to relax or calm down
  • things that have helped you feel good in the past
  • who to talk to if you need support.

Everyone is different, so your first aid kit should be unique to you. Think about what’s helped in the past or what you want to try. We’ve got a few ideas on this page to help you get started, but you can include whatever you want.

Download the Mental Health First Aid Kit

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Downloading the Mental Health First Aid Kit means that anyone who uses your device might be able to see it.

Distractions

Distractions help to take your mind off what’s happening. You could try:

  • tidying your room or organising your belongings
  • watching TV, a funny video or listening to a podcast
  • playing a game online
  • drawing, creating something or writing a story

Get more ideas to distract yourself with the Coping Kit.

I knew
exactly
what I needed

Download your Mental Health First Aid Kit

Ways to relax

There are loads of ways to relax or feel calmer. But it can take time to find what works for you.

We’ve got a few ideas to help:

Ways to feel good

It’s not always easy to find ways to feel good, especially when you’re struggling to cope. But there are some small things you can try:

  • Things you’ve enjoyed before
    Think about things you’ve enjoyed in the past, this could be a game, hobby or a favourite food
  • Talk to someone you care about
    Even if you don’t want to share how you’re feeling, spending time with someone you care about can help you to feel more connected
  • Setting small goals
    Whether it’s taking a shower, going for a walk or doing a piece of work, set yourself something small to accomplish

If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, you can always ask other young people on the message boards.

Who you can talk to

Writing down who you can talk to and how to contact them can help you remember that you’re not alone. Think about who you trust to talk to, and when they’re available. You could include:

  • your parents or carers
  • a teacher
  • your CAMHS worker, or a crisis team
  • Childline
  • a friend you feel comfortable with