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Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and Barnardos are working together to deliver the Healthy Child Programme throughout Hampshire. This website provides details for access to health visiting and school nursing services, workshops for healthy eating and support with post-natal depression.

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Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are an NHS service that aims to help young people up to the age of 18 who are finding it…

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The Wellbeing Support Service is funded by CAMHS, so referrals need to come through a Health service such as school nursing service or the GP. For example, a parent calling their GP and asking for a referral to the PBS Wellbeing Support Service will be contacted in due course by our Parent Support Advisor to plan their next steps.

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Primary Behaviour Service - Wellbeing Support Service

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The Wellbeing Support Service is funded by CAMHS, so referrals need to come through a Health service such as school nursing service or the GP.

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Please give today and help Autism Hampshire to be there for autistic people, and their loved ones, when they most need us. Working for Autism Hampshire can be both rewarding and challenging. Do you have what it takes? If think that you do, it would be great to hear from you.

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Home page for Simon Says Child Bereavement Support charity showing support activities and ways you can support the charity.

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We help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

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Inside: An introduction to emotion-coaching for parents. Our words can hurt or heal when our kids are upset. These 10 soul-building phrases will guide your child through their big emotions. Positive phrases to use when your child is sad or upset.

Sometimes my son's emotions take me by surprise. Things that haven't caused a huge reaction before are suddenly very hard to handle.

Like when his Dad left for a business trip and saying goodbye was unexpectedly really, really rough. Or how for some reason falling down this time and in this place, even though he isn't hurt really bad, is just the last straw - when five minutes earlier he would have stood up and brushed himself off.

That wave of emotion comes out of him and it catches me off guard. Maybe it's because I expected something different from him or something more from him, that I expected him to be able to "handle it."
When our kids are upset, it can sometimes trigger us to be upset too and instead of responding to our kids, we react.
In these moments when my son's emotions are big and his reactions intense, I find myself being more dismissing of his emotions than I intend to be. I tell him; " you're okay" or "brush it off" or " calm down."

It seems like when our kids are upset and need us the most are the exact moments we aren't prepared for - the moments we ourselves are tired, stressed, sad, or triggered.

It's exactly those moments that I feel like my words fail me - I search for the right thing to say and it escapes me. It is also exactly at those moments when our children need us the most - to be able to lead them through the emotion, through the storm - to be their emotion-coach.
As one of my favorite authors says: "When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it's our job to share our calm, not join their chaos." - L.R. Knost
It's our job to be accepting of the emotion, while at the same time teaching them how to handle those emotions.

To coach our child through their feelings, from experiencing those feelings to expressing them.

Our words to our kids when they are upset can either break them down or build them up. These phrases will build your child's emotional intelligence - these are soul-building phrases.
Don't miss the free printable at the end of this post so you have it handy when you need it and so your words don't escape you next time your child's emotions are bigger than they are.
1. It's okay to be upset - it's good to let it out.

As your child's emotion-coach, the first thing you want to teach them is that emotions are meant to be experienced, in fact, that their emotions need to be felt.

By doing this you are both acknowledging how they feel, validating that feeling, and showing that the emotion itself, even negative emotions, are not something to be feared or avoided.
It seems like you are mad, it's okay to be mad. It's good to let that anger come out. Your face/body looks sad. It's okay to feel sad. It is sad to say goodbye.
2. I hear you - I'm here for you - I'll stay with you.

The best gift you can give to another human is to stay with them in their emotion. To hold that emotion with them. That is something we must give to our children as well.

To simply be with them in that emotional space. To be there.

You are upset. Let's sit here for a moment. I'm with you, I'll stay with you - it's okay to feel _______. I won't leave you.

The key to holding space is being able to separate your child's emotions from their behavior (here is how to do that)- we see the behavior we want to change and inadvertently dismiss their emotions.
Related Reading: Handle Your Child's Big Emotions With Love: How to Hold Space for Your Child's Impulses and Emotions
3. It's okay to feel how you feel. It is not okay to _________."

Sometimes it is necessary to use a clear limit in how our child expresses their emotions. It isn't the emotion that needs to change, but rather how they express it.

You look like you are really, really angry. It is okay to be angry. It is not okay to hit. I will not let you hit. Let's go over here together, and you can be angry.

This is a very clear statement - hitting is not okay. As your parent, I won't allow you to hit. I will help you regulate your anger. Being angry is okay, and hitting is not okay.

Taking a break when we are angry, and walking away for a moment, is actually a good way of regulating anger.

You are teaching your child to give themselves a little space to breathe and time to gain perspective.

During this time-in, you can coach your child through their anger and help them figure out a better way to solve their issue/frustration. Find more ways to help your child handle emotions here: The Heartfelt Way to Handle Tantrums and Meltdowns: Two-Step Mindful Emotions System.

4. How you feel right now won't last forever. It's okay to feel how you are feeling. It will pass, and you will feel better again soon.

In-the-moment your child feels (and acts) as if their entire world is ending. Their emotions are big and overpowering, and they feel that they will never feel better again - which only compounds how they feel.

How many times has your child said, This is the worse day ever!

Ironically, 5 minutes later, they will be happy-go-lucky skipping by you while you are completely emotionally wrung out and wondering how you'll get through the rest of the day. It's as if that massive meltdown of epic proportions never even happened.

It is much harder for us as parents to be able to let it go - but remembering that their emotions will pass will help.

And reminding them that their emotions will pass will help them, too, potentially lessening the intensity of those emotions in the first place!

5. Let's take a breath, take a break, sit down, and pause for a minute...

It is a hard thing to do to sit with an emotion. To just feel it - live in it. But if we allow ourselves to be in the moment with our emotions, we can let them go easier.

They don't fester deep inside until they get so big they explode out of us again.

I love this quote from Mister Rodgers when he spoke to a group of parents about grief:

There is one thought that I feel can be helpful to grown-ups and children alike: Sadness isn't forever. I'm not suggesting
that we remind ourselves of this in order to lessen our grief. On the contrary. The knowledge that time does bring relief
from sadness and that sooner or later there will be days when we are happy again may allow us to grieve more fully and
deeply when we need to.
Mister Rodgers

A key part of being your child's emotion coach is simply teaching them that experiencing and feeling the emotion helps us to let it go. It may return - over and over - but if we allow ourselves and teach our children to notice it, acknowledge it, feel it, then we are releasing it instead of shoving it deep down inside where it will continue to hurt.

We can teach our kids that when emotions are big, it's okay to sit with them for a minute. You can sit quietly, or you can ask them how they feel.

Or, perhaps even better, you can describe how feelings feel to you, thereby building their own emotional intelligence. They may relate or change what you say with their own descriptions as you talk.

When I feel that upset, I feel like I can't catch my breath, so I try to breathe slowly. Sometimes I feel a little embarrassed too, and a little hurt. I feel like my heart is a bit bruised. After a few minutes, my heart feels better, and I feel like I can go on with my day.

