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Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

Devon County Council is responsible for the writing, publishing and updating of the content on this page.

See what your area's health visiting team offers

Finding your health visiting team

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Your Health Visiting Service - Devon | Health for Under5s

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Find out when you will see your health visitor and what support they can offer.

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What is Early Help?

Early Help is the extra support your family can get if you need it. It may be that you want to prevent a problem, or change things for your family before the problem becomes more serious.

It is not a specific service or team, it's an approach that brings together people from a range of services and teams who will work together with your whole family to help improve the situation for everyone.

It can offer support to families from pre-birth to adolescents with all sorts of issues from parenting, employment and school attendance to emotional wellbeing or anti-social behaviour.

Our leaflet offers more information on Early Help.

The leaflet is also available in:

(To print we recommend you change your print settings to bind on the short edge. This is may show as 'Flip' in your printer settings). This leaflet was designed for printing purposes only, and with that in mind will not be fully accessible to someone using assistive technology such as a screen reader.

Please contact the Right for Children Mailbox if you need the leaflet in a different form, or translated into another language.

Why would I need Early Help?

When one person in your family has a problem it often affects everyone else too.

You may be worrying about someone's physical or mental health, a disability or special need, being a carer, domestic abuse, alcohol or drug misuse, harmful behaviour or involvement in crime.

It could be your child, a young person or another adult, but if the whole family is supported as soon as possible to help cope with their difficulties it's more likely that things will improve and everyone will be happier.

How does Early Help work?

By identifying and building on your strengths as a family we can help and support you to find long term solutions to your issues, as well as developing your skills to help you manage any future challenges.

You will have one main point of contact. This could be someone you already have a good relationship with such as a youth worker or health visitor.

They will be known as your lead worker and they will help you access the services you need quickly and easily.

The information you and your family provide will only be shared with the people who need to know about it, and only with your permission.

You and your family will be central to drawing up your goals, and we won't make any decisions without your involvement.

What happens next?

Step 1 Getting help: You can ask for an Early Help Assessment yourself, or someone your family is already in contact with (such as a teacher or someone at your child's nursery, a health visitor, your GP or a support worker) may suggest one for you. Completing one is a bit like writing a 'to-do' list and putting a plan in place to achieve it. It's the only assessment you'll have to complete.

Step 2 Listening to you: Your lead worker will meet with you and your family and try to understand the views, needs, strengths and difficulties of everyone as well as how you work together as a family. This family led approach means you can identify your goals and decide your actions together with the people who will be supporting you to achieve them.

Step 3 Your family's plan: Your family's plan of support will say who is going to do what and when, including the things you and your family can do to help yourselves.

Step 4 Review: Your plan will be regularly reviewed to make sure it is working or if anything needs to change. Support will continue until your family feels resilient enough to manage your issues on your own.

Getting help

Talk to someone you are already in contact with, for example a teacher, youth worker, health visitor or your GP.

Search on Pinpoint Devon. It has details of thousands of community services and groups available in Devon.

Call our Customer Service Centre on 0345 1551071. They are open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm

There are Early Help Hubs in each of the four localities - Northern, Exeter, East and Mid, and Southern. You can contact the Early Help Hubs via the following email addresses:

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Early Help - Devon Children and Families Partnership

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Early Help is the extra support your family can get if you need it. It may be that you want to prevent a problem, or change things for your family before the problem becomes more serious.

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The Parent+ Support Hub is for Caregivers who support family, friends or colleagues with mental health issues.
Informal cafe-style sessions at the Parent+ Support Hub (virtual / F2F) and a range of resources from caregivers with lived experience

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Parent Support Group for children with ASD

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Parent Support Group for children with ASD

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ABOUT US

In 2017 a support group for parent/carers of children with Autism was initiated by staff at Heathcoat Primary school due to an increase in families going through the diagnosis pathway and many of them expressed their concern around a lack of support while going through assessments and after diagnosis. Lou Dedames, Kylie Ford (Heathcoat primary School) worked together with Joanne Hill a parent carer who has a child on the spectrum.

We are under the umbrella and with full support of 'Unite Carers' the group was set up using a community room within Mid Devon.

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The group is open to parent/carers of any age child as this supports sharing knowledge and experience from many perspectives.

