Mental Health and Well-being support
Supporting Parents Helpfinder (Young Minds)
Times are tough for many people right now. Parents find themselves pulled in many different direction and children may be struggling being in the house for so much longer than usual.
A mixture of concern about covid, work from home and children at home, along with a possible financial impact make for a stressful household.
Young Minds have created a useful 'Supporting Parents Helpfinder'. By answering six questions, parents can find out how to support their child's mental health during the pandemic (and beyond).
Find the help finder here: https://youngminds.org.uk/supporting-parents-helpfinder/
When emotions explode (Young Minds)
Young Minds have also created a useful poster highlighting ways to give support to children when they have angry feelings or outbursts and may help families start a conversation and talk about each other’s feelings.
Download the poster here:
https://youngminds.org.uk/media/4291/when-emotions-explode-poster.pdf
Mental Health and Well-being advice lines and support
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
Home support for Mental Health and Well-being
Young Minds - https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/parents-guide-to-support-anxiety/ (An article and video with tips for parents on supporting their children with anxiety.)
Cbeebies - https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/seven-techniques-for-helping-kids-keep-calm (Seven techniques for helping children keep calm)
Government Guide - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing
(COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak)
Emotion Wheel - https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2001/emotion-wheel.pdf (The emotion wheel can be used with children of all ages who are struggling to express their current feelings.)
Anxiety Thermometer - https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2022/anxiety-thermometer.pdf (Using a feelings thermometer is a great tool to help children recognise what feelings they might be experiencing in any given moment.)
NHS – Self Care Kit for children
https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2013/self-care-kit-covid-19.pdf (This kit has lots of ideas for self-care for children, including mindful colouring, laughing out loud, breathing exercises, ways to express thoughts, a self soothe box and more creative activities.)
NSPCC - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/depression-anxiety-mental-health/ (Advice on talking to a child worried about coronavirus, as well as noticing signs of depression or anxiety in children and how to help or get mental health support)
Sentence Starters
https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2005/sentence-starters.pdf (Sentence starters can be useful prompts for children who are struggling to order their thinking or express the way they feel.)
Mood Cafe – Relax Like a Cat
http://www.moodcafe.co.uk/media/26930/Relaxleaflet.pdf (A guided relaxation, using the analogy of a cat, to ease any anxiety and create a sense of calm for children.)