For younger children especially, using tools that will help them identify their emotions is powerful. Emotions are abstract, and children, even adults, find it hard to describe them. This printable toolkit has several tools to help children identify emotions and a set of regulation cards to help them work through big emotions.

6. You are good and kind.

Being dysregulated is not being bad. Being angry or frustrated is not being bad. Yet, sometimes, when we are emotional, we don't always make the best choices.

Our kids may make mistakes or bad choices, but that is how they act, not who they are. This is such an important message when we emotion-coach our kids.
You were angry. You didn't mean those unkind words about your brother. Sometimes we say things we don't mean when we are mad. You are a kind boy. What do you think would make your brother feel better?
Research shows that telling children they are kind leads to more generosity. We want our kids to know that no matter how they are feeling, they are good and kind.

This also helps our children with their friendships. Young children like categories and labels - it's part of how they think.

They may label another child as "bad" because of something that child did - maybe it was impulsive - maybe they didn't think before acting - maybe they were emotional and made a bad choice - but they are not "bad."

This is an important distinction to learn in early childhood.

7. I'll be over here when you need me.

I am all for validating and acknowledging children's emotions, but sometimes kids escalate their emotions for attention. This is a big clue-in for parents that your child needs some one-on-one time. But not right now, later when things are calm again.

How do you know when it is an escalation? When your child refuses a hug or comfort and cries harder. Or when all the tactics that usually work fall flat.

Giving unending validation and acknowledgment at times like this can backfire, potentially even enabling the tantrum or escalation of emotion. This is when the classic time-in can be ineffective. That is why I recommend the flexible "Feeling Break," which is a variation of time-in, but also works when emotions escalate with comfort - or when you need a break - parents have emotions too!

You can still acknowledge your child's emotions while giving them a chance to regulate themselves. "I can see you are really upset about this. It's okay to be upset. It doesn't seem like what I am saying is helping. You remember what to do when you're upset, and you remember how to calm down. I'll be over here when you need me."

You aren't abandoning your child with their emotions, you are trusting them to put some of the strategies in place that you have taught them.

You also make a note that they need attention, you make sure to do that later that day - have some quality one-on-one time and reconnect. But right, now, it's okay to give them space to regulate.

They may ask for you to come back and that's fine. After a short while, you might check on them and ask if they need a hug. Or, they may just need a little time on their own - we all do sometimes!!

Related Reading: Time-out vs. Time-In: Is There a Better Way? Why You Need the Flexibility of a Feeling-Break

8. Let's have a Do-over!

Oh, how I love do-overs !!
Whoa!!! This is not the fun we had planned for today! This is not fun for anyone. That was not the way to handle that situation, was it? She didn't mean to hit you in the eye with her coat sleeve, and you know it's not okay to hit ever. Let's have a do-over!! Let's try it all again!! How can we do it better this time??
Here's the scene: You've planned a fun activity. You are so excited!! You are trying to get everyone out the door - emotion and excitement are high. Something happens - now your husband is upset - your child has acted out - the kids are fighting, and you are so disappointed. ):

Sometimes everyone needs a chance to reset.

Sometimes kids know they have messed up and they want to save face, they want a chance to do it better.

A do-over is not always appropriate, for example, if feelings have been deeply hurt a do-over can be dismissive of the person with hurt feelings.

But, so many situations are little tiffs that we let get under our skin that pile-up and become more and more frustrating.

Give your family a chance to do it over and start out on a good - no on a great note!

9. What can we learn from this? What is the lesson in this?
That it is through our mistakes that we grow.
Teaching our children that there is a lesson when we struggle is so important. That there is a lesson in our pain, disappointment, anger. That problems that are hard to solve lead to opportunities.

This is not just true for academic situations or achievements. It is true for relationships, for friendships, for dealing with hard social situations.

It is true of things that make us feel sad, things that make us doubt ourselves.

What is the emotion trying to tell us? Maybe that we handled a situation wrong. Maybe to try again and not give up. Maybe not everyone is a good friend. Maybe that we haven't been a good friend and that we need to apologize.

Emotions are not just random things that happen to us - emotions are lessons - emotions are the fabric that connects to the ones we love.

10. You'll Remember Next Time.

When your child does something they shouldn't do and you correct their behavior- say this. Or when you've worked through a tantrum and taught them better ways to express their emotion, before they go onto the next thing say, "You'll remember next time."

That one simple phrase communicates so much to children. It tells them that their failure today isn't a permanent failure and that they can change.

It gives them something positive to focus on, "You'll remember next time to use your words."

It also helps them resolve their current feelings ( I feel bad now, but next time I can do better) and gives them a sense of relief and a desire to try next time.

If they do remember next time they might even point it out to you "I remembered Mama! I used my words!" with their eyes shining with pride. And you'll respond with a "Yes, you did remember! You used your words!" just as excited as they are.

When they do that you know it happened - they were empowered to change their behavior from within.

About Ashley Soderlund Ph.D.

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10 Emotion-Coaching Phrases to Use When Your Child is Upset

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Our words can hurt or heal when our kids are upset. These 10 emotion-coaching parent phrases will guide your child through their big emotions.

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Five Steps of Emotion Coaching – Parenting Counts

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Emotions…we all have them. Everything we do and everything we learn is shaped in some way by the way we feel. Feelings are a natural part of who we are. But how do children learn about emotions? How do they learn to understand their sadness or joy? What is appropriate behavior when these feelings ar…

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Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
1. Connect with other people

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:

help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth

give you an opportunity to share positive experiences

provide emotional support and allow you to support others

There are lots of things you could try to help build stronger and closer relationships:

2. Be physically active

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

raising your self-esteem

helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them

causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood

Read about exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing

3. Learn new skills

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem

helping you to build a sense of purpose

helping you to connect with others

Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.

Some of the things you could try include:

4. Give to others

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

creating positive feelings and a sense of reward

giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth

helping you connect with other people

It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

Some examples of the things you could try include:

saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you

asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer

spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company

offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project

volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.

Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

Read more about mindfulness, including steps you can take to be more mindful in your everyday life.

Further information

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Read about 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

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Helping Kids Focus | Headspace Breathers | Mindfulness for Kids and Families

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In this popular TED Talk, Carol Dweck gives a powerful introduction to growth mindset and the power of believing that you can improve.

You can view the full transcript and talk on the TED website as well.

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The power of believing that you can improve

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Introduction

Why is it important to promote children's mental health and wellbeing?

Promoting children and young people's wellbeing is a key part of keeping them safe, helping them develop and ensuring they have positive outcomes into adulthood (Public Health England, 2021).

Mental health plays a key role in a child's overall wellbeing and can be affected by various factors, including:

abuse and neglect

family circumstances

environment

stress

loneliness or social isolation.

Negative experiences can adversely affect a child's mental health, just as positive experiences can help improve it.
> Learn more about child mental health
Everyone's responsibility

Anyone who works with children and young people has a responsibility to promote their wellbeing, recognise any concerns about a child's welfare and know what action to take to keep children safe.