The group is held on the first two Wednesdays of every month alternating morning and afternoon, for parents who have other commitments.

Each session has a main focus which the parents have decided in advance as to what they would like to focus on or areas that they would like to gain further knowledge of. The group aims to provide a friendly space for parents to meet together to share good practise, strategies and support for each other.

We invite external professionals and practitioners to attend where possible to support parents in accessing specialist support.

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Throughout the school holidays we have workshop/activities days that are open to the whole family.

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We also run 'Affinity and Beyond' workshops, throughout the year, so parents have access to support during the holidays and children have access to a range of activities to explore as well as meeting other children who have a diagnosis of Autism.

This allowed parents/carers the opportunity to share experiences and strategies, and the children inculding their siblings learn new techniques to help themselves, being more aware of their emotions and surroundings and self-awareness of senses that may affect them in both positive and negative ways. Parents will also have the opportunity to develop an understanding of how and why their children behave in certain ways, they themselves can gain confidence in directly helping their child.

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ABOUT US In 2017 a support group for parent/carers of children with Autism was initiated by staff at Heathcoat Primary school due to an increase in families going through the diagnosis pathway and many of them expressed their concern around a lack of support while going through assessments and after diagnosis.

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Coping With Self Harm – A thoughtful and practical guide to managing self harm in children and young people
coping-with-self-harm-a-parents-guide

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Kidscape - Top Tips for dealing with Bullying

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Kidscape - Top Tips for dealing with Bullying

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Kidscape provide practical support, training, and advice to challenge bullying and protect young lives.

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This site uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site you agree to these cookies being set. See our cookies policy for more information or to change your cookie preferences at any time.

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“Happy Maps” https://happymaps.co.uk/ is a fantastic free online resource. A charity developed by GPs and CAMHS professionals, with help from parents and young people. Happy Maps have pooled some of the best local mental health resources for parents & for young people in one place.

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Gives access to cutting-edge research and tips that will help you raise a happy, well-adjusted child. Years of ground-breaking research and findings in Psychology, Neuroscience and Paediatrics have been curated into one easy-to-use app… for free

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The Happy Child - Parenting App grants you access to cutting-edge research and tips that will help you raise a happy, well-adjusted child. Years of ground-breaking research and findings in Psychology, Neuroscience and Pediatrics have been curated into one easy-to-use app... for free (no in-app-purchases)!

No more need to spend precious time combing through countless articles, reading lists, or listening to unsolicited advice. Our daily lessons will help you manage parental information overload by giving you science-based ways to increase the long-term happiness of your child. These short, easy-to-understand lessons can be implemented immediately to improve your family life no matter the age of your child(ren).

DID YOU KNOW
* 67% of users described The Happy Child as "life-changing"
* 78% of users reported better relationships with their partner and children
* 98% of users continue to use the concepts in their family

KEY FEATURES
* Customized, science-based app
* Short daily lessons that fit easily in your busy schedule
* Knowledge you can immediately put into practice
* Alerts and insights
* Years of scientifically-backed research and findings

The Happy Child has improved the lives of countless users- hit "INSTALL" now to see how it can change yours!

ABOUT US
The Human Improvement Project is a non-profit foundation dedicated to funding projects that discover what makes the largest positive impacts on children. We work with the nation's leading childhood development experts, psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists to guide parents on the pathway to their child's optimal well-being.

CONNECT WITH US
We welcome your questions at www.humanimprovement.org

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The Happy Child - Parenting App - Apps on Google Play

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The Happy Child - Parenting App grants you access to cutting-edge research and tips that will help you raise a happy, well-adjusted child. Years of ground-breaking research and findings in Psychology, Neuroscience and Pediatrics have been curated into one easy-to-use app... for free (no in-app-purchases)!

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Fun & engaging resource with short and easy activities to build resilience and connection

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Brave Families is a Body & Soul initiative launched to support you and your family during these ever changing and uncertain times we are all living through. It is a fun and engaging resource, introducing you to short and easy to access activities that build resilience and connection. Watch the films below and explore the site. We look forward to seeing and hearing about how you get on!

Keeping up to date

Navigating the site

Select one of the kits to get started, choose an option suitable for you:

Visit us on social media!

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Brave Families is a Body & Soul initiative launched to support you and your family during these ever changing and uncertain times we are all living through. It is a fun and engaging resource, introducing you to short and easy to access activities that build resilience and connection.

