Mental health and wellbeing
Mental health and wellbeing: information for parents and carers
Wardour Catholic Primary School takes the emotional health and wellbeing of every child seriously. We believe that the school can help pupils build resilience and support them to be mentally healthy.
We all have ups and downs in life but in childhood it can be particularly hard to cope with sad feelings and worries that arise when things are hard or scary. There may be times when your child is unhappy or struggling emotionally. You may notice that they seem low or worried or that their behaviour changes. We may notice that they seem withdrawn or upset at school.
If you are worried about your child’s mental health then you are not alone. Many parents and carers have similar worries and stresses . There is good support available from local and national organisations. The sooner you seek help the better for your child and you.
The following website has information providing tips to help you start a conversation with your child.
The following website provides you with some general resources:
Barnado's healthy minds -Wiltshire https://www.onyourmind.org.uk/parents-and-carers/
provides some useful tips for helping your child plus links to local and national services.
Local services for children & young people
- At School
Please talk to us about your concerns, so that we can work together to help your child feel better. Please talk to your child’s class teacher in the first instance.
- Your GP
A GP can check any physical symptoms linked to your child’s health and talk with you about their emotional well-being making a referral to a specialist service if necessary.
A free NHS service that assesses and treats 0-18-year olds with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.
Websites that offer information and advice
The following organisations provide reliable information and advice to help parent/carers to support their child when experiencing emotional difficulties:
Young Minds: - Help for Parents
Information about all aspects of child mental health, including a Parent Helpline 0800 802 5544
You’re Never too Young to Talk Mental Health
Leaflet for parent/carers of primary aged children
Self-Care – Top Tips for Young Parents and Carers
Advice for taking care of your own and child’s wellbeing
Lots of information and tips for children of all ages about feelings and difficult situations
Free learning resource about mental health for parents and carers
Lots of information about health topics including mental health, organised under different age groups i.e under 5’s primary age, secondary age, young adults
Leaflets on a range of topics to support your family’s mental health
24/7 text messaging help service for parents
Expert led podcasts to help you understand and support mental health issues
Nip in the Bud - Learning about children's mental health through film.
Looking after your own mental health
In order to support your child, you need to stay strong and well yourself. It isn’t easy being a parent or carer especially when you are experiencing problems of your own such as relationship difficulties, money worries, problems with work. Often it helps to talk to someone, so don’t be scared about doing this, with friends, family, your GP or a support service. The following organisations can also offer information and advice to help you.
Accessed through G.P or self-referral for those aged 16 and above
Samaritans. Tel: free confidential listening service 116 123
NHS Choices: moodzone. Helps manage stress, anxiety, depression. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing
CALM Campaign against living miserably
Information and help around mental health particularly focussing on men.