We've put together some tips and resources to help you promote mental wellbeing in the children and young people you work with. This includes:

talking with children about their mental health

strategies to help improve mental health

tips to share with parents and carers.

Starting the conversation

Starting the conversation

Make space and time to talk

It's important to create an open environment where children and young people can talk about how they feel without judgement.

Make time to check in with the children and young people you work with. Talk about how they are feeling, in large or small groups or on a one-to-one basis as appropriate.

In schools, colleges or academies, you can integrate discussions about mental health and wellbeing into the curriculum. This will help you understand how pupils feel about a particular issue you're discussing.

It's also important to give children and young people space to talk about what is happening globally, nationally or locally - such as climate change, cost of living, terrorism, crime or a bereavement.
> Find out more about how to have difficult conversations with children
Conversation starters

It can be difficult to start a conversation with children about their feelings and mental health.

The Childline website provides age-appropriate information and advice about a range of topics that can help you to start a discussion. You can also signpost children to Childline if they need additional support before or after a conversation.

Topics covered include:

Childline Kids provides tailored information and advice for under 12s, using age-appropriate language.

We've also put together a reading list of books on mental health from our library catalogue. You could share some of these with children, young people and their families to help get the conversation going.

Encouraging children to speak out

Every child and young person should have trusted adults they can talk to about any worries, concerns or questions they may have. Help them identify who these adults are by talking with them about who they trust and are most comfortable talking to. Just knowing there is someone to turn to when they need to can have a positive impact on a child's mental health.

Make sure the children and young people you work with know you're there for them. Remind them they do not need to deal with concerns on their own and talk to them regularly about where they can access support. This might include teachers, family members and services such as Childline.

Different ways for children to express themselves

Some children may feel uncomfortable about talking to an adult. They might prefer to turn to other young people for help and support (Mental Health and Camelot Foundation, 2006) or prefer expressing their thoughts and feelings through creative activities.

Children of different ages, with different developmental levels, or with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to express themselves or communicate clearly or easily. They may require more help, patience and different ways of expressing themselves.

Consider providing a range of ways for children to express themselves. This could be through drawing, listening to or creating music or writing their thoughts and feelings down in a journal. They may want to share these with you or keep them private.

Children can talk with other young people on Childline's moderated message boards or use Childline's Toolbox which provides online activities for children to express themselves, including:

an art box where children can put their feelings into words or drawings

games to take their mind off how they're feeling

a mood journal to help children record what they're feeling and why

a buddy zone aimed at under 12s which includes activities and games.

Helpful strategies

Helpful strategies

Encourage children and young people to think of their mental health and wellbeing as something that is continually changing, like physical health. Some days we might feel better or worse than others but there are things we can do to improve our overall mental and emotional wellbeing.

Talk to them about strategies they can use to take care of themselves.

Some children may struggle to express their feelings or concerns. Use language that is appropriate for their age and developmental level. Give them the time and support they need to understand what they're feeling.
> Find out more about talking to children about their mental health
Exercise

Staying physically active can have positive effects on mental health. It can reduce stress, anxiety and other mental health issues, and increase self-esteem (Mental Health Foundation, 2021; NHS, 2019).

Encourage children and young people to build physical activity into their daily routines, from talking a daily walk to participating in extracurricular sports activities.

The amount and type of exercise available or appropriate will differ from child to child. Disabled children or children with injury or health conditions may be limited in the exercise they can do. There are other ways they can stay active, for example by helping with housework, playing interactive video games or gardening.

Explain that it's important for your body to have time to rest as well as being physically active. Too much physical exertion may have a negative impact on a child's physical health, which can affect children's wellbeing.

Online wellbeing

The internet and social media are integral to many children and young people's lives. They can have a positive impact on children's wellbeing by helping them connect with family and friends and express themselves in new ways.

But the online world also carries risks that may affect children and young people's safety and mental health.
> Get more information on protecting children from online abuse
Encourage children to talk about how being online makes them feel. What do they like and dislike about it? What can you do to help children feel happy and safe when they are online?

Make sure children and young people know who to talk to if they have concerns or questions.
> Take our online safety training to make sure you have the skills you need to keep children safe online > See all our resources and information about online safety > Look at our information for parents about online safety on the NSPCC website > View Childline's child-friendly information about online and mobile safety
Healthy relationships

Relationships play a key part in every child or young person's wellbeing, from friends and teachers to parents, carers and siblings.

Being able to form healthy relationships can help children feel secure and supported. But experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships can have a long-lasting negative impact.
> Find out more about our Building Connections service helping young people tackle loneliness head-on > Find out more about promoting healthy relationships > Read our information on protecting children from bullying and cyberbullying
Tools from Childline

Childline provides many online tools that children and young people may find helpful if they are feeling anxious or stressed:

Sharing tips with parents and carers

Sharing tips with parents and carers

It's important that all the adults in a child's life are able to promote that child's mental health and wellbeing. If you work closely with parents and carers, you can share tips and resources to help them do this.

Maintaining a routine

A steady routine can help provide stability in a child's life, which can give children and young people a sense of security and help reduce stress. Here are some tips you can suggest to parents and carers you work with:

plan regular weekly activities, such as seeing friends and relatives or taking part in a club or hobby

have regular mealtimes

set and stick to bed times, particularly for younger children, as sleep is important for children's mental and physical wellbeing (NHS, 2020)

establish a night time routine for younger children, such as reading a story before bed

work with older children to create a routine that works for them - including homework, seeing friends, extra-curricular activities and time offline.

Interacting with younger children

The early years of a child's life can help lay the foundations of wellbeing for their future (Falcounbridge et al, 2019). Positive interactions with adults during this time can help improve child's mental wellbeing throughout their lives.

If you work with parents and carers who have young children, encourage them to:

have individual face-to-face activity with their child, such as talking, singing and playing

follow the child's lead: focus on what they choose, and support and encourage their curiosity

maintain eye contact, as this helps build a strong relationship.

> Get more tips with our Look Say Sing Play resources > Find out more about how interacting with young children can help their brain development
Advice for parents on the NSPCC website

The NSPCC website has a range of information to help parents and carers support their child's mental health.

Some parents and carers may feel unsure about how to talk to their child about feelings and emotions. Share the following pointers to help them start a conversation with their child:

choose an appropriate time when others aren't around or where you won't be interrupted

actively listen to how your child feels

be patient and let your child talk in their own time

make it clear that you support their child.

> Share our advice for parents and carers on supporting their child's mental health > Provide parents and carers with information on how they can talk to children about sex and relationships > Send parents and carers information on what to do if their child is experiencing bullying or cyberbullying

Government guidance

Government guidance

In England, the Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on teaching about mental wellbeing in schools. The guidance has been produced as part of the statutory relationships, sex and health education curriculum (DfE, 2020).

The DfE has also published guidance for schools and colleges on the help available for developing a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing (DfE, 2021).