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Support Groups for Parents of Children with ADHD

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Support Groups for Parents of Children with ADHD

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Support Groups

National Support Groups

Living with ADHD

This website has been developed to support those who come into contact with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - parents/carers and teachers - and also provides resources for children and teenagers themselves, to help them understand and manage the condition.
www.livingwithadhd.co.uk
addup was set up to bring families together, to guide parents in the right direction to find the practical help they need for their children and to promote both public and professional awareness of ADHD.
http://www.addup.co.uk
ADD / ADHD Online Information
www.adders.org
ADDISS, The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service
www.addiss.co.uk
ADHD VOICES

ADHD Voices brings the perspectives and experiences of children into international debates around rising child psychiatric diagnoses and the increasing use of drugs in child psychiatry. These voices contribute to an empirical evidence base that helps to inform ethical debate, clinical judgment, and national policy. VOICES is a Wellcome Trust funded research project based at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
www.adhdvoices.com
ADHD Foundation
www.adhdfoundation.org.uk
ADDNI Children's Charity - Belfast
www.addni.net Mindroom is a special needs charity for children and adults affected by learning difficulties and learning disabilities www.mindroom.org
PATOSS - The professional association of teachers of students with specific learning difficulties
www.patoss-dyslexia.org The Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has a Policy Unit which deals with issues affecting National Mental Health policy and psychiatric practice. Details can be found on the website www.rcpsych.ac.uk/policy (under Policy and Parliamentary).

The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition

The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition brings together leading charities to campaign jointly on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. http://www.cypmhc.org.uk/

Baldock / Hitchin / Letchworth / Royston / Stevenage

Angels Support Group - http://www.angelssupportgroup.org.uk/index.htm

Brighton

ADHD Brighton Support Group - http://adhdbrighton.org.uk/

Bristol

Adult ADHD Support Group - http://aadduk.org/help-support/support-groups/bristol-adult-adhd-support-group/

Cambridgeshire

C ambridgeshire Adult ADHD Support Group - http://addventure-within.co.uk/support/

Chichester

The Hyperactive Children's Support Group - http://www.hacsg.org.uk/page6.html

Coleraine

Phoenix ADHD Project - http://www.phoenixadhdproject.org/contact/

Essex

Chelmsford ADHD Support Group - http://www.adhd-support.org.uk/index.html

Gateshead

Gateshead ADHD Support - http://www.gatesheadadhdsupport.co.uk/whatis.html

Support group for parents of children with ADHD/ADD and Autism in Farnborough Hampshire. We run every month (1st Tuesday of every month) at the Ship Inn Pub in Farnborough. - Contact Nikki Roberts - adhdtimeout@outlook.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdandASDtmeout/
Harrow
Centre for ADHD and Autism Support Harrow - http://adhdandautism.org/

Contact : adhd@adhdandautism.org

Hastings

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Hertfordshire

Understanding ASD and ADHD in Hertfordshire - http://www.add-vance.org/

Lambeth ADHD Support Group: - http://turneyschool.co.uk/2018/10/14/lambeth-adhd-support-group-meetings/

Lancashire

ADHD Lancashire Support Group - http://www.adhdlancashire.co.uk/

Lincoln

Lincoln ADHD Support Group - http://lincolnadhd.org/

Liverpool

Liverpool Adult ADHD (Ladders of Life, LOL) - http://www.meetup.com/Liverpool-adult-adhd-ladders-of-life-meetup-com/

London

London adult ADHD support group - https://sites.google.com/site/joyfivolous/home

Manchester

Manchester Region Attention Deficit Disorder Group - http://www.maddchester.com/

Newcastle

KICK ADHD Support Group - http://www.netmums.com/newcastle/local/view/support-groups/special-needs-adhd/kick-adhd-support-group-keep-including-challenging-kids

Norfolk

Oxfordshire

ADHD Oxfordshire - http://www.adhdoxfordshire.co.uk/Support-Group.html

Richmond

Richmond ADHD Support Group - https://www.facebook.com/AdhdRichmond

Stockport

Stroud District Adults with ADHD - Support and Social Group (Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2123882871088294) or email stroudadhd@gmail.com for more information.

