Care Leavers - Healthy Living

General Information

Information and advice for young people in Solihull who are about to leave or have left our care.

Being healthy means not only looking good but feeling good, so take care of yourself. How you treat your body when young can have a major impact later in your life.

Healthy Living means understanding what tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can do to your body, eating sensibly, taking exercise, learning to cope with stress and knowing how to get help when you need it.

Registering with a GP

The Family Health Services Authority can send a full list of doctors and dentists in your area. You can also find full listings of doctors, dentists, opticians and chemists at http://www.nhs.uk/. Click on "England", then use the "Find NHS service".

You can also find out from your local library, CAB or post office. Ask around locally for recommendations.

Registering with a dentist

NHS dentists operate a programme called continuing care, where you have to go for a check-up at least once every 15 months.

If you don't attend within this period you may lose your entitlement to NHS care with that dentist, and it can be difficult to get another dentist to take you on.

Opticians

If you have problems with your eyes or suffer frequent headaches you should get an eye test.

Eye tests are free if:

• You are under 17
• You are under 19 and in full-time education
  
• You are receiving benefits

There are opticians in Solihull, Shirley and Chelmsley Wood town centres and in Birmingham - details in Yellow Pages.

Alternatively, a list of all opticians in Solihull is available at http://www.nhs.uk/. Click on "England", then use the "Find NHS service".

NHS costs

GP treatment is free.

Prescriptions currently cost around £6.00 and if you are in work you have to pay.

Eye tests cost between £12 - £20 although are free if you are on benefits.

Dental treatment varies in cost. You have to pay for both NHS and private treatment, although private treatment is a lot more expensive.

You can receive free NHS dental care if:

• You are under 18
• You are under 19 and in full-time education
• You are pregnant or have had a baby within a year of starting treatment
• You or your partner receives benefits

Specific health issues

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can develop when people do not feel confident or good about themselves. They can result from periods of emotional trauma and stress.

The two most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both are dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Symptoms often include excessive weight loss, malnutrition, tiredness, organ failure and depression.

If you have any worries about eating disorders, you can speak to your GP or contact a specialist organisation.

Stress, depression and mental illness

We all feel stressed and depressed at times. But apart from the regular 'ups and downs' of daily life, young people living on their own may face extra strains and difficulties, such as feeling lonely, or having a very low income.

Being depressed can show itself in lots of ways, such as:

• Not being able to sleep
• Not wanting to get out of bed in the morning
• Not wanting to eat
• Feeling that you can't be bothered to meet friends or go out
• Feeling tearful and emotional
• Feeling anxious or panicky

You can get help from your GP or social worker. Alternatively, there are lots of agencies that can help you and listen to you. Samaritans is the most well known of these.

Bereavement Counselling

When someone close to you dies it can be really upsetting and distressing. You can experience a range of emotions from anger, guilt, despair and loneliness to numbness.

One of the most important things to do is talk. You can talk to family or friends and there are also several organisations which can help:

CRUSE Bereavement Care
Carrs Lane Church Centre
Birmingham
Tel. 0121 643 4822

The centre is next to Marks and Spencer in Birmingham City Centre. Open 10-5pm Monday to Friday and some evenings - phone for details.

CRUSE Bereavement Day by Day Helpline
Tel: 0844 477 9400
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm

Youth Line
Tel: 0808 808 1677
(for young people aged 12 -18)

Website: http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/

Contact Details

For more information please contact 16+ team, or see the useful contacts on page two.

Telephone: 0808 16 02 211 - for young people only.
Telephone: 0121 788 4200 - for all other people.
Emergency Duty Team: 0121 605 6060

Email:16plus@solihull.gov.uk