Follow Up Support

Youth Workers bringing a voice of hope to people aged 10-25 after attending A&E because of self-harm, a suicide attempt or an emotional crisis.

If you have recently been in hospital and would like to access follow up support, or if you are a parent or professional asking on behalf of a young person…

We are not a crisis line. If You need immediate support in a crisis moment, please call 999 or go to your nearest Hospital A&E

Our follow up support is for young people who have recently attended hospital because of self-harm, a suicide attempt or an emotional crisis.

Follow up is an opportunity for young people to receive extra support after coming out of hospital. One of our trained youth workers would meet up with them at a time and place that suits them; in a coffee shop, at school, or on a walk. The support takes place over approximately three months.

Sessions are tailored to each young person; we can talk about whatever is most helpful to them, look at helpful resources, and help them link up to other services. Our purpose is to provide consistent support where we relieve, listen, encourage and advocate.

Relieve

Whatever is going on for the young person, we aim to help them get to a calm place.

Depending on the young person, we play games, do calming activities, or just have a normal chat about things they’re interested in.

Listen

We care about young people feeling listened to and understood.

We don’t ask leading questions or come with an agenda.

We just create a safe space and direct the conversation in whatever way is helpful.

Encourage

We carry a voice of hope, working to build young people up and empower them to see their own value and potential.

Together we look at resources and equip them with tools to build their resilience.

Advocate

We can help young people make sense of the services that are available to them, and can help them find additional support where needed.

We work closely with other services to link up our support for the young person.

Some young people choose to go through some helpful resources during follow up. For example, the ‘Brave Journal’ helps young people understand feelings of anxiety, and ‘Alumina’ helps young people move towards a life free from self-harm. We also create our own tailored resources and activities depending on needs and interests. For some, follow up is a creative space with lots of crafts, others playing lots of games, and for many it’s a chilled space to talk through life’s challenges. We can also look together at strategies and support that the young person can access.

We can look at topics like:

  • Managing Emotions
  • Communicating & Asking for Help
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Identifying and Challenging Negative Thoughts
  • Building Healthy Coping Mechanisms
  • Self-Care

Case Study

Woman smiling at camera on fabric

Hannah

What was life like before meeting Emerge?

“Before meeting Emerge, my life was consumed by my self-harm addiction. It was like there was a constant cloud of darkness towering over me, stealing every possible ounce of happiness and joy. I saw no way out, and, even though part of me didn’t want to end my life, I felt this would be the only way that would put an end to my suffering.”

How did Emerge support you?

“Emerge have helped me see the light in life again, and have helped me equip myself with all the coping skills I need to continue to support myself in my mental health recovery. Emerge have been there by my side throughout the highs and the lows, and, although I still struggle, I am in an infinitely better place than when I first met Emerge in hospital that day. Emerge have helped me gain a better understanding of myself as an autistic person and have assisted me in gaining the confidence necessary to advocate for my needs and any necessary accommodations. From the very moment I first met Emerge, they have supported me through the times I thought I’d never have made it through, and have been a consistent form of support, who I knew I could trust and be able to rely on in times of difficulty.”

Would you recommend Emerge Follow Up?

“If you’re thinking about getting support from Emerge, absolutely go for it. Don’t be afraid of letting someone new into your life – they are there to help you and will do everything in their power to advocate for you and help improve your quality of life. Chances are, if you’re being offered support from Emerge you’re going to be in an incredibly dark place, and just like I once did, you will see nothing but darkness. Allow your Emerge worker to take your hand and help you see the light in life again, allow them to help you to bloom. Mental health recovery is possible, I am a living example of that. It may not be an overnight journey, but with assistance from Emerge, you will be able to make it to a better place.”

What does life look like now?

“As someone who has just moved to University to study Child Nursing, I will forever advocate for Emerge and recommend their support services to those who might find themselves in the same darkness that I did even just a year ago. Without Emerge, none of this would have even been possible, I’m not sure I would have been alive to see the day where I was able to start my nurse training, thank you Emerge for helping me to see the beauty in life, and learn to appreciate both the sun and the rain – flowers don’t bloom without rain and you can’t have a rainbow without first experiencing the rain.”

Feedback from Young People

“They have helped me so much and
talking to Emerge has made me see things in a much more positive light.”

“Thank you for playing fun games with and it was easy to open up to you.”
“In my circumstance I think I just needed poeple to talk to that I knew I could be open with about how I was feeling but there was no pressure to talk about how I was feeling so I could just use the time to distract myself which is just as valuable.”

“The lady was really good at listening to me and my friends and helping me understand what was happening. She was inspiring.”

“Thank you for talking through all the things going in my head and how to figure out how to talk to my mum.”

Feedback from Parents

“We are so grateful to Emerge
and all they have given our child. They helped with practical things regarding applications and school as well as processing their emotions and helping them see more clearly the impact of their decisions. They have been consistent and helped our child trust and engage with professional support again. They have also looked out for us as a family and their care and compassion has made such a difference.”

“Thank you for all the support you give my young person. It is good to know that they have somone who they trust and open up to.”
“Was very impressed by how quickly they got back to me and how easy it was to arrange follow up for my daughter.”
“My daughter found it so helpful to have someone just to talk to in hospital who didn’t have an agenda or pressure. She felt like she could really process her emotions and open up to the team she saw and would love follow up support.”
“It was nice to have a neutral person, they helped calm us both down and talk through my sons needs and what the rest of the time in the hospital and after could look like. He really benefitted from follow-up and it helped him gain confidence to go to back to school.”

Feedback from Professionals

“I’ve only ever heard positive feedback about Emerge, and am
glad we can work together on cases to support young people.
It’s valuable to gain insight and coordinate support together.”
“They sometimes bring us cookies and have a beautiful smile and calming presence.”
“The service they provide is so important. I know I can rely on the team to keep me informed and help the young people with practical things too.”
“They gave us really great training and insight into supporting young people. It made me think of some new ways we can help structure their days, suggest activities and collaborate with other professionals.”
“I am a big advocate for Emerge. I love what they do and who they are. If I could have them on the ward all the time I would have a chair for them tomorrow!”