Central Scotland Adult ADHD Support - https://sites.google.com/site/scottishadhdadultsorg/Home

Dundee and Angus Support Group - www.adhddasupport.org

Glasgow Support Group - www.adhdglasgow.org

West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire ADHD Support Group - https://www.facebook.com/WestYorkshireAdhdSupportGroup

Life Coach Directory

Life Coach Directory was set up to increase the awareness of life coaching and enable visitors to find the most suitable coach. Coaching is the process of guiding a person from where they are, to where they want to be. To ensure a professional website is maintained, only life coaches who have shown proof of qualifications and insurance cover, or proof of membership with a professional body, are listed.

The directory has a page dedicated to ADHD - http://www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk/articles/adhd-coaching.html

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Support Groups | The UK ADHD Partnership

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The UK ADHD Partnership supports clinicians and allied professionals to identify and meet the needs of children and young people affected by this disorder. ADHD is now recognised as a condition that may cross the lifespan and there are multi-modal interventions for ADHD that can be delivered at every age.

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Tips for Parents of Children with a Learning Disability

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Tips for Parents of Children with a Learning Disability

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The Mental Health Foundation has put together a list of ten tips for parents, shared by Hayley Goleniowska, author of award-winning blog DownsSideUp.com

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Hayley Goleniowska, author of award-winning blog DownsSideUp.com and mother of Natty, who has Down's Syndrome, offers tips to parents of a child with a learning disability.

1. Acceptance

No-one signs up for a child with a learning disability and for many there will be a time of readjustment, even mourning for the baby you thought you were expecting. But it's important to learn to accept your child for who they are and not try to make them someone or something they are not. That leads to frustrated parents and unhappy children. There will be challenges but you will learn and grow together in dealing with them.

I had to give myself a talking to when Natty was tiny as I felt she was turning into a 'project', simply the target of lots of SALT and physio activities. Of course, she is our daughter and sister first and foremost. Success at school is not the be all and end all in life and in fact having Natty in our lives has made us re-evaluate our priorities: friendship, food, music, travel, family, enjoying the moment. Time spent at home with a loving family will influence your child the most.

Enjoy your child, show them they are loved just as they are, have fun, sing, be silly. Praise their successes, however small the steps and set achievable, realistic goals that will stretch and encourage development. Natty was able to access a Portage service at pre-school age, which helped us enormously with this.

2. Share, be open, talk

Easier said than done for many of course. I am a natural chatterbox and I found talking through concerns with neighbours, friends and other parents not only eased my mind, but helped them understand Natty better as well as any hurdles we were facing.

I was afraid people would stare when Natty was born. They do look, its only human nature to focus on differences, but it isn't meant with malice. I draw them in and engage them in friendly conversation. That way they always leave more enlightened and knowlegable about Down's Syndrome, and thinking what a lovely family we were, not a bunch of touchy, angry people who shooed them of for looking.

3. A positive outlook

This will do your child the world of good. Don't moan about services providers or your child's appointments, gripes with doctors or financial worries in front of them. They don't want to feel like an inconvenience or source of stress for you.

This is crucial for self-esteem and confidence I believe. Save the niggles for an online chat or phone call when your child is asleep.

4. Be organised

Keep a file of appointments as there might seem to be an endless stream of them at times. Copy any research you have done or questions you have as you go along too. As the greatest expert in your child's life, professionals will often look to you for cues, so don't be afraid to speak your mind. Oh, and take your file with you.

Be professional yourself when asking for help for your child. You will get people onside more if you work with them, even though you may have to be firm in your requests at times. This applies during the statementing process more than ever.

I always used to dress for medical appointments like a job interview. Sounds silly (and it shouldn't be necessary) but I wanted to be taken seriously.

5. Individual Differences

Research and find out what works for best for your child, what their learning styles and preferences are, what triggers their anxieties, what motivates them.

Natty loves working with song, or dance movements to help her learn. She loves cuddles and tickles as a reward, or an appropriately chosen iPad game. Work together with teachers and TAs to find out what works best at home and at school. Some children are kinesthetic (movement), visual or auditory learners.

Visual timetables are often useful, as is Makaton, symbols, emotions puppets and so on. Natty adores drawing shapes in trays of lentils or pasta for example.

