What is Online Support?
Online Support is text-based one to one support you can access through a computer, phone or tablet.
After registering you’ll go onto our waiting list and then be assigned a worker for one to one support (our Welcome Team will let you know roughly how long this wait will be and you can find out more here)
Your support will then be on this platform, in a text-base chat.
You have the option of doing this as a live chat (exchanging live messages with a worker over a 50 minute session each week) or via weekly messages (for those who might struggle to find the space for regular sessions; you can send messages whenever you like and your worker will respond each week).
You’ll get the same support that you would in our face to face services, only in a different form.
WHY MIGHT IT HELP?
Most of the time, it can feel possible to manage in difficult times, especially if you have good support from family and friends.
However sometimes things don’t get better and if you feel so low, stressed, worried or angry that it is having a big impact on your life you might need some extra help to get back on track.
You might feel like one to one support or therapy is an option, but find the thought of sitting in a room with a practitioner feels a bit daunting.
Perhaps you’re finding that practical things are stopping you, like finding time to make an appointment, trouble arranging childcare or physical issues which make it hard to get out and about.
We understand that opening up to someone for the first time can be extremely difficult and for some young people, taking the first step can take time
That’s where online support comes in. We believe in giving you a choice about what kind of support you receive, so that you can get things off your chest in your own time, on your own terms.
You can watch our short video on how the platform works here
GETTING REGISTERED:
If you are not already registered for our Online Support Services, you will need to complete our online registration form.
This form will ask you a few questions about yourself as well as ask you to tell us a little bit about why you are registering and why you want to talk to one of our practioners online.
(All of this information is subject to our data policy and will be kept private and confidential).
GETTING STARTED:
Once you have completed your registration form, you'll be sent an automated email acknowledging your request.
A member of the online team will respond with an introductory message within 72 hours. This will aim to include some information about who your worker is going to be and when you can expect to hear from them.
To view this message, you will need to log in and look at your "My Support" section of your "My Page" profile.
'MEETING' YOUR PRACTITIONER:
The next message you'll then receive is your first message from your allocated online worker.
In this first message, your counsellor or therapist will want to get to know you a bit better and what you're hoping to use the support to talk about. They'll also tell you a bit more about how online support works, so that you can decide if it feels right for you.
To read a bit more about this, please look at Our Support Agreement. This should give you an idea about what to expect, in terms of how many online ‘sessions’ you will have and the range of things you can send during them.
If you have any questions, your worker will be happy to go through these with you.
It’s really important to us that everything feels clear, so that you can get on with your sessions, that way you and your worker can begin to explore some of the things that are going on in your life and begin to think about what will be the best way forward for you.
TROUBLE USING THE WEBSITE?
Sometimes things can go wrong. For example, you might forget your username or password or you might not be able to find something you are looking for. Have a look in our FAQs section to see if you can find the answers there.
If you’re still stuck, click on the ‘I need help on the site’ button on the homepage and tell us what help you need. Our aim will be to get back to you within 48 hours and point you in the right direction.
You can also e-mail onlineteam@42ndstreet.org.uk and we'll get back to as soon as we can.
KEEPING THINGS PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
If you are thinking about talking to someone, whether online or face to face, one of the most important things you’ll probably want to know is whether what you say will be kept private and confidential.
At 42nd Street, we keep what you tell us is kept private, in line with our Confidentiality Policy. This means that your online worker will not tell anyone what you talk about together on the Online Support Services website.
However, there are a few exceptions to this, which you will find detailed in the Confidentiality Policy. Your worker may also discuss their work anonymously with a supervisor, who makes sure that your worker is working effectively (in line with BACP Guidelines).
Our online service has a dedicated online supervisor but, from time to time, it might be necessary for an online practitioner to also speak to someone else within 42nd Street. However, nothing you tell us will normally be passed on to anyone else outside the charity without your written permission.
WHO ARE WE?
42nd Street is an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity with 40 years’ experience of providing free and confidential services to young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Our Welcome Statement
We are here to support young people with their emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based approaches.
The 42nd Street team recognises that many young people feel disempowered, that some services are difficult for them to identify with and access and that their mental health and personal difficulties can be made worse by the health, social, cultural and economic inequalities that they might experience
We will do all we can to make young people feel listened to, valued, included, safe and unique.
Our Vision and Mission
42nd Street’s vision is for inclusive, accessible mental health and wellbeing support and opportunities for all young people.
Our shared mission is to support young people with your emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights based approaches. By demonstrating local impact with national significance, we drive meaningful change that makes a positive difference to the lives of young people.
Our Social Objectives
Our social objectives underpin everything that we do, keeping us focused and with a clear sense of purpose. Our social objectives are to:
- Improve young people’s mental health and well-being.
- Empower young people to make decisions about their own lives, campaign for social justice and influence system change.
- Embed systemic anti-oppressive practice and cultures that champions inclusion.
- Learn from young people, educate, raise awareness and celebrate difference.
WHAT DO WE ONLINE?
Provide a safe online space to help you talk about difficult things that you might be facing in your life. We'll allocate you a trained practitioner who will listen and support you, without judgement.
Rather than talking about your problems face to face, you can type them out, or use artwork or videos or other resources to talk about how you're feeling.
Instead of using video like skype, we offer online counselling via private, confidential messages which are sent between you and your worker.
Unfortunately we're not able to staff our site 24 hours a day, but if you’re here and feeling you’re in crisis there are people you can talk to, even if it’s the middle of the night, many of them local to Greater Manchester.
Find someone to talk to now
Look at grounding techniques that might help
If you're signed up for support with us you can also use the "I need help now" button - we'll get in touch when we're able to but it's important to know this will only be during Mon-Fri working hours. For immediate help please visit the page above (you'll be directed to these contacts if using the button too)