Parent resources
Parent resources and support
As parents and carers, there are ways we can support our children to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy.
Encouraging and guiding a child to think about their own mental health and wellbeing are vital skills you can teach them from a young age.
Signs a child might be struggling
A large number of children and young people will experience behavioural or emotional problems at some stage. For some, these will resolve with time, while others will need professional support.
It might be difficult to know if there is something upsetting your child, but there are ways to spot when something's wrong. Look out for:
- significant changes in behaviour
- ongoing difficulty sleeping
- withdrawing from social situations
- not wanting to do things they usually like
- self-harm or neglecting themselves
When to get professional help for a child or young person
You know your child better than anyone, so if you're worried, first think if there has been a significant change in their behaviour.
If there has, is it caused by any specific events or changes in their life? Does it only happen at home/school or when they're with others or alone?
If you're worried or unsure, there is lots of support out there MindEd for Families also has information explaining some common behavioural problems in different age groups.
Parenting or caring for a child or young person can be tough at times. It's important to look after your own mental wellbeing, as this will help you support yourself while you are supporting others.
Try to recognise and acknowledge when you're feeling low or overwhelmed. Struggling with something or experiencing your own mental health problems does not make you a bad parent or carer.
It's completely normal to be worried, scared or helpless during difficult times, and feeling this way is nothing to be ashamed of.
If you can, tell someone you trust how you're feeling. Maybe there's family, friends or a colleague who could support you or allow you a break?
You should never feel like you must cope on your own, as there's help available. Scope has advice on managing stress when caring for a disabled child and Young Minds has lots of support for parents.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy self-help Get.gg - Getselfhelp.co.uk
Mind mental health charity Home - Mind
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust self-help guidance Home :: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (cntw.nhs.uk)
Mindfulness and other mental health podcasts Podcasts | Mental Health Foundation
Dr Pooky Knightsmith - keynote speaker, author and advisor on mental health and wellbeing. Topics covered include self-harm, anxiety, autism, eating disorders, poetry and coping strategies Latest Resources - Dr Pooky Knightsmith
Northumberland County Council Mental Health support services Northumberland County Council - Mental health support services
Daisy Chain – award winning charity supporting autistic and neurodivergent children, young people and adults and their families Daisy Chain ｜Autism & Neurodiversity (daisychainproject.co.uk)
Qwell -free digital mental wellbeing support for adults across the UK Home - Qwell
Kooth – a free, safe, and anonymous online platform where young people can access mental health support whenever they need it Home - Kooth
Be You Mental Health support team – support for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs Homepage | NHS Trailblazers (beyounorthumberland.nhs.uk)