Advice

In this section of the website, you'll find advice on a wide range of topics, from health issues (e.g. sexual health, dealing with depression) to more general lifestyle problems such as dealing with families or advice on drugs and alcohol.

If you have a question that's not answered here, you can visit the So Safe forum where fully qualified health professionals are on hand to answer your queries, or you can just chat to other people from the area about their experiences.

Below is the Hounslow 2003 Young People's Directory, compiled by Yvonne Zuiker : a list of problems that you or your friends may face, with details of who to contact for help in each case. Click on the one that is closest to your situation for more details. The topics are split up into Mental Health, Sexual Health, Drugs, Alchohol & Smoking, Families, Violence, Diet, Education & Work.

Mental Health

• A Young Man is seriously depressed and doesn’t know who to turn to.
• A Young Man is upset because of the recent death of his brother.
• A young woman is afraid that her best friend has been deliberately cutting her arms.

Sexual Health

• A Young Woman thinks she might be pregnant.
• A Young Woman has unprotected sex.
• A Young Man had a one night stand a month ago and ever since has experienced a burning sensation when passing water.
• A 14 Year old young woman wants to go for a pregnancy test but doesn’t want to tell her doctor.
• A 15 Year old young woman has just found out that her last partner was HIV positive. She has decided to have an HIV test but doesn’t want anyone to know.
• A 16 Year old man and woman want to find out about the pill without involving any friends or family.
• A Young Couple (15 and 16 years old) have just become parents and would like to know any services where they can find help and support for teenage parents.
• A young person thinks they may be lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Additional links related to Sexual Health.

Drugs, Alchohol & Smoking

• A Young Man would like to stop smoking.
• A Young Man is worried that his friend is sharing needles. He won’t listen
  when he tries to talk to him and says that none of his mates are gay, so
  there is little risk of catching AIDS.
• A Young Man is concerned about his younger brother who has lost a job in the past due to drinking on site and has been disciplined in his present job for the same reasons.

Families

• A Young Woman has been chucked out of the house by a parent and has very little money.
• A Young Man is concerned about his younger brother who has lost a job in the past due to drinking on site and has been disciplined in his present job for the same reasons.
• A Young Man is upset because of the recent death of his brother.
• A Young Couple (15 and 16 years old) have just become parents and would like to know any services where they can find help and support for teenage parents.

Violence

• A Young Woman would like to find out where to get help for a friend who is seriously afraid of her partner, who is know to have been very violent in the past.
• A young person is being bullied at school and doesn't know what to do.

Diet

• A Young Woman is seriously concerned about her best friend who has lost a lot of weight lately and is very obsessed with what she eats (or doesn’t eat).

Education & Work

• A Young Person, who took a year out after his/her A levels, wants to find out about grants for going to University.
• A Young Man wants to find out whether he will lose his benefits (job
  seekers allowance) if he takes on a 10 hr per week job that has been offered to him at £6 an hour.
• A Young Man is being bullied at school and doesn’t know what to do.
• A 19 Year old student has got into severe debt and has come home to seek advice.
• A Young Man is concerned about his younger brother who has lost a job in the past due to drinking on site and has been disciplined in his present job for the same reasons.
• A Young Person is interested in doing some voluntary community work.

So Safe home Story Games Downloads Advice Community About Legal Info