Public Health England has published guidance for headteachers and college principals on promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing (Public Health England, 2021).

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Education has published its Children and young people's strategy 2020 - 2030, which aims to improve the wellbeing of children and young people (Department of Education, 2020).

The Department of Education has produced a framework about promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing in education (Department of Education, 2021a).

The Department of Education has also published a report on the level of support for emotional health and wellbeing provided to children in schools. This includes recommendations for the development and implementation of a wellbeing framework (Department of Education, 2020).

The Department of Education's resource to support children who have or may have special educational needs includes a chapter on Social behaviour and emotional wellbeing (Department of Education, 2021b). This highlights that social behaviour and emotional wellbeing (SBEW) as an identified special educational need is unique because it will affect every single member of the school community at different points. It provides guidance on developing a supportive and nurturing whole school ethos.

In Scotland, Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) includes eight wellbeing indicators and lists resources professionals can use or adapt for conversations with children, young people and families (Scottish Government, 2021). The Scottish Government has also published research on factors affecting children's mental health and wellbeing, which includes recommendations for future research (Scottish Government, 2020).

In Wales, the government has published a framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing. This statutory guidance aims to address the wellbeing needs of all children and young people, including staff and volunteers. Although it is aimed at schools, the guidance may apply to other childcare settings (Welsh Government, 2021).

References

References

Department for Education (DfE) (2021) Mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Department for Education (DfE) (2020) Teaching about mental wellbeing. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Department of Education (2021a) Children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing in education framework. Bangor: Department of Education.

Department of Education (2021b) Social behaviour and emotional wellbeing. [Accessed 18/06/2021].

Department of Education (2020) Children and young people's strategy 2020-2030. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Department of Education (2020) Informing the development of an emotional health and wellbeing framework for children and young people in Northern Ireland. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Faulconbridge, J., Hunt, K and Laffan, A (ed) (2019) Improving the psychological wellbeing of children and young people: effective prevention and early intervention across health, education and social care. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Mental Health Foundation (2021) How to look after your mental health using exercise. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Mental Health Foundation and Camelot Foundation (2006) Truth hurts: report on the national inquiry into self-harm among young people (PDF). London: Mental Health Foundation.

NHS (2020) Healthy sleep tips for children. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

NHS (2019) 5 steps to mental wellbeing. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Public Health England (2021) Promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Scottish Government (2021) Getting It Right For Every (GIREC). Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

Scottish Government (2020) Factors affecting children's mental health and wellbeing: findings. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

Welsh Government (2021) Framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental well-being. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Introduction

Why is it important to promote children's mental health and wellbeing?

Promoting children and young people's wellbeing is a key part of keeping them safe, helping them develop and ensuring they have positive outcomes into adulthood (Public Health England, 2021).

Mental health plays a key role in a child's overall wellbeing and can be affected by various factors, including:

abuse and neglect

family circumstances

environment

stress

loneliness or social isolation.

Negative experiences can adversely affect a child's mental health, just as positive experiences can help improve it.
> Learn more about child mental health
Everyone's responsibility

Anyone who works with children and young people has a responsibility to promote their wellbeing, recognise any concerns about a child's welfare and know what action to take to keep children safe.

We've put together some tips and resources to help you promote mental wellbeing in the children and young people you work with. This includes:

talking with children about their mental health

strategies to help improve mental health

tips to share with parents and carers.

Starting the conversation

Starting the conversation

Make space and time to talk

It's important to create an open environment where children and young people can talk about how they feel without judgement.

Make time to check in with the children and young people you work with. Talk about how they are feeling, in large or small groups or on a one-to-one basis as appropriate.

In schools, colleges or academies, you can integrate discussions about mental health and wellbeing into the curriculum. This will help you understand how pupils feel about a particular issue you're discussing.

It's also important to give children and young people space to talk about what is happening globally, nationally or locally - such as climate change, cost of living, terrorism, crime or a bereavement.
> Find out more about how to have difficult conversations with children
Conversation starters

It can be difficult to start a conversation with children about their feelings and mental health.

The Childline website provides age-appropriate information and advice about a range of topics that can help you to start a discussion. You can also signpost children to Childline if they need additional support before or after a conversation.

Topics covered include:

Childline Kids provides tailored information and advice for under 12s, using age-appropriate language.

We've also put together a reading list of books on mental health from our library catalogue. You could share some of these with children, young people and their families to help get the conversation going.

Encouraging children to speak out

Every child and young person should have trusted adults they can talk to about any worries, concerns or questions they may have. Help them identify who these adults are by talking with them about who they trust and are most comfortable talking to. Just knowing there is someone to turn to when they need to can have a positive impact on a child's mental health.

Make sure the children and young people you work with know you're there for them. Remind them they do not need to deal with concerns on their own and talk to them regularly about where they can access support. This might include teachers, family members and services such as Childline.

Different ways for children to express themselves

Some children may feel uncomfortable about talking to an adult. They might prefer to turn to other young people for help and support (Mental Health and Camelot Foundation, 2006) or prefer expressing their thoughts and feelings through creative activities.

Children of different ages, with different developmental levels, or with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to express themselves or communicate clearly or easily. They may require more help, patience and different ways of expressing themselves.

Consider providing a range of ways for children to express themselves. This could be through drawing, listening to or creating music or writing their thoughts and feelings down in a journal. They may want to share these with you or keep them private.

Children can talk with other young people on Childline's moderated message boards or use Childline's Toolbox which provides online activities for children to express themselves, including:

an art box where children can put their feelings into words or drawings

games to take their mind off how they're feeling

a mood journal to help children record what they're feeling and why

a buddy zone aimed at under 12s which includes activities and games.

Helpful strategies

Helpful strategies

Encourage children and young people to think of their mental health and wellbeing as something that is continually changing, like physical health. Some days we might feel better or worse than others but there are things we can do to improve our overall mental and emotional wellbeing.

Talk to them about strategies they can use to take care of themselves.

Some children may struggle to express their feelings or concerns. Use language that is appropriate for their age and developmental level. Give them the time and support they need to understand what they're feeling.
> Find out more about talking to children about their mental health
Exercise

Staying physically active can have positive effects on mental health. It can reduce stress, anxiety and other mental health issues, and increase self-esteem (Mental Health Foundation, 2021; NHS, 2019).

Encourage children and young people to build physical activity into their daily routines, from talking a daily walk to participating in extracurricular sports activities.

The amount and type of exercise available or appropriate will differ from child to child. Disabled children or children with injury or health conditions may be limited in the exercise they can do. There are other ways they can stay active, for example by helping with housework, playing interactive video games or gardening.

Explain that it's important for your body to have time to rest as well as being physically active. Too much physical exertion may have a negative impact on a child's physical health, which can affect children's wellbeing.

Online wellbeing

The internet and social media are integral to many children and young people's lives. They can have a positive impact on children's wellbeing by helping them connect with family and friends and express themselves in new ways.

