Mental health conditions can affect people of all ages, but we have specific services available for children and young people up to 18 years of age.
Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children’s and Adolescent’s Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS)
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children’s and Adolescent’s Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS) provides advice and support to children, young people and families who are in need of support with their emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties.
The service covers Southend, Essex and Thurrock and is open to young people between the ages of 0-18, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs.
Any child or young person experiencing mental health difficulties as well as any parent, guardian or professional can access the service for help and guidance.
Telephone: 0800 953 0222
Out-of-hours: 0800 955 1000
Email: SET-CAMHS.referrals@nelft.nhs.uk
Urgent help
Anyone under the age of 18 or family members of anyone under the age of 18 in crisis, should call NELFT’s SET CAMHS on 0800 953 0222.
Other helpful organisations for children
Kooth
Kooth is an online support community for young people aged 11-18 years (up to 19th birthday) with a free, safe and secure means of accessing support from a professional team of qualified counsellors.
Young people can access this service anonymously by signing onto the Kooth website. They can access:
- Online counselling
- Self-help materials
- Fully moderated peer-to-peer support forums
- Personal goal-based journal
The site provides unique, out of office hours’ provision and is open 7 days per week, 365 days a year (from 12noon until 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm until 10pm on weekends, with limited times on bank holidays).
- Website: www.kooth.com
Together All
Together all is a community available to young people aged 16-18, and to young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) aged 16-25.
- Website: togetherall.com/
Renew Counselling
Renew Counselling offers a range of support services and information for children, young people and their families.
- Website: www.renew-us.org
- Telephone: 01268 822800.
Motivated Minds

Motivated Minds is a non-profit ‘Community Interest Company’ (CIC) that offers sustainable mental health and wellbeing solutions based in Basildon, Essex.
The organisation was founded by Carla Andrews MBE BACh in 2015 and has been expanding and been enhanced ever since.
Year-on-year, they have seen growth while delivering services to over 2000 people a month in and around Essex through the HAPPY Hub.

The Happy Hub is their one-stop-wellness shop for both children and adults based in the Eastgate Shopping Centre offering instant mental health support on the high street.
LGBT support at the Happy Hub
If you need to find local support in Basildon, the Happy Hub located in the Eastgate Shopping Mall offers support every 2nd Saturday of each month between 1:30pm and 3pm through Pride Pals.
- Contact: 01268 520 785
- Email: admin@motivated-minds.co.uk
- Website: https://motivated-minds.co.uk/