No school is perfect and you can make up for their weak areas at home. I flexi-school, which wouldn't be for every one but works well for us. We simply have one day a week at home together, working in Natty's prefered way.

Work with school, not against them using a shared communication journal. Offer time and resource making if at all possible.

6. Life Skills

You can never start to teach life skills too early. I think I started earlier with Natty than her older sister because it was at the forefront of my mind that this was vital for her independence. If your child can learn to have a go, ask for help, brush off making mistakes, they will have a solid grounding in the emotional skills they need for life.

We worked on dressing, washing, sorting laundry, making beds, putting away clean cutlery, watering plants, feeding chickens, posting letters, paying for groceries and so on, all from a very young age. It also makes your child feel included and provides great distraction tasks when they might otherwise have a meltdown.

I include in life skills, encouraging healthy eating and a love of sports or outdoor pursuits. Sleeping well is also an important habit to develop young as is an understanding of cleanliness and toiletting. Make it fun, buy colourful/ electric toothbrushes and flannels, bath bombs, a variety of smells. We used to use a visual timetable to talk us throught he washing/ toiletting routine, and had many a silly song to accompany that.

7. Risk Taking

It's easy to over-protect and molly coddle but risk taking is part of what makes us human. Allow your child to make choices, take very calculated risks, try new friendships, get dirty, eat sand. I bet you did all that when you were young.

When Natty was tiny she sustained a little bump to her head when trying to pull herself up to standing against a brick wall. The doctor I nervously took her to see chucked kindly, "This is what I like to see," he said "a child having a go and getting into scrapes like any other."

8. Social skills

Making friendships and forging relationships are another part of risk taking and what really make life worth living. Give your child a set of skills they need to make friends. You could try teaching them a set phrase, such as "Can I be your friend?" that they can use in the playground. Take photos of them playing with friends and tell them what a gentle and kind friend they are.

Don't be afraid to invite classmates over for tea, and accept every birthday party invitation your child gets. These things matter.

9. Nurture Yourself

Really this should be at the top of the list. Without a healthy, happy main carer, who will cope with your child? Fit your own oxygen mask before those of others. Take time out, even if it is only 10 minutes a day to walk round the block while a friend or partner watches the children. Chat on the phone to an old friend and don't talk about the children. Buy yourself a new lipstick. Eat a little healthier. Get a trusted friend or family member to watch the chidren while you get some sleep, look into Direct Payments or local carers support networks. Do not feel guilty when doing this (which in itself takes time and practice).

I ignored this advice, felt guilty about breaks and carried on until the point when I was simply stopped in my tracks by suspected MS. It was in fact, simply stress and exhaustion.

10. Most of all, enjoy your child and the jouney of discovery they will lead you on

They will prove to be your best teacher ever.

Read more of Natty's journey at DownsSideUp.com

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Ten tips for parents with a child with a learning disability

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Hayley Goleniowska, author of award-winning blog DownsSideUp.com and mother of Natty, who has Down's Syndrome, offers tips to parents of a child with a learning disability. No-one signs up for a child with a learning disability and for many there will be a time of readjustment, even mourning for the baby you thought you were expecting.

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Resources and support for parents or carers of children with autism

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We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

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MindEd for Families - Should I be concerned, or worried?

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MindEd for Families - Should I be concerned, or worried?

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This topic aims to give you information if you feel concerned about your child's behaviour or emotional wellbeing. You will be given links to various organisations that can help, advise or give you more information if needed.

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This topic aims to give you information if you feel concerned about your child's behaviour or emotional wellbeing. You will be given links to various organisations that can help, advise or give you more information if needed. All children are different. They have different rates of growth and development and have had different experiences that contribute to this.

Who may notice if there is a change in or a concern about a child's behaviour or emotional wellbeing?

1) Home: You know your child well and may notice a change in their behaviour.

2) Nursery and School: Sometimes difficulties may only become noticeable at school or when the child is with others of the same age.

Around 20% of children may have either a behavioural or emotional problem at some time whilst growing up.

We will explore some common behavioural problems in different age groups:

Children under Five

Primary School Children

Secondary School Children

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This topic aims to give you information if you feel concerned about your child's behaviour or emotional wellbeing. You will be given links to various organisations that can help, advise or give you more information if needed. All children are different. They have different rates of growth and development and have had different experiences that contribute to this.

