Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new type of virus that’s affecting people across the world. It can affect your lungs and airways.

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following: 

• a new continuous cough

• a high temperature

• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia)

Do not go to your doctor, chemist or hospital.

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.

Most people who have coronavirus will recover fully without ever needing to see their doctor, and experts in the UK and across the world are working to keep everyone safe.

• Stay at home to stop coronavirus spreading. Advice about when you can leave your home and social distancing is available from the NHS website.

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands as soon as you can afterwards.

• Bin any tissues you sneeze or cough into straight away.

• Talk to an adult you trust if you have questions.

You can find out more about how to stop the spread of coronavirus and how you can look after your health and wellbeing on the NHS website.  

Given the current circumstances and restrictions coronavirus has placed upon us, why not follow the five ways to wellbeing at home and encourage your family and friends to do the same?

Connect - It is important to stay connected to friends and family whilst the ‘physical’ social distancing is recommended; to tackle this we can use social media, facetime, text, group chats, WhatsApp etc.

Be active - Make some exercises up around the home, play games, do some gardening, bake, cook, interact as a family together and have fun.

Take notice - Take notice of your feelings and thoughts and practice some mindfulness strategies at home to help you manage and relax – see resources on our Resilience and Mindfulness webpage for help on this.

Learn - Stimulate the mind, create opportunities to learn new things, read a book, learn how to sew, stich, a new game, access online learning resources, complete schoolwork, revision and workbooks.

Give - Give yourself personal space and time to look after yourself – ensure you eat a healthy diet, exercise, stick to some routine and sleep well. Give your patience, time, smile and be kind.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS

Coronavirus - Childline

Guidance, information and advice - Young Minds

Guidance, information and advice - Mind

Coronavirus information guide - Mencap

Coronavirus: Health advice you can trust - The Mix

Easy-to-read guide - Healthwatch

Coronavirus factsheet - Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Staying safe online - GOV.UK

Collection of resources - CAMHS

Watch videos in our coronavirus playlist - YouTube

Take part in P.E. with Joe (weekdays at 9am - videos saved to Joe Wick's YouTube channel)

Supporting children’s mental health in times of disruption - Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

COVID-19 advice for young people - Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

Coronavirus resources for children and families - Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Calm Zone - Breathing exercises, activities, games and videos to help let go of stress, provided by Childline

Worries and how to cope during coronavirus - CAMHS

Coronavirus and mental wellbeing - Every Mind Matters

COVID-19 resources for families - Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Coronavirus explanation for children - Mind Heart

A social story about coronavirus - Carole Gray

Random acts of kindness during the coronavirus outbreak - Mental Health Foundation

Guide to living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty - Psychology Tools

Coronavirus anxiety: how to cope if you’re feeling anxious about the outbreak - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy      

Stay at home superheroes - a story written by Sophie Marsh

Coronavirus resources - Liverpool CAMHS

Re:fresh your health and wellbeing - Blackburn with Darwen Council

Working together - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Responding to the coronavirus: resources for mental health and wellbeing - Heads Together

COVID-19 time capsule sheets - Long Creations

Anxiety management workbook - School Wellbeing Service

Worry workbook - School Wellbeing Service

Tim Talks: The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - Chimp Management

Coping with coronavirus - Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Think Ninja App -  As a direct response to the COVID-19 crisis, ThinkNinja has been updated with specific COVID-19 content.  This will bring self-help knowledge and skills to children and young people (10-18 years old) who may be experiencing increased anxiety and stress during the crisis.

The Big Home Adventure  workbook- Buzz Club

My home book of feelings and thoughts - Elsa support

Covid-19: supporting bereaved children and young people - Childhood Bereavement Network

Keeping in touch when you can't be with someone who is ill - National Bereavement Alliance 

The Wellbeing Passport - Lancashire Mind

When your parent is a key worker - The British Psychological Society

Saying goodbye when someone special dies - Psychological Services, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Dave the dog is worried about coronavirus - a Nurse Dotty book

Lancashire

Information and advice about coronavirus and how it affects our services - Lancashire County Council

Children and Family Wellbeing Service Offer Special Edition; During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period - Lancashire County Council

Central Lancashire

CAMHS support (Preston and Chorley & South Ribble) to families during the COVID-19 outbreak - Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Pennine Lancashire

Service updates (including CAMHS) - Pennine Lancashire

Child Psychology Service support (Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire) to families during the COVID-19 outbreak - Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Children and Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing Directory of Services - Healthier Pennine Lancashire

Affected sessions across Pennine Lancashire - Action for ASD

Children’s Service Online Support & Information - Action for ASD

Fylde Coast

CASHER support during the coronavirus outbreak - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

CAMHS support (Blackpool) to families during the COVID-19 outbreak - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

CAMHS COVID-19 booklet - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

CAMHS support (Fylde & Wyre) to families and Child Psychology Service (Fylde & Wyre and Blackpool) during the COVID-19 outbreak - Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Children and young people’s primary mental health care message in support of COVID-19 - Fylde Coast

Coronavirus Kindness Hubs - Blackpool Council

COVID-19 statement - Blackpool Carers Centre

COVID-19 update - Achieve Change and Engagement (ACE)

Youtherapy support to clients and families during the COVID-19 outbreak - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South Cumbria

CAMHS support to children, young people and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak - Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Emotional Health and Wellbeing Support Services - South Cumbria

National/Other areas

Guidance and helpline for parents, young people and staff - National Autistic Society

If you need urgent help as you are in mental health distress, go to our Get Help Now webpage.

Kooth - Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people, accredited counsellors for mental health needs

Local support groups - Hub of Hope