Your local authority, this means your local government, has a duty to ensure your health care needs are met whilst you are in education or training.

Annual health checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability.

An annual health check helps you stay well by:

talking about your health
finding any problems early
getting you the right care

You do not have to be ill to have a health check. In fact, most people have their annual health check when they are feeling well.

If you are worried about seeing a doctor, let them know. Tell them if they can do anything to make your visit better. They will help make sure it goes well for you.

How will it help?

You'll get to know your GP better, which will help if you ever do get ill. Most health problems are simple to treat once you know about them.

Your GP can help stop you getting a serious health condition. This is better than waiting until you're ill.

You can ask your GP questions about:

your health
how you are feeling
your care or any medicines you take

Your GP can give you information you need in a way that will help you.

How do you get an appointment?

If you are eligible you should be invited by your GP practice to make an appointment for an annual health check. Or you can contact them to ask for an appointment.

More information about annual health checks, including reasonable adjustments that can be made, are available on the Annual Health Check page of the NHS UK website.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

There are lots of organisations who can help you with your mental health and wellbeing. There is a list available on Southend's Local Offer.

The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children's and Adolescent's Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS) provides advice and support to children, young people who are in need of support with their emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties. The service is for young people up to 18 years old, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs.

You can contact them by phone Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm 0800 953 0222 or by email SET-CAMHS.referrals@nelft.nhs.uk.

If you need urgent help outside of those times - evenings or weekends, you can call NELFT on 0800 995 1000.

Serious or life-threatening emergencies

If you or someone you know is in crisis and requires serious or life threatening emergency mental or physical care, dial 999 immediately.