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We offer three different services to parents and carers who are concerned about their child’s mental health, up to the age of 25. Here, you can find out more about our Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email service.​

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We offer three different services to parents and carers who are concerned about their child's mental health, up to the age of 25. Here, you can find out more about our Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email service.​

Guide Menu for Parents Helpline and Webchat

Guide contents (jump to section)

Parents Helpline

Call our Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25.
You can call us for free on 0808 802 5544 from 9:30am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.

Our Parents Helpline is available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You'll get through to a trained adviser who will listen and talk through your concerns in complete confidence.

Your adviser will help you to understand your child's behaviour and give you practical advice on what to do next.

If you need further help, they'll arrange for one of our independent, experienced professionals to call you for a 50-minute telephone consultation within seven days.

Please note, calls may be recorded for monitoring or training purposes.

Hard of hearing or speech-impaired? Please use Typetalk or Textdirect to contact us, or use our Parents Webchat.

If English is not your first language, we can arrange for an interpreter as a member of LanguageLine.

Please note we're unable to:

provide assessments, counselling/therapy or direct support to young people

process referrals to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), statutory or local services

provide families with ongoing support, since we are a one-off service

offer support to professionals, friends or wider family members who are not the child's main carer

We aim to support parent/carers with their child's mental health in the best way we can.

Parents Webchat and Email service

Our Parents webchat is open 9:30am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.
Our Parents webchat service provides information and signposting to help parents and carers find the information they are looking for with regards to their child's mental health.

Once you are connected, a webchat adviser will direct you to information on our website or signpost you to other organisations that can offer further support. The conversation will last around ten minutes.

Following your chat you will have the option to receive the transcript of your conversation by email.

You can email the team outside of webchat hours between 4pm - 9:30am Monday to Friday, or over the weekend.
If you are worried about a child or young person, use our parents email service to receive practical advice, signposts to places where you can find help and resources providing more detailed information.

If you contact us between 4pm - 9:30am Monday to Friday, or over the weekend, you can submit an email request. We would kindly ask that anyone who emails our service to expect a tailored response within 3-5 working days.

To access the webchat, select the icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. The webchat is available 9:30am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.

To email the team, select the same icon in the bottom right corner of your screen outside of the webchat hours, 4pm - 9:30am Monday to Friday, and anytime over the weekend.

Please note we're unable to:

provide specific clinical advice around managing your child's symptoms and behaviour, or a diagnosis

be a listening or counselling service

give guidance around specific local support services, as we are a national service

provide a crisis service

Using our Parents Helpline services

Friendly and confidential

We know it's difficult to call the first time - but don't worry. Your conversation with us will remain confidential unless we suspect that a child, young person or vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing harm.

Rest assured, if we need to share any information with anyone outside of YoungMinds, we will inform you first, unless there is immediate risk to life that requires very quick action. More information about our safeguarding policy can be found here.

We will keep a record of your call on a secure and confidential database and this will help if you need to call us again.

For more information about how we use and store your data read our privacy policy.

Accessibility and languages

Hard of hearing or speech-impaired? Please use Typetalk or Textdirect to contact us on the Parents Helpline, or use our Parents Webchat.

Language issues? If English is not your first language, we can arrange for an interpreter as a member of LanguageLine.

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Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child

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We offer three different services to parents and carers who are concerned about their child's mental health, up to the age of 25. Here, you can find out more about our Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email service.​ Guide Menu for Parents Helpline and Webchat Guide contents (jump to section) Parents Helpline Call our Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25.

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Looking after a child or young person's mental health - Every Mind Matters

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Looking after a child or young person's mental health - Every Mind Matters

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There are times when we all feel the strain. As parents and carers, there are ways we can support children and young people to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy.

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Children’s mental health - Every Mind Matters

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See tips and advice for parents and carers on how to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and give them the best chance to stay healthy.

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Created by a CAMHS worker in the Midlands solely for the benefit of children, young people, families and professionals. This site has a huge range of useful resources, downloads and links - well worth a look.

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Is this your domain?Connect it to your Wix website in just a few easy steps:

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Information & Support in managing sleep problems from The Sleep Charity.

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A decent night's sleep will help children to learn more effectively and make them less susceptible to minor ailments,

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Chatterminds - Mindfulness Resources for Kids

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Chatterminds - Mindfulness Resources for Kids

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Great freebies include a 'Handling big emotions worksheet' and a free Mindfulness activity book available to  download.