But the online world also carries risks that may affect children and young people's safety and mental health.
> Get more information on protecting children from online abuse
Encourage children to talk about how being online makes them feel. What do they like and dislike about it? What can you do to help children feel happy and safe when they are online?

Make sure children and young people know who to talk to if they have concerns or questions.
> Take our online safety training to make sure you have the skills you need to keep children safe online > See all our resources and information about online safety > Look at our information for parents about online safety on the NSPCC website > View Childline's child-friendly information about online and mobile safety
Healthy relationships

Relationships play a key part in every child or young person's wellbeing, from friends and teachers to parents, carers and siblings.

Being able to form healthy relationships can help children feel secure and supported. But experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships can have a long-lasting negative impact.
> Find out more about our Building Connections service helping young people tackle loneliness head-on > Find out more about promoting healthy relationships > Read our information on protecting children from bullying and cyberbullying
Tools from Childline

Childline provides many online tools that children and young people may find helpful if they are feeling anxious or stressed:

Sharing tips with parents and carers

Sharing tips with parents and carers

It's important that all the adults in a child's life are able to promote that child's mental health and wellbeing. If you work closely with parents and carers, you can share tips and resources to help them do this.

Maintaining a routine

A steady routine can help provide stability in a child's life, which can give children and young people a sense of security and help reduce stress. Here are some tips you can suggest to parents and carers you work with:

plan regular weekly activities, such as seeing friends and relatives or taking part in a club or hobby

have regular mealtimes

set and stick to bed times, particularly for younger children, as sleep is important for children's mental and physical wellbeing (NHS, 2020)

establish a night time routine for younger children, such as reading a story before bed

work with older children to create a routine that works for them - including homework, seeing friends, extra-curricular activities and time offline.

Interacting with younger children

The early years of a child's life can help lay the foundations of wellbeing for their future (Falcounbridge et al, 2019). Positive interactions with adults during this time can help improve child's mental wellbeing throughout their lives.

If you work with parents and carers who have young children, encourage them to:

have individual face-to-face activity with their child, such as talking, singing and playing

follow the child's lead: focus on what they choose, and support and encourage their curiosity

maintain eye contact, as this helps build a strong relationship.

> Get more tips with our Look Say Sing Play resources > Find out more about how interacting with young children can help their brain development
Advice for parents on the NSPCC website

The NSPCC website has a range of information to help parents and carers support their child's mental health.

Some parents and carers may feel unsure about how to talk to their child about feelings and emotions. Share the following pointers to help them start a conversation with their child:

choose an appropriate time when others aren't around or where you won't be interrupted

actively listen to how your child feels

be patient and let your child talk in their own time

make it clear that you support their child.

> Share our advice for parents and carers on supporting their child's mental health > Provide parents and carers with information on how they can talk to children about sex and relationships > Send parents and carers information on what to do if their child is experiencing bullying or cyberbullying

Government guidance

Government guidance

In England, the Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on teaching about mental wellbeing in schools. The guidance has been produced as part of the statutory relationships, sex and health education curriculum (DfE, 2020).

The DfE has also published guidance for schools and colleges on the help available for developing a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing (DfE, 2021).

Public Health England has published guidance for headteachers and college principals on promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing (Public Health England, 2021).

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Education has published its Children and young people's strategy 2020 - 2030, which aims to improve the wellbeing of children and young people (Department of Education, 2020).

The Department of Education has produced a framework about promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing in education (Department of Education, 2021a).

The Department of Education has also published a report on the level of support for emotional health and wellbeing provided to children in schools. This includes recommendations for the development and implementation of a wellbeing framework (Department of Education, 2020).

The Department of Education's resource to support children who have or may have special educational needs includes a chapter on Social behaviour and emotional wellbeing (Department of Education, 2021b). This highlights that social behaviour and emotional wellbeing (SBEW) as an identified special educational need is unique because it will affect every single member of the school community at different points. It provides guidance on developing a supportive and nurturing whole school ethos.

In Scotland, Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) includes eight wellbeing indicators and lists resources professionals can use or adapt for conversations with children, young people and families (Scottish Government, 2021). The Scottish Government has also published research on factors affecting children's mental health and wellbeing, which includes recommendations for future research (Scottish Government, 2020).

In Wales, the government has published a framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing. This statutory guidance aims to address the wellbeing needs of all children and young people, including staff and volunteers. Although it is aimed at schools, the guidance may apply to other childcare settings (Welsh Government, 2021).

References

References

Department for Education (DfE) (2021) Mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Department for Education (DfE) (2020) Teaching about mental wellbeing. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Department of Education (2021a) Children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing in education framework. Bangor: Department of Education.

Department of Education (2021b) Social behaviour and emotional wellbeing. [Accessed 18/06/2021].

Department of Education (2020) Children and young people's strategy 2020-2030. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Department of Education (2020) Informing the development of an emotional health and wellbeing framework for children and young people in Northern Ireland. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Faulconbridge, J., Hunt, K and Laffan, A (ed) (2019) Improving the psychological wellbeing of children and young people: effective prevention and early intervention across health, education and social care. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Mental Health Foundation (2021) How to look after your mental health using exercise. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Mental Health Foundation and Camelot Foundation (2006) Truth hurts: report on the national inquiry into self-harm among young people (PDF). London: Mental Health Foundation.

NHS (2020) Healthy sleep tips for children. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

NHS (2019) 5 steps to mental wellbeing. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Public Health England (2021) Promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing. [Accessed 09/06/2021].

Scottish Government (2021) Getting It Right For Every (GIREC). Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

Scottish Government (2020) Factors affecting children's mental health and wellbeing: findings. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

Welsh Government (2021) Framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental well-being. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

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Promoting mental health and wellbeing | NSPCC Learning

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Get information on how you can promote mental health and wellbeing in children and young people . Includes tips to share with parents and carers you work with.

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This year, Place2Be's official Children's Mental Health Week will take place from 5-11 February 2024. Our theme is 'My Voice Matters'.

We have free resources available to download so that everyone can take part in Children's Mental Health Week. Take a look and see what's available for schools, families and how you can take part and raise vital funds for children's mental health.

Get your own digital or physical copy of our pack, which is bursting with resources to help you take part - from class activities and assembly guides, to lots of creative arts and crafts and fun photobooth props!

Get a resource pack

Our free resources for families, parents and carers can help you get involved with Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week at home.

Families

Find out more

Learn about how Children's Mental Health Week started and find out about this year's theme, 'My Voice Matters'.

Learn about the week

Download resources

Use our free resources for primary schools and secondary or high schools to take part in Children's Mental Health Week.

Schools

Take part

Find out how you can take part in the week, spread the word and raise vital funds to get us closer to reaching our goal that no child or young person has to face mental health problems alone.

Take part

Raise money

Help us reach our mission our goal that no child or young person has to face a mental health problem alone.

Fundraise for us

Add yourself to our map!

