Info for Parents
We know that having a child with mental health issues can be daunting. This page of our website seeks to share information which may help you. We’ve brought together a number of website links and information pages which seek to support you and your child.
Kooth.com
We recommend that you and your child take a look at Kooth.com. Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online support for young people. Young people can chat online with Kooth counsellors, read articles written by young people and get support from the Kooth Community. It can provide vital support while you’re waiting for an appointment with a Number 22 counsellor.
YoungMinds.org.uk
Young Minds is a charity with a really useful website with information on issues which children may be struggling with for example bullying, self-harm, eating issues and so on. There is also a Parent’s Helpline and a guide to accessing CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health, the NHS service for Young People’s Mental Health).
Family-Friends.org.uk
Family Friends is a charity providing early help support to families living in RBWM with children aged 0 to 13 years (up to 18 years for Armed Service families).
Family Friends helps families who are experiencing challenges and struggling to cope. We offer practical and emotional support in the home and/or community through our amazing volunteers – a listening-ear and a helping-hand during times of need, help to get out of the house with young children etc.; specialist groups for children; and 1:1, group, and community support for Armed Forces Families, through a dedicated Family Support Worker. Our Anxiety Group helps children aged 8-12 years with low/moderate anxiety which is affecting their everyday and school life. PICADA (Positive Intervention for Children Affected by Domestic Abuse) supports children aged 8-12 years who have experienced domestic abuse in their family.
Access: Direct phone line Telephone: 0300 800 1005 Email: [email protected] Web Address: https://family-friends.org.uk
Carers.org
The Carers Trust has a section on their website dedicated to Young Carers and how to get support.
Research Reading – AnDY
AnDY is a specialist clinic for the treatment of anxiety and / or depression in children and young people in the Berkshire area.
Al-Anon.org
Al-Anon is a charity for people who are worried about someone with a drink problem. Alateen is for younger family members who need support.
National Self Harm Network
The National Self Harm Network is a registered charity which supports individuals who self-harm to reduce emotional distress and improve their quality of life. They also support and provide information for families and carers of individuals who self-harm.
Please see the following information booklets:
First Aid & Self Harm
Distractions for young people who self harm
Advice for young people
Advice for carers
What is Self Harm
Doctor’s Practices
As with any health issue, your family GP / Doctor’s Surgery is your first point of contact if you have a concern about your child’s mental health. Please do contact us to put your child on our waiting list but you may also want to get their physical health checked out to check that there aren’t any underlying causes.
Poem to a Parent of Carer
We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. 1 in 6 young people aged 5 to 16 will suffer from poor mental health – it can affect anyone, but many young people feel they need to pretend nothing is wrong.