Parent and Carers Page
Supporting You to Support Them
At On Your Mind Glos, we understand that being a parent, guardian, or carer comes with its challenges, especially when supporting a young person’s mental health and wellbeing. It’s not always easy to know how to help, and it’s completely normal to feel unsure or overwhelmed at times.
This page is here to offer guidance, information, and resources to help you support the young people in your care. You’ll find advice on understanding mental health concerns, tips on having open conversations, and ways to look after your own wellbeing too.
Advice for Parents and Carers
Supporting a young person’s mental health can feel challenging, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. This section provides practical advice to help you better understand common mental health concerns, recognise early signs, and feel more confident in offering support.
TIC+ Parents and Carers support and Advice Line
TIC+ offers dedicated Parent and Carer Support, providing free resources, advice, and counselling to help you navigate the challenges of supporting a young person’s mental health.
TIC+ Parent and Carer Support Group
TIC+ offers Parent & Carer Support Groups designed to provide a safe and supportive space for parents and carers. These groups give you the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges, share experiences, and receive advice from both peers and professionals.
Mental Health Support during Pregnancy and the first year after your baby is born
If you are looking for support for your mental health during pregnancy or after your baby has arrived, support is available. The NHS in Gloucestershire offers dedicated services, alongside a range of support from local voluntary and community organisations.
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum serves as a voice for those with lived experience as Parent Carers—individuals who are parents or carers of children with disabilities, special educational needs (SEN), conditions, impairments, or additional needs. The forum acts as a bridge to providers of statutory services, working to improve and develop better services for all families of disabled children in Gloucestershire.
Support for Parents of Children with Eating Disorders
FEAST offers dedicated online support for parents and carers of children with eating disorders. Their resources provide practical advice, information, and emotional support to help you navigate the challenges of supporting a child’s recovery.
You’ll find guidance on understanding eating disorders, managing your child’s treatment, and looking after your own wellbeing.
Recognising Emotional Challenges
Looking after a child or young person’s mental health is an important part of their overall wellbeing. This page provides practical guidance on how to recognise the signs that a child or young person may be struggling, how to offer support, and when to seek professional help.
You’ll also find advice on promoting emotional wellbeing, encouraging healthy coping strategies, and fostering open communication.
Creating a Supportive Home
It’s important to help children understand and express their emotions. The NHS guide offers practical advice on how to have open conversations with your child about their feelings.
By encouraging your child to talk about their emotions, you can help them build emotional resilience and cope with challenges. The guide provides tips on how to start these conversations and create a supportive environment for your child.
Understanding Stress in Children
Children, like adults, can experience stress. The HealthyChildren.org guide provides practical advice on how to recognise signs of stress in your child and offer support.
It offers strategies to help your child manage stress, build resilience, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. You’ll also find guidance on how to create a supportive environment to help your child feel safe and secure.
Supporting Children to Build Resilience
The BBC Bitesize guide provides practical tips for supporting your child’s mental health and wellbeing. It offers advice on how to recognise when your child might be struggling and ways to support them effectively.
Supporting a Child’s Neurodiversity
If you're looking for guidance on how to support a child's neurodiversity, this page from Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust offers valuable information. It provides practical advice and resources for parents, carers, and professionals to help nurture and support children with neurodiverse conditions.
Addressing Self-Harm
If you’re concerned that a child or young person may be self-harming, it’s important to approach the situation with care and understanding. The NSPCC guide offers advice on how to recognise signs of self-harm, how to talk to your child about it, and what steps to take to support their recovery.
Handling Suicidal Thoughts
If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, it is essential to respond with care and understanding. The YoungMinds guide provides information on how to recognise the signs, how to talk to your child about their feelings, and what steps you can take to ensure they receive the support they need.
The guide also offers advice on how to stay calm in a crisis and where to seek professional help.
Managing Screen Time
Understanding the impact of social media on your child’s mental health is important in today’s digital world. The HealthyChildren.org guide explores research on how social media use can affect children and offers advice on how to support your child in managing their online presence.
The guide provides practical tips for fostering healthy media habits, helping your child build resilience, and knowing when to seek further support.
Keeping Your Child Safe Online
Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has launched a dedicated Online Safety webpage aimed at supporting parents and guardians in understanding and managing the potential risks that children and young people may encounter online.
The webpage provides comprehensive information about various types of online harms, including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and the effects of excessive screen time. It brings together trusted sources of information, national guidance, and local support services, making it easier for families to access reliable advice and assistance.
Self-Care for Parents and Carers
As a parent or carer, looking after your own mental health is just as important as supporting the wellbeing of the young people in your care. The Every Mind Matters guide offers practical tips and strategies to help you manage stress, improve your emotional wellbeing, and build resilience.
By taking care of your own mental health, you’re better equipped to support others. The guide includes advice on how to stay connected, practice self-care, and seek help when needed.
The Importance of Physical Activity
Regular physical activity is not only good for physical health, but it also plays a key role in supporting mental wellbeing. The Mind guide explains how exercise can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall mental health.
This guide offers practical advice on how to incorporate physical activity into daily life and highlights the positive impact it can have on both your mental health and the wellbeing of those you care for.
BeeZee Bodies Parent's Guide
BeeZee Bodies Parent's Guides - Follow this link and select the 'Parent's Guides' option to find out more about how you can support your child with their health and wellbeing.
BeeZee Families
If you're looking for specific support from BeeZee Bodies and helping your family build healthy habits from home, use this link: BeeZee Families and select 'Gloucestershire'