February 2025

If you're worried about the mental health of a child or young person, it can be hard to know what to do to help them. You may also feel like you need support for yourself.

You're not alone and there are places both you and your child can turn to for help.

It can be a good idea to find out more about how a child or young person might be feeling. This can help you understand how best to help them, or help them find ways to support themselves.

The charity YoungMinds has lots of information for parents including:

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-guide-to-looking-after-yourself/

Looking after a child with mental health issues is not easy and it's important you look after yourself as well as your child.

YoungMinds offers free confidential online and telephone advice and emotional support to anyone worried about a child or young person up to the age of 25.

• call the free parents' helpline on 0808 802 5544 from 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
• email parents@youngminds.org.uk and YoungMinds will respond within 3 working days
• visit their website at https://youngminds.org.uk/  for further information and support

For further support and advice, please visit the below link at Scottish Action for Mental Health;

samh.org.uk/get-involved/going-to-be/information-help/parents-or-guardians 

And the below links for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS);

CAMHS Information for Children & Young People

CAMHS - Information for Referrers (short version)