We'd love for you to add your school or organisation to our map! You can see who else is taking part in Children's Mental Health Week across the UK.

However you're planning on taking part in giving a voice to children and young people, we'd love to hear it.
Add yourself to our map

Tell me more

Sign up for Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week email alerts to be the first to hear about new updates.

How we made a difference in 2023

Schools, families and organisations across the UK (and the world!) took part in Children's Mental Health Week 2023. Whether you downloaded a resource to use in class, held an assembly, organised a fundraiser, made a donation, or tweeted about the week - your support helped Place2Be to reach more children, young people and families.

114330

raised for Place2Be

197000

downloads of our resources

516463

children and young people supporting the week

News and blogs

Keep up with the latest news and views about Children's Mental Health Week.

Children's Mental Health Week 2024: resources available now

With just over 3 months until the week, we're excited to release our free resources to help everyone get involved.

Read more

Place2Be announces theme for Children's Mental Health Week 2024

Place2Be wants all children and young people to be able to say - and believe - "My Voice Matters".

Read more

Young Voices to support Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week 2024

Young Voices has selected Place2Be as its charity partner for another year, following two successful years of partnership.

Read more

Would you like to become a supporter for Children's Mental Health Week? Get in touch to find out more.

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Place2Be's Official Children's Mental Health Week shines a spotlight on the importance of children's and young people's mental health.

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Our Mental Health Space - Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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The best mental health books for kids | TheSchoolRun

Help your child improve their wellbeing with these brilliant books about difficult feelings and positive mental health.

Looking after your Mental Health by Alice James and Louie Stowell

(£6.99, Usborne)

What makes us feel emotions? Why do some people bully others? How do I cope with exam stress? These are just a few of the questions answered in Looking after your Mental Health, a hugely helpful manual for children going through puberty and beyond. It explains the science behind why we feel what we feel, and covers important topics like body image, social media, and depression and anxiety. Written in an accessible but not patronising tone, with checklists and bullet points, it's a must-read for kids as they approach their teen years.

What's going on inside my head? by Molly Potter and Sarah Jennings

(£10.99, Featherstone)
What's Going on Inside my Head? is a good conversation-starter for talking to your child about positive mental health. It addresses many common childhood issues, such as coping with emotions, understanding what to do if someone upsets you, and being a good friend. The book is ideal for lower Key Stage 2 children, and is packed with colourful illustrations of familiar situations, such as playground disputes and arguments at home. There are step-by-step guides to coping strategies like mindfulness and meditation, and a useful parents' section at the back with lots of tips for promoting emotional literacy.

You are Awesome by Matthew Syed

(£9.99, Wren & Rook)

Resilience - the ability to overcome setbacks and persevere when things are hard - is a big watchword in educational settings. In You are Awesome, former table tennis Olympian Matthew Syed focuses on building children's confidence and sticking power, helping them believe in themselves and bounce back from mistakes. The book includes stories from Matthew's own past, developing from a sports novice to representing Great Britain, as well as those of famous 'failures' like Steve Jobs and Dwayne Johnson. With lots of examples, illustrations and bullet points, it'll help your child believe in their own abilities and develop self-esteem.

Happy, Confident Me Journal by Nadim Saad

(£18.99, The Happy Confident Company)

Journaling has been proven to help people's mental health, and the Happy Confident Me Journal is the perfect place for children aged seven to 12 to get started. It encourages your child to fill in their journal every day - it only takes five minutes - noting the emotions they've felt and experiences they've had. There's an inspirational quote every day from people ranging from Thomas Edison to Taylor Swift, and at the end of each week, there's an activity like making a rainy day list, with space to write or doodle. And for every journal bought, another is donated to a vulnerable child through schools and charities.

Find Your Girl Squad by Dr Angharad Rudkin and Ruth Fitzgerald

(£7.99, Wren & Rook)

Subtitled 'Making and keeping friends who love you for you,' Find Your Girl Squad is a must-read for pre-teen girls navigating the tricky terrain of friendships. The book interweaves self-help advice on everything from being true to yourself to tackling bullying with the story of Poppy, a young girl discovering how friendships work and how to stay true to herself. It's both readable and practical, drawing on the techniques of graphic novels, and has a useful index at the back where your daughter can look up advice on topics like embarrassment, group chats and peer pressure.

My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain and Ella Bailey

(£6.99, Hodder Children's Books)

Former Great British Bake-Off winner Nadiya has spoken openly about her struggles with panic disorder, and in My Monster and Me she addresses the issue of childhood anxiety in the form of a monster who follows a young boy everywhere he goes and gets in the way of him playing with his toys and going out with friends. It's only when the boy talks to his gran about his worries that the monster shrinks to pocket-size: not going away completely, but becoming more manageable.

You Don't Have to be Loud by Ben Brooks

(£9.99, Hachette Children's Group)
'Being shy is not a failure. And being quiet is not a weakness.' Find out why some people are shy, and why it's not such a bad thing. You'll discover that half of all adults (including many celebrities) consider themselves shy, and you'll delve into the hows and whys in this charming and wonderfully illustrated book by Ben Brooks, author of the Dare to be Different titles. His open and honest reflections about his own experiences with self doubt and social anxiety offer a relatable narrative that young people can easily access and understand. It's a positive message with a sympathetic voice that will help both adults and children understand, accept, and maybe even embrace, the complicated elements of 'shyness'.

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The best mental health books for kids | TheSchoolRun Help your child improve their wellbeing with these brilliant books about difficult feelings and positive mental health. (£6.99, Usborne) What makes us feel emotions? Why do some people bully others? How do I cope with exam stress?

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Try playing games to help to help your child understand different types of emotions.

If your child is still a baby, play 'Feelings Peekaboo'. Every time you show your face, use a different expression and say the word out loud.

If your child is a little older, explore expressions with crafts or cooking. Using paper plates to create masks or puppets, or make faces with playdough or homemade pizza.

Play 'Simon Says' to get your child to show you what they understand about different emotions. You could say, 'Simon says look worried' or 'Simon says show me how you'd feel if you won a game'.

Play 'Feelings Charades'. Act out different emotions. Or get older children to act out an event that would make them feel that emotion.

Make a playlist and talk about how music makes you feel. Songs like 'Adagio in G Minor' by Albinoni and 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' by Handel evoke strong emotions. Ask your child to tell you what emotions they think the songs are trying to convey.

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How can I support my child's emotional literacy? - Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Try playing games to help to help your child understand different types of emotions. If your child is still a baby, play 'Feelings Peekaboo'. Every time you show your face, use a different expression and say the word out loud. If your child is a little older, explore expressions with crafts or cooking.

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Cafcass - Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

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Parenting together

If you're splitting up, divorcing, or you've been separated for a while, you might find that sorting out the practicalities can feel overwhelming, especially if you have children. But helpful tools and information are available on the Cafcass website that can support you and your family.

Our section on how to co-parent can help guide you through some of the ways to reduce conflict and understand the needs of your children and how to make the best decisions for them.

