This blog has been written by 20-year-old Sherie Barnett, a UVP Apprentice doing Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship!
Hi guys! My name is Sherie Barnett, and I am a UVP Apprentice and the current Lead Apprentice for CYA Staines 😊.
My interest has always been in Psychology and Biology. I studied both in college, but my interest grew from a young age. I read books on the brain and the feelings we experience, how we have hormones and how they affect us and many other extraordinary ways our bodies work. Mental Health is a big area of importance to me because it needs to be spoken about more with no criticism and how mental health is something that drives us every day. If that is affected, we can experience so much overwhelming emotions and actions from it.
As an Apprentice doing Level 3 Business Administration, I decided to create a booklet on phobias/disorders because I, myself, experience them and I have noticed there is limited information on the type of support available for young people who may be experiencing phobias/disorders themselves. So, I put myself to the test to find out more on what support can be accessed within Surrey. I chose two phobias and two disorders that I thought could be really beneficial to young people within Surrey.
Here is my booklet that I created!
I gathered feedback from both CYA Staines and the other Apprentices on the UVP Team to help me make the best booklet! They were super helpful with their feedback and as you can see, the final product is colourful and informative. With part of the feedback, one Apprentice suggested I make a ‘Self Care Tips’ page, so any young person who may be going through the process of treating their phobia/disorder, can have some tips to focus on their wellbeing.
I couldn’t fit more information in this booklet because it was getting too long for young people, so here is more information on how phobias/disorders are diagnosed in young people and other services that can support you through it!
Additional information:
- Diagnosis:
All physical problems would be ruled out first. This is to ensure that you are physically healthy. Next a (child) psychiatrist or other mental health provider will evaluate you on your phobia/disorder and if it meets a specific clinical criterion for a phobia/disorder, then a diagnosis will be made. However, disorders, specifically Panic Disorders, may be hard to diagnose and you may need to have many tests in different settings.
- Other treatments:
Keep in mind that all treatments depend of the symptoms, age and general health of the young person and how severe their condition is.
Family Therapy: Your parent/carers play a vital role in any treatment you may go through, therefore having therapy involved with them can help you all to understand what you are experiencing and how to best help you.
Medicines: In some cases, medicine can be given to relieve any stress/panic/anxiety you may be experiencing. If medicine is provided to you, be certain to ask about any side effects and the risk of using the medicine.
For more information on where you can access support, please follow these links:
YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Free, 24/7 mental health text support in the UK | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)
cyauk.com 