A wellbeing event being held in St Albans is advertising a course in Israeli self-defence as organisers say “the streets aren’t as safe as they used to be”.

The Happy Teen Wellbeing Weekender is being held at Nicholas Breakspear School on Saturday, March 17, and includes workshops in dieting, sleep patterns, and how to raise self-esteem.

In addition to that, teenagers and their parents or carers can learn Krav Maga, a fighting style originally developed by the Israeli military.

Organiser and teacher Kat Shaw said: “I think it’s important to be able to defend yourself because teenagers are drinking younger, people are carrying knives these days, and the streets are not as safe as they used to be.”

Kat and her daughter do Krav Maga together, and Kat says she hopes her daughter never has to use it.

“But it’s a tiny bit of insurance.”

The Happy Teens Wellbeing Weekender sprouted from the Happy Children Wellbeing Conference, where parents could learn about the mental health of young children.

Both are intended to serve as an antidote to cuts to local mental health services and expensive therapy sessions.

Kat said: “I was looking for some help for my daughter at the beginning of last year and all these places were charging £75 an hour, which I could not pay.”

“And I thought ‘I cannot be the only worried about their child’.”

Last year, 160 people attended the children’s conference in Hatfield.

This year, both carers and their teenage charges are invited to learn how to manage mental health.

Kat said: “This conference is a time for the community to come together and support each other. We can make a difference if we raise awareness of wellbeing and mental health issues and people open up about their worries and needs.

“Nobody wants to admit that they need help, and this day is not about judgement. Instead it’s about coming together as one to tackle the issues our teens have and move forwards.”

A cut of the ticket sales and the proceeds of a raffle are going to counselling services.

For tickets visit www.eventbrite.com/e/happy-teen-wellbeing-weekender-tickets-40029482259