There are plenty of services available in Milton Keynes that can help and advise you on a number of health and relationship issues. A good website to take a look at is www.teenissues.co.uk - it offers tips and advice on a number of subjects relating to young people and their experiences.

If you are currently living at home but fear that you could be subject to homelessness in the future due to a relationship breakdown with your parents or family members, then try to work things out. Many people think that living apart will be the magical solution to all of their problems, but most of the time this is not the case and can lead to many more difficulties. Mediation and counselling services such as MK Family Mediation could help to bring you together and develop fair compromises. It can sometimes help to get advice from someone who is outside of the situation and who can see things from a different perspective. It is important to continue a good relationship with your parents because even when you do leave home, you will need to turn to them for help and support.

During the teen years, sexual feelings are awakened in new ways because of the hormonal and physical changes of puberty. These changes involve both the body and the mind, and you may tend to wonder about new — and often intense — sexual feelings.

It takes time for many people to understand who they are and who they're becoming. Part of that understanding includes a person's sexual feelings and attractions.

It's likely that all the factors that result in someone's sexual orientation are not yet completely understood. What is certain is that people, no matter their sexual orientation, want to feel understood, respected, and accepted — particularly by their family. That's not always easy in every family. If you need to talk or need support in this area, Q Alliance, an agency in Milton Keynes, can help you overcome a number of issues concerning your sexuality. The contact number is within the helplines section of this site or you can go to www.qalliance.org.uk.

Sexual Health is more important to monitor than ever before, with 25 types of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) out there it is important to keep safe and wear protection at all times. Many people mistakenly think that if their partner is on some form of contraception such as the pill, then they don’t have to wear a condom. This is not true. A condom is the only form of contraception that protects against STIs as well as pregnancy.

The Brook Advisory Clinic is one of the most established and trusted sexual health services for young people in Milton Keynes. They can offer confidential advice, issue free condoms and perform sexual health screenings. It is important to get checked out if you have slept with anyone without protection as not all STIs produce obvious symptoms, if any at all. If left undiagnosed, some infections, for example, Chlamydia, can cause serious effects such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can ultimately lead to infertility.

For information on anything regarding sexual health and relationships go to www.brook.org.uk.

You may or may not have experimented with drugs and alcohol, but even if you are thinking about it, it is always worth checking out the facts. Some people can try drugs once and will never try them again, whereas others can continue using which can lead to addiction and dependency.

Peer pressure, emotional distress and low self-esteem can all lead individuals to abuse drugs or alcohol. Ease of access to drugs is another influence. People abuse drugs for a reason. Understanding what the person's motivation is helps to explain why that person is abusing drugs.

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s drug use or would just like to find out more, Compass MK are a helpful youth agency that can offer advice, accurate information, support or just someone to talk to. Their number is listed in the Helplines section of this website or you can email them at compassmk@btconnect.com. The national drugs service, FRANK, are also listed in the helpline section, and their website contains some useful information about a range of drugs at www.talktofrank.com.

If you need any help please contact Amy Hill, YHN Development Worker, by email or call 01908 317174.

Alternatively, our address is Youth Housing Network, Unit K, The Agora Centre, Wolverton, MK12 5LG.