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Action for Children offer articles on the most common parenting questions, and FREE 1-1 support with a qualified parenting coach.

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Parent Talk - down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust

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We're on hand to support parents, when they need us. Find answers to your questions in our advice articles, or speak to one of our parenting coaches.

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Mid Devon charity aiming to improve  the resilience of children, parents and wider school community.
Helpful Resources are available for use at home including Activities, Relaxation & Understanding your Child

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Cerebra's Sleep Guide gives detailed information on how you can tackle issues to improve your family's sleep and  sleep cards offer advice on dealing with specific sleep problems.

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Our dedicated sleep service is here to help.

Alongside our Sleep Tips booklet and relevant guides, we also offer one-to-one support. This involves completing an application form for your child and two weeks' worth of sleep diaries which we'll send out to you as long as you come under our criteria for support.

If you need one-to-one support and are a parent/carer or a professional referring a family with their consent to having sleep support, please click the button below to contact the sleep service.

If you have a question or query about our services please email us at [email protected].

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Sleep tips Our Sleep Tips booklet introduces and explains different techniques for you to try that may improve your child's sleep. It covers ten main topics including bedtime routines, daytime napping, comfort objects and moving bedtime backwards or forwards. It gives lots of illustrated hints and tips for putting the...

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Low cost courses to support parents to manage challenging and aggressive behaviours at home.

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This free toolkit offers advice, activities and resources to help you support family’s wellbeing throughout a period of self-isolation.

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For all parents and parents-to-be.

1. Understanding your pregnancy, birth, labour and your baby

2. Understanding your baby

3.  Understanding your child

4. Understanding your teenagers brain

Link to the courses - www.inourplace.co.uk - access code TAMAR.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Online courses for emotional health and wellbeing.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach | Online courses for parents

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inourplace | Solihull Approach : Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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A group of trained volunteers offering support to individuals who are struggling with the challenges of family life, or experiencing relationship breakdown. Our service is suitable for those who don’t need counselling but could benefit from some extra support in their family relationships. We have a particular interest in families, couples and individuals who are experiencing Autism Spectrum Conditions and support with accommodating this in their relationships.

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Mid-Devon Community Family Trust (MDCFT)

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We're volunteers who are dedicated to supporting families and helping them to thrive. Working with families in our local communities, we offer help and advice to couples, parents and the whole family. We run courses, offer training and provide people with a place to talk, through our Families Connecting service. We have a particular interest in supporting couples and families with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. MDCFT Child Protection Policy 2019 MDCFT Complaints Procedure 2019 MDCFT Data Protection Policy 2019 MDCFT Health and Safety Policy 2019 MDCFT Vulnerable Adults Policy 2019

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Welcome to Mid Devon Community Family Trust. We're volunteers who are dedicated to supporting families and helping them to thrive. Working with families in our local communities, we offer help and advice to couples, parents and the whole family. We run courses, offer training and provide people with a place to talk, through our...

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A new phone advice line for parents and carers across Devon set up by Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI).  The line is open 10 – 2pm Monday to Friday and people can leave a message outside of these hours.

The line offers advice on a specific issue around their children and their family relationships, including any communication issues or conflict they are having with their partners or co-parents of their children.

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Crisis Contacts & Mental Health Resources 

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Crisis Contacts & Mental Health Resources 

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Collected by Bounce Brighter Futures

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At its heart, MindEd provides practical knowledge that gives adults confidence to identify a mental health issue and act swiftly, meaning better outcomes for the child or young person involved.

Advice on depression, anxiety, ADHD & self-harm

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Crisis contacts and mental health resources | Bounce brighter futures foundation

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At its heart, MindEd provides practical knowledge that gives adults confidence to identify a mental health issue and act swiftly, meaning better outcomes for the child or young person involved. Advice on depression, anxiety, ADHD & self-harm

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Virtual HOPE programme for postnatal emotional wellbeing  - 2021

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Virtual HOPE programme for postnatal emotional wellbeing  - 2021

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This is aimed at new mums who are in need of some support, and would like to meet other mums who are going through something similar. The two facilitators delivering this course have been through postnatal depression themselves, so will have a good understanding of participants' experiences.

