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For Parents and Carers

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

What is it? Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is a lifelong condition which falls under the umbrella name given to describe individuals who have been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy – this is Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). There are several diagnoses which fall under this term, depending on the individual’s set of difficulties, which are: Foetal […]

Self-Care

Caring for a child or young person with emotional or mental health difficulties can have its challenges. They may need more of your time, energy and attention, which can be tiring, stressful and overwhelming for you, often impacting upon your own wellbeing. It’s important that you take some time for yourself and think about ‘self-care’. […]

Developmental Trauma

When children experience a series of adverse life events, such as neglect, abuse, separation and loss, the development of their brains is affected. For some, this can mean their senses, emotions and behaviour are knocked off balance, and they seem ‘different’ to other children of the same age. This illustration from Beacon House shows the […]

Further Resources

On this page you’ll find information and helpful resources. This document from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust provides information, such as where to find help and support, and how bes to support your child, as well as sharing various contacts for parents and carers of children with mental health challenges. Mental Health Problems in Children […]

Self-Esteem

We all want our children to feel good about themselves and have confidence in their abilities. Helping young people develop good self-esteem can strengthen their resilience and ability to manage and overcome challenging situations. Self-esteem is something that develops over a period of time and is influenced by many different things such as family, friends, […]

Anxiety

What is it? Young people will feel worried or stressed from time to time, just as adults will. Feeling worried is a natural reaction for young people when they are faced with a stressful or new situation such as starting a new school or sitting exams. In these circumstances the feelings are usually short lived […]

Sleeping Difficulties

Sleep is essential to both our emotional and physical health. It is common to have occasional periods of time when our children’s sleep might be disrupted through changes in routine or physical illness, but when a child has long term sleeping difficulties it can impact on the whole family, leaving parents, siblings and the child […]

Low Mood

It’s normal for young people to feel sad and upset when they are faced with difficult times and challenging circumstances. These feelings usually pass after a short time and they get back to being themselves. It’s common for young people to have emotional ups and downs during their teenage years when they are dealing with […]

Bullying

What is it? Bullying is a behaviour that is done intentionally by either an individual or a group of individuals to purposely hurt and upset another person; it can happen frequently and sometimes can go on for a long time. People of all ages can be bullied – in school, work, home-life… It can be […]

Psychosis

What is it? Psychosis is a word that describes a mental state that affects the way people think, feel and understand things. Psychosis can be a very worrying and scary experience that can make it difficult for the person to know what is real and what isn’t. Psychosis can affect anyone and becomes more common […]

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

What is it? Your child may currently be undergoing assessment for autism or may have recently been diagnosed with autism, and you perhaps hear a few variations of the name, such as ‘autistic’ and ‘Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)’. All of these terms are used to describe a group of conditions which affect the way the […]

Wellbeing

What is it? Emotional wellbeing, or mental health, is about how we feel and think and our ability to deal with the ups and downs of life. If we have good emotional wellbeing we are able to: Feel good about ourselves Build and maintain good relationships with people Feel productive and contribute to society Cope […]

Exam Stress

Studying for and sitting exams can be a difficult and stressful time for some young people. They might begin to feel that they can’t cope with their revision, or might feel under pressure from family and school to get certain marks and grades. They might worry that they won’t get the marks and grades they […]

Self-harm

It can be difficult to find out that your child is harming his or herself. As a parent/carer you may feel a range of emotions, including anger, shock, guilt and upset. These reactions are normal, but what your child really needs is support from you. They need you to stay calm and to listen to […]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

It’s not unusual for young people to have periods of time where they find it difficult to sit still, concentrate or manage their behaviour. However, in children with ADHD these behaviours are more than an occasional problem and their difficulties are so severe and frequent that they can interfere with all aspects of their life, […]

Eating Disorders

What is it? Food is an essential part of our lives – we need it to live and grow, and a healthy, balanced diet is essential for our physical and emotional wellbeing. Everyone eats differently, and it’s normal if your child sometimes forgets to eat for a day or has an occasional blow out and […]

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – or PTSD – is the name given to a set of symptoms that can occur after someone has been exposed to or experienced a traumatic event. Just like adults, children and young people can be involved in or witness frightening, dangerous or threatening events, such as crime or a road accident. […]