Mental Health Support
Useful Information for Parents
Please see below the link to the first Emotional Wellbeing Bulletin which will keep you up to date with information, resources, services and training opportunities which support children, young people, parents, carers and practitioners emotional wellbeing.
https://sway.office.com/uvYA9WhRYnjfSbhq?ref=email
I am worried about my child’s or my own mental health and wellbeing
If you are worried about the mental health and wellbeing of you or your child, please get in touch with a member of the Inclusion Team. Our staff can help and possibly guide you to external services that may be able to support you.
Michelle Winter Sarah Cattley Sophie Tillman-Harries
SENDCo Assistant Welfare Officer Deputy Head and Inclusion
and ELSA Manager
Another option is Early Help, who can support families and guide individuals to more support. See the link below for more information:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/early-help-support-for-families
Kent Emotional Health and Wellbeing
From time to time, we all struggle with our emotional health and wellbeing. For some children and young people it can be difficult to manage and understand their feelings. Young people might experience a wide variety of difficulties including low mood, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating or might be avoiding school.
Call the Single Point of Access number on 0800 0113 474 between 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and choose option one.
If a child or young person needs urgent help please call 0800 0113 474 or text the word KENT to 85258.
Supporting a child at home
The Kent Resilience Hub is aimed at parents of children aged between 10 and 16. It has a range of helpful articles, tools and resources for parents and carers, so that you can increase understanding and find tools and approaches to help build your child’s resilience.
Good Mental Health Matters is another site that provides great resources to help parents support their whole family’s emotional health.
Resources for children and young people
Kent Youth Health provides health information and advice directly to young people.
Kooth is a fantastic free online mental health and wellbeing service for young people aged 10 to 25. It’s a place to get advice, information and support 24/7. Watch their video to understand how Kooth can support your child with their mental health and wellbeing.
Access Moodspark.org.uk to learn about mental health and find tips and resources to keep emotionally healthy.
Good Health Matters is a great website which can help support a child or young person to make small changes to support their mental health.
https://www.humanimprovement.org/the-happy-child-app The Happy Child – Parenting App grants you access to cutting-edge research and tips that will help you raise a happy, well-adjusted child. Years of ground-breaking research and findings in Psychology, Neuroscience and Paediatrics have been curated into one easy-to-use app… for free (no in-app-purchases)!
https://citymha.org.uk/Resources/Parents-Toolkit
https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk/
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/
Additional Links and telephone numbers for support
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk Offering a wide range of support helping refugees rebuild their lives
Bullying UK – https://www.bullying.co.uk
BullyingUK, part of Family Lives, is a leading charity providing advice and support to anyone affected by bullying.
CAMHS Resources – https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/
This website contains some useful e-books that you can access for free. You may want to attend to the books around supporting anxiety in your child.
Childline – www.childline.org.uk
Childline is a counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday
CHUMS – 01622427300 / info@chums.uk.com / www.chums.uk.com
How to refer – chums.uk.com/referral
Bereavement support / counselling from 3 ½ years – 26
Families Under Pressure – https://maudsleycharity.org/familiesunderpressure-emotions/
A useful resource for parents with tips and tricks, formulated by researchers and NHS mental health experts, to help manage difficult emotions and behaviour.
Family Lives – https://www.familylives.org.uk
This service offers support to families on a wide range of issues affecting families. Please see their website for more details or contact the confidential parents helpline: 0808 800 2222.
Family Rights Group – Advise families whose children are involved with or need children’s services because of welfare needs or concerns.
Telephone: 0808 801 0366 Email Address: advice@frg.org.uk Website: http://www.frg.org.uk/
Family Matters – www.familymattersuk.org
Family Matters are there to support you if you have been subjected to rape or sexual abuse. Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Sittingbourne
admin@familymattersuk.org 01474 537382
Mental Health Direct – 0300 555 1000
24 hour service with a trained counsellor – confidential help and support around mental health concerns
MIND ED – www.minded.org.uk
This website has a wealth of information and advice for parents on a wide range of mental health issues affecting children and young people, including anxiety.
MIND SHIFT – https://anxietybc.com/resources/mindshift-app
An app that can help teenagers and young adults manage their anxiety. Gives useful advice and strategies.
Slide Away https://www.slideaway.org
Slide Away offers a bereavement support service to children and young people in West Kent. Slide Away offers support to children and young people in West Kent who have been bereaved
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation – www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/
This organisation offers a range of resources providing information and support around challenging behaviour and associated issues for learning disability.
Trauma response network
https://www.traumaresponsenetwork.org/
This site is a gateway for access to free trauma support (EMDR) for people that have experienced events of mass trauma such as a terrorist attack or natural disaster.
Activities at the Children’s Centre
See the link below for all that is going on at Tunbridge Wells Children’s Centre this term:
https://sway.office.com/SyDO1V6hYo4JBDpK?ref=email
UNIVERSAL SUPPORT SERVICES:- Available to all
Action for Children www.actionforchildren.org.uk Support and advice about Emotional Wellbeing, Behaviours and Learning, Nutrition and Healthy Eating and sleep routines.
Barnardo’s. Support children, young people and their families. Help to get back to school, parenting advice, mental health and counselling, coping with family stress and more. www.barnardos.org.uk
Barnardo’s See, Hear Respond. www.barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond A new service funded by Department of Education helping identify and support children, young people and families who are struggling to cope with the impact of coronavirus.
Beat Eating Disorders. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services Beat are there to support people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members.
Be Free, Be Positive Relationships Service. https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/services/befree-positive-relationships-service Service for 10 – 18 year old females, including transgender individuals living in Kent who are at risk of experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships. Offer 1-1 sessions that explore self esteem, unhealthy relationships, sexual health and consent (age approprioate), child sexual exploitation and keeping safe.
CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau). www.citizensadvice.org Whole host of information and advice
Carers First. www.careersfirst.org.uk
CHAC – Canterbury Housing Advice Centre www.chac.co.uk . Provides free, confidential independent impartial advice on most housing matters, including: Threat of eviction or repossession, rent or mortgage arrears, housing benefit, tenancy rights, homelessness, housing waiting lists.
Childline www.childline.org.uk Whatever your worry Childline are there
Child Law Advice. www.childlawadvice.org.uk Offering advice both about Family or Child Law or Education Law
CORAM Children’s Legal Centre. https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/ Part of the Coram group of charities, promotes and protects the rights of children in the UK and internationally in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Providing Legal Advice.
Cygnet Parenting Support Programme. www.barnardos-parenting.org.uk A parenting programme for parents and carers of children and young people aged 5-18 with an autistic spectrum condition.
National Sleep Help Line. The Sleep Charity has launched a helpline to ensure everyone has access to high quality, evidence based advice. Call 03303 530 541 – Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 7 – 9pm and Wednesday 9 – 11am.
This May Help. A new national initiative providing mental health advice to parents and carers being launched today by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership. This May Help is aimed at parents and carers who may have concerns about their child’s mental health and is part funded by the Quality Improvement Taskforce for Children and Young People’s Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Services.
Warm Space at St Phillip’s Church. St Philips is open every Wednesday from 9am – 1pm as a warm space. There’s free refreshments and a simple lunch on offer as well as space to work, read, board games, newspapers, space to socialise etc.