We are actively working with partners in the court system to identify solutions to help reduce the increasing pressures on the family courts and to improve the experiences and outcomes for children and families. This section may support you to avoid going to court by providing tools to reduce conflict and make arrangements that both co-parents are happy with.

What to expect from Cafcass

Cafcass works with families only at the request of the court. After the court has received the application from either you or the other parent or carer, the court will usually refer the application to us. Our 'family court case' section outlines the role of Cafcass in court proceedings and what can be expected at hearings.

Cafcass works with families only at the request of the court. After the court has received the application from either you or the other parent [...]

This section helps separated families co-parent better. It provides information on how you can make arrangements for your children. We have collected resources that we [...]

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Divorce and separation - Cafcass - Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

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If you're splitting up, divorcing, or you've been separated for a while, you might find that sorting out the practicalities can feel overwhelming, especially if you have children. But helpful tools and information are available on the Cafcass website that can support you and your family.

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A child can't be forced to see the non-resident parent but if there's a court order in place, the resident parent must follow the agreed arrangements.

It's really important that you ask your child and explore what's bothering them before you think about stopping contact with a parent or another family member.

Both parents should work towards helping the child feel safe and happy in their care. A child's feelings are important but contact should be encouraged as long as it does not place them at harm.

If a young person doesn't feel their voice is being heard, they can contact an advocacy service such as NYAS, which helps young people in England and Wales express their wishes.

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Divorce and separation can be hard, but it's important that your child gets the right support. Know your rights and get advice on helping your child.

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Welcome to Hampshire SPIP

The Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) helps parents manage the challenges of parenting after separation.

We are the designated provider of the Cafcass Separated Parents Information Programme for Hampshire. Our courses are ran to cover the following areas: Aldershot, Farnham, Basingstoke, Isle of Wright, Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester.

As well as helping parents manage the challenges of life after separation, the Programme seeks to enable parents to consider situations from their child's perspective. We also provide advice and support on how to help children who are in this situation.

Most parents attending a SPIP have been referred by the court, and are funded by Cafcass.

We are also able to offer the Programme to parents not in court proceedings (who pay privately to attend). Please contact us for further information.

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Welcome to Hampshire SPIP The Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) helps parents manage the challenges of parenting after separation. We are the designated provider of the Cafcass Separated Parents Information Programme for Hampshire. Our courses are ran to cover the following areas: Aldershot, Farnham, Basingstoke, Isle of Wright, Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester.

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Skip to content

Coping with loss

Coping with family life after the loss of a partner can be incredibly difficult. Grief affects people in different ways and it's important that as well as supporting your children, you have support for you. Take time to talk with your children about your feelings as well as theirs. It's likely that you and your family will need to adjust to a number of changes that will have an impact on your daily lives.

This advice will support you to make practical and financial arrangements for your family after your bereavement. There are some things you need to think about straight away that should be made a priority. The information below will help you think about the most pressing issues. You may need advice on benefits and tax credits, childcare, or your rights at work. Gingerbread is here to help you and your family adapt to your different circumstances.

Factsheets related to bereavement

Taking time off work after a bereavement

Being with your children after the death of their other parent will probably be your top priority. Talk to your employer to see if they offer extra time off as part of your contract. This additional time off is often called 'Compassionate Leave' and may be paid. Although there is no legal right to compassionate leave, many employers do offer it. If they don't, you could ask for paid annual leave or consider taking sick leave if you are not ready to return to work.

In the longer term, you may need to think about changing your work patterns to adapt to your new circumstances. Our fact sheet on your rights in the workplace gives you information on negotiating with your employer.

Your finances

How you'll cope financially can be a huge worry after the loss of a partner, and thinking about how you'll manage on your own can be daunting. Financial support is available, so try to make sure you get all the help you can for you and your family.

Funeral costs

If paying for funeral expenses is difficult because you are on a low income, you may be eligible for a funeral payment - find out more on the Turn2us website.

Bereavement support payment

If you were married or in a civil partnership, you could be entitled to a bereavement support payment. The Turn2us website has a useful summary of bereavement support payment as well as contact details so that you can make an application. If you were bereaved before 6 th April 2017, you may be entitled to payments such as bereavement allowance, bereavement payment, or widowed parent's allowance. The Citizens Advice Bureau also has lots of online information on all bereavement benefits and can help you work out what you could claim.

You can use the Turn2us online benefits calculator to check if you are entitled to any other benefits and tax credits. If you'd like to talk about your particular circumstances with an expert adviser, call our Helpline on 0808 802 0925, which is free from landlines and mobiles.

Who you need to tell

You'll also need to let a number of government departments know about your bereavement. The government's Tell Us Once service means that you don't have to contact them all - they will do this for you. The Tell Us Once page also has lots of helpful information about what else to do when someone dies, including arranging a funeral and dealing with benefits and tax issues. You can get the details of your local Tell Us Once service from your local registrar. The service will contact Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Passport Office and your local council on your behalf.

Letting government departments know as soon as possible is really important. It can be difficult, but it will help to ensure that you're receiving as much financial support as possible.

Getting support from others

You might want to share your experiences and get support from friends or other single parents who have been through similar changes. Joining a group like a Gingerbread friendship group or chatting to other single parents on our online forums can be helpful and supportive.

Looking after your family

Every child will react differently to loss, but spending time together as a family will help you to understand what your children need. Winston's Wish is a childhood bereavement charity that helps families rebuild their lives after a loss. The charity has a helpline and email advice service for parents, as well as a dedicated website for young people.

Grief Encounter also offer support for young people following a bereavement. Our factsheet on support for children and young people gives more information on where to go for help with particular problems your children may experience.

Looking after yourself

There is support available to help you come to terms with your loss. You might feel that you don't need support outside of your family and friends - or you may want to talk to someone removed from your situation. Mind, Cruse Bereavement Care, and Widowed and Young are all organisations that can offer advice and guidance.

Cruse Bereavement Care

Leading charity for bereavement support in the UK

Cruse Bereavement Care have lots of helpful information on their website and you can also get support over the phone. They also offer face-to-face support.

Find your local Cruse service

Widowed and Young

Widowed and Young is a charity that helps people who are widowed under the age of 50. They offer peer support and organise social events, and provide guidance on how to talk to children and how to cope with challenging situations.

Visit their website

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Skip to content Coping with family life after the loss of a partner can be incredibly difficult. Grief affects people in different ways and it's important that as well as supporting your children, you have support for you. Take time to talk with your children about your feelings as well as theirs.

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Provides evidenced based parenting programmes for parents and carers who have children aged 5-17 who:
1. Have a diagnosed Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)
2. Have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
3. Are experiencing mild-moderate conduct disorder
4. Have behaviour that challenges
5. Are teenagers displaying anti-social behaviour including child to parent violence

We offer the following programmes with wrap-around support:
Cygnet (for ASC) Core programme, with additional supporting siblings and puberty, sexual health and relationships modules
The Parent Factor for ADHD
Family Links The Nurture Programme
Teen Positive Parenting Programme
Talking Teens

Parents and carers can self enrol on to a parenting programme or can be referred by a health, education or early help professional.

