Information for Parents

Knowing quite where to turn to for support can often be overwhelming, so we hope that the following information will be useful, and help you feel more actively involved in the support your child needs.

Often these sites will have suggestions of what to do or who to refer to, and they are usually very good at guiding you to what you need. We have tried to group these resources in categories to enable easier access to appropriate sites.

Concerns for a person’s mental health should be mentioned to your GP. This is often the starting point of referrals to CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health)

We often suggest pupils look at Young Devon Website and self-refer if appropriate, or a helpful site is KOOTH, who we refer to for online counselling and useful information.

We also work closely with the Mental Health Support Team in schools. See the link to the information below.

Support for health and wellbeing

Mental Health Support Team Children and Family Health Devon - The Mental Health Support Team in Schools (MHST) - Children and Family Health Devon. Referral process Referral forms - Children and Family Health Devon

y-smart.org.uk – for young people, parents and professionals. Youth -substance misuse, advice, recovery and treatment.

YoungMinds - This site has a helpful Parents Helpline, an A-Z guide to mental health, and advice about how to talk to your child about mental health.

Request for support – Education and Families – This describes how you can contact the School Nursing Team.

For families | Anna Freud – This site has very helpful information for families and are easily contactable via email. They also have a site for young people.

Self-Harm

Mental Health Foundation - Advice and suggestions about how to stop self-harming for both young people and parents.

Text and Helpline Support Services - This site has a confidential helpline plus self-harm peer support.

Self Injury Support - Self-Harm peer support.

Alumina - A free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.

Harmless - Support for self-harm, bereavement, suicide-plus an out-of-hours service.

LifeSIGNS - ‘It’s not about cuts and bruises, it’s about coping’

Suicide

This is often a very emotive subject and one that we often understandably struggle with, especially if your child is showing risky behaviours or suggesting they are having suicidal thoughts. Please contact your GP if you are concerned about your child, and talk to the Pastoral Team in school.

Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide - This site is excellent for Apps to support your Wellbeing, Self-Harm, Communicating with Young People and conversation starters.

Suicidal Thoughts | Suicidal Ideation Signs & Symptoms | YoungMinds - This link takes you to a very helpful and professional site that will help you navigate through the thoughts/feelings/behaviours you and your child may be experiencing during difficult times.

Neurodiverse Support for Families and Children

Neurodiversity - Children and Family Health Devon- This site has online tools and resources, plus support for behaviour, mental health, complex health needs, ADHD, Autism, Tourette’s syndrome.

Calmer Lives - CEDA- Therapeutic support, embracing neurodiversity.

Autism and Mental Health | Signs & Symptoms of Autism | YoungMinds- Support for autism and mental health

Autism and Us - Education and Families- Devon County Council, support for parents and carers of children 5-16

Bereavement

Help for grieving children & families | Families in Grief- A local organisation that we have strong links with. They can offer much needed support for young people and/or families, when the time is right.

Child Bereavement UK- Help for parents and young people to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

Childhood Bereavement Network- The hub for those supporting bereaved children and young people

Winston's Wish - Bereavement Support for Children- Help for those growing up grieving