Mental health support for children, young people and families

Emotional health and wellbeing is about how you are feeling. Sometimes you feel good and other times you have emotions that don't feel so good.

It's really important that when we are going through life's ups and downs that we find ways to make ourselves feel better.

There are 5 ways to wellbeing and that can help.

If you feel that a child you care about is unable to cope and you are worried about their immediate safety please call 999.

If you need immediate support contact 111 (option 2).

5 ways to wellbeing

keep active
take notice
connect
keep learning
give

Some ideas of how you can add the 5 ways to wellbeing to your day might include

Keep active

dance to your favourite song
go for a walk outside
do some gardening or tidy your room
make up your own game

Take notice

look at what you can see out of the window
paint, draw or take photograph of something you have seen today
listen to the sounds of nature like the wind and rain
play I spy

Connect

talk to your friends and family
eat a meal with your family
say hello to someone
visit or call a friend or member of your family

Keep learning

learn a new word each day
visit a new place
try out a musical instrument
learn to cook a new recipe

Give

smile and say thank you
give someone you love a hug
send your old toys to a charity shop
help around the house - wash the dishes or do some dusting

Other ways to look after the emotional wellbeing of children, young people and families

Family Hubs have lots of information, groups and activities that can help with your wellbeing. Visit the website Help for families - your virtual Family Hub or follow Family Hubs on Facebook
NHS: Every Mind Matters has lots of information and tips that can help support your emotional wellbeing
The Growing Healthy App (available from where you get your apps) has lots of information to support children and young people age 6-25 years with their emotional wellbeing

Getting advice and support

Sometimes we can do all of the things that usually make us feel good but need a little bit of extra help, advice or support, or you might be worried about a child that you care about and would like to know how you can help.

Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community for young people up to the age of 18. You can access support from other young people and professionals, all at your own pace. Kooth is free, safe and anonymous.
Family Hubs have lots of information, groups and activities that can help with your wellbeing. Visit the website Help for families - your virtual Family Hub or follow Family Hubs on Facebook
Emotional health and resilience team can support when a child or young person first shows signs or asks for help with their emotional health or managing emotions. They also have a duty line for advice or guidance or to discuss a referral. They are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Call them on 03000 263 532 or download the Growing healthy App with further information.
Speak to your child's school/college/university. They will be able to offer advice on the support available to your child in school.
Waythrough offer support to young people who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender and young people who have queries or issues around their gender identity. They also offer support to children and young people effected by parental alcohol or substance misuse.
County Durham's Local Offer has lots of information to support the emotional and mental health of families of children with Special educational Needs and/or Disabilities, Social, emotional and mental health resources
DurhamWorks can support young people age 16 - 25 who are not in education, employment or training
YoungMinds is a website offering support to young people and their families around mental health
The Bridge Young Carers service can support young carers and their families Family Action: The Bridge Young Carers Service
Wellbeing for life offer support with your mental wellbeing

Extra help and support

Sometimes you might be really worried about a child that you care about and have tried all of the other advice and support but would like to speak to someone about getting extra help and support.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - Getting Help Teams (CAMHS) CYP
• Talk to your GP or call NHS 111 (Option 2)