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Hampshire Specialist Parenting Support Service

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Provides evidenced based parenting programmes for parents and carers who have children aged 5-17 who: 1. Have a diagnosed Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) 2. Have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 3. Are experiencing mild-moderate conduct disorder 4. Have behaviour that challenges 5.

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Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

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The Frankie Service (Therapeutic Counselling To Children)

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Frankie Workers provide therapeutic counselling to children and young people, and play therapy for children who are victims of sexual abuse.

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About the service

Hampshire Healthy Families was launched in 2020 as a partnership between the Trust and Barnardos. The service is commissioned to support families, parents and carers of children aged from 0-19 years old and to deliver the Healthy Child Programme across Hampshire. This is done by providing access to Health Visitors and School Nurses as well as other services and regular courses to help support child development.

What we do

The Trust's Children and Family Services are split into specialist teams that focus on everything from vaccinations to healthy living advice. Take a look below for more information.

Health Visiting

Health visitors are all nurses or midwives who have completed additional training in public health, which includes child development. Health visitors lead the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. This national programme consists of a series of developmental reviews, screening tests, vaccinations and information to support parents. Click here to find your local health visiting service.

You can also get support and advice from a Health Visitor by texting our ChatHealth service below.

School Age Immunisations

The School-Age Immunisation Service offers vaccinations to children (aged 4-16) across all Hampshire schools and children who are home educated. The team also work closely with teachers, school nurses and other health professionals to ensure young people receive their vaccinations at the right time. Visit the School Age Immunisations website for more information.

School Nursing

The School Nursing service works in partnership with children, young people and their families to ensure that pupil's health needs are supported within their school and their community. This includes those attending a school within Hampshire and those that are home educated (except Southampton and Portsmouth city schools).

Parents and young people can also get support and advice by texting our ChatHealth service below.

Family Nurse Partnership (FNP)

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is a voluntary programme usually offered to first time young parents aged 19 or under.

We know from research that a healthy pregnancy gives babies the best possible start in life. The relationship parents have with their babies right from the start is crucial for their future health and happiness.

Our family nurses' will provide you with information and support you to make decisions which:

Increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy

Help manage labour

Improve your child's development

Build a positive relationship with your baby and others

Help you plan for the future

Enable you to make lifestyle choices that will give your child the best possible start in life

Enable you to achieve your aspirations (such as finding a job or returning to education)

Research also shows that parents who take part in this programme are more likely to achieve what they want for themselves and their children.
What's involved?
Your family nurse will visit you every one or two weeks from the start of pregnancy until your child is at least one year. Home visits usually last about an hour.

You will share different ideas at each visit with your family nurse and decide together what topics to talk about. Your family nurse will help you develop new skills and make plans for a healthy, happy future for you and your baby.
Contact the Family Nurse Partnership
Email: fnpshft@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Tel: 0300 003 0338

Child Health Information Services (CHIS)

CHIS are responsible for all child health information records for children across Hampshire. The team also help to deliver information to parents around the time their child needs to be vaccinated.

You can find out more about the age they are given and the vaccinations required on the Child Health Information Service website.

ChatHealth 0-5

ChatHealth 0-5
ChatHealth 0-5 is a text messaging service set up to support parents, carers and families of under 5's in Hampshire.

The service is run by local health visitors who have a wealth of experience of working with mums and dads-to-be, babies, toddlers and young children.

The Health Visiting Team are able to support with questions from parents, carers and families relating to a wide range of health and wellbeing issues including crying babies, infant feeding, starting baby on solid foods, sleep and behaviour problems. As well as giving advice, the team can signpost to appropriate services and other support.

How to use it: Text the dedicated number 07520 615720.

Chathealth 11-19

Chathealth 11-19
The ChatHealth text service is an easy way for young people 11-19 to confidentially ask for help with a range of issues. The service is manned by qualified school nurses who have a wealth of experience of working with young people.

ChatHealth allows young people in Hampshire to text messages to a dedicated number 07507 332160; the messages are then delivered to a secure website. Once received, the school nurse will respond to the text within one working day.

ChatHealth is available Monday to Friday from 9am-4.30pm (excluding bank holidays). Any young person who texts the service outside of these hours will receive an automated message with advice of where to get help if their question is urgent.

The School Nursing Team are able to support young people with questions relating to a wide range of health and wellbeing issues including self-harm, relationships, bullying, weight, anxiety, drugs, smoking, stress, body worries, alcohol and sexual health. As well as giving advice, the team can signpost to appropriate services and other support.

Young people are still able to request to see a School Nurse face to face in school or a community setting.

How to use the service: Text the dedicated number 07507 332160

ChatHealth for parents of children and young people in Hampshire aged 5-19.

ChatHealth offers a simple, convenient & confidential text messaging service for parents of children and young people in Hampshire aged 5-19.

The ChatHealth advisor team is made up of school nurses working within Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. These nurses all have extensive experience of working with and supporting parents of children and young people.

ChatHealth allows parents in Hampshire to text messages to a dedicated number 07507 332417; the messages are then delivered to a secure website. Once received, the school nurse will respond to the text within one working day.

ChatHealth is available 9 am - 4.30 pm on Monday to Thursday and 9 am - 4 pm on Fridays (excluding bank holidays). Any parent who texts the service outside of these hours will receive an automated message with advice of where to get help if their question is urgent.

The Team are able to can support parents with questions relating to a wide range of health and wellbeing issues including healthy lifestyles, toileting, behaviour, sleep, emotional wellbeing and health conditions. As well as giving advice, the team can signpost to appropriate services and other support.

Parents are still able to request to see a School Nurse face to face in school or receive support via a telephone call (with exception of private schools).

Children in Care

The Children in Care service works in close partnership with children, young people, their carers and local authorities to ensure that children and young people's health needs are supported whilst they remain in care and as care leavers.

If you live in care and away from home, you may want to speak confidentially to someone about your worries. The Children in Care Team can listen and help you to get further help and support.

What does the service provide?

Health assessments

Health advice and information for Children in Care

Support for children in care to attend health appointments

The team can also arranage for referals into other services such as; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Sexual health clinics, GP services and stop smoking services .

If you would like to speak to the Children in Care team, please call them on 02382 310475 or email admin-childrenincare@southernhealth.nhs.uk.

If you would like to read more about our integrated health and wellbeing service at Swanwick Lodge Children's Home in Southampton, click here.

How to find us

Children's Management Office, Tom Rudd Unit, Moorgreen Hospital, Botley Road, West End, Southampton, Hants, SO30 3JB

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Hampshire Healthy Families was launched in 2020 as a partnership between the Trust and Barnardos. The service is commissioned to support families, parents and carers of children aged from 0-19 years old and to deliver the Healthy Child Programme across Hampshire.