The course runs regularly through the year on Microsoft Teams.

Bookings can be made via the website. For information please either ring: 01803 210493 or email: hope.devon@nhs.net

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Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

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The NHS is currently prioritising its resources on dealing with coronavirus. As part of this response, we have taken the decision to suspend attended courses of the HOPE programme until further notice. We appreciate that this will be disappointing, and offer our apologies.

We have not taken this decision lightly and would like to reassure you that we are taking all necessary steps to continue with urgent and emergency services for those people who are acutely unwell.

For anyone interested, we are able to offer an online version of the programme. Please see details below.

Thank you for your understanding.

HOPE online

Do you want to enhance your resilience through these difficult times, rediscover strengths and increase your ability to cope?

Managing a long term illness (whether it be your physical or mental health) can be stressful, tiring and incredibly lonely at the best of times. If you're currently self-isolating and trying to cope, let us introduce you to the online HOPE Programme. The online version of the six-week course provides digital support for people with a long-term condition, helping them to cope better, feel more in control and be more resilient. We are looking to support people with a range of long-term conditions.

The course will last for six weeks and is FREE to enrol on to. We ask that you commit to a minimum of 2 hours per week, at a time that suits you, and you have access to the internet via Smartphone, Tablet or PC.

There are two online versions of The HOPE Programme available in Devon, but you may be asking, how do they differ?

Digital HOPE

Delivered online via iHOPE

Self-paced over 6 weeks

Access 24/7 for the 6 weeks

Recommended commitment of 2 hours per week

Delivered by at least 2 facilitators

Online chat, group forums, private messaging

Option to upload media

Virtual HOPE

Delivered online using Microsoft Teams

Live course (set dates and times)

Can only access course at set times

Commitment of 2 hours per week for 6 weeks (times may differ e.g. 2 x 1 hour slots per week)

Delivered by at least 2 facilitators

Live communication using audio and webcam

Both courses require:

Internet access

Use of the computer / laptop / smartphone

Register your interest in HOPE by completing the booking form below.

Take that first step and come along and find your HOPE!

You can self-refer by filling in the form below, or by contacting the HOPE coordinator. Be aware they will need your full name and contact information and the dates you would like to attend (these cannot be promised as courses will be booked on a first come first served basis). You can also be referred to the programme by your GP or a health professional through the HOPE coordinator.

Course dates

New dates will be added as we get programmes scheduled. This does not stop you from filling in the form and requesting to join, but please be patient as courses are quickly filled.

Course booking form

Please be aware the places on the programme are filled on a 'first come, first served' basis. We are setting up many more courses, so please keep checking this page.

Please note that once you press the submit button, your information may be sent across the internet unencrypted. Any information supplied is confidential and used in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

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How do I book to attend a HOPE course? - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

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The NHS is currently prioritising its resources on dealing with coronavirus. As part of this response, we have taken the decision to suspend attended courses of the HOPE programme until further notice. We appreciate that this will be disappointing, and offer our apologies.

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Mother to mother, or peer, support is recognised as a valued part of breastfeeding by many women. Breastfeeding groups allow mums to come together within their community, supporting normal breastfeeding as well as when breastfeeding feels a little challenging. All of the groups listed are supported by either a trained breastfeeding peer supporter or breastfeeding councillor who have accessed additional training from within their communities to support those common breastfeeding challenges.

For more complex breastfeeding services you can access support from your midwife or health visitor. If your baby is still within the care of your midwife please talk to your midwife. If your baby is ten days or older you can access the special interest health visitor service by either talking to your health visitor or contacting your public health nursing hub - the number will be in your child's personal health record (red book).

All information on support groups has been obtained via local practitioners working within these areas. The quality of support given by practitioners within these lists is not monitored, maintained or assured by Devon County Council. Therefore we would encourage families to make their own checks in order to ensure that they are dealing with a competent regulated service.

A trained Breastfeeding practitioner, peer supporter or Health professional is present at all of these groups, which are free to attend.

Find a support group in your area of Devon

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Support groups | Positive about Breastfeeding Scheme

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Mother to mother, or peer, support is recognised as a valued part of breastfeeding by many women. Breastfeeding groups allow mums to come together within their community, supporting normal breastfeeding as well as when breastfeeding feels a little challenging.