Parents, carers and families

Good Mental Health Matters      

Good Mental Health Matters is a free, NHS-initiated resource that empowers young people by encouraging them to take personal responsibility for their own wellbeing. It offers information for parents, including taking you through five positive steps for good mental health for your family.

 
Every Mind Matters                   

Every Mind Matters has a range of dedicated support and resources to help parents look after the mental wellbeing of their children and for young people to care for their own mental health.
 

Action for Children  

Action for Children offers advice and activities to support children and parents with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

MindEd for Families                    

MindEd for Families is a website full of advice about young people’s mental health, which was created by experts and parents together.

NELFT provides all age eating disorder services and child and adolescent (up to age 18) mental health services for people living in Kent and Medway. You can find out more about these services on the NELFT website. 

The services have different names depending on where you live but both provide mental health advice and support for young people up to 18-years-old and their families, whether you live in Kent or Medway. 

If you live in Kent, it’s the Kent Children and Young People's Mental Health Service.

If you live in Medway, it’s the Medway Young Persons Wellbeing Service.

(Why is it called NELFT? NELFT stands for the North East London NHS Foundation Trust. As well as providing children and young people’s services in Kent and Medway, the trust also provides integrated adult community and mental health services for parts of both London and Essex, hence its name.) 

Children and Young People’s Counselling Service        

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) offers a Children and Young People’s Counselling Service for children aged four to 19 struggling with their emotional health. Although it’s located on the school health section of KCHFT's website, children and young people do not have to be in school to access the service. If you want to find out more there are ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQS) available.

Kent Resilience Hub                      

Kent Resilience Hub provides information, guidance and resources for parents to support their own and their child’s emotional wellbeing and resilience.

MoodSpark                                   

MoodSpark can support young people to better understand and support their own emotional wellbeing and resilience.

Mind and Body programme         

Mind and Body programme is delivered to young people aged 13 to 17-years-old in school and the community to explore and better manage thoughts and behaviours associated with self-harm. Mind and Body also offers support for parents and carers of young people receiving support.

CHUMS specialist bereavement support      

CHUMS offer specialist bereavement support to children and young people aged from three and a half up until their 26th birthday in Kent and Medway.

This specialist bereavement service is provided by a wide range of experienced, trained professionals and volunteers. Support can be tailored to provide evidence-based interventions to children and young people through one-to-one, group and drop-in sessions.

Bump, Birth and Beyond      

If you are having or have a new baby and feel you need support with your mental health and wellbeing, you can find out more about ‘perinatal’ mental health services via the Kent and Medway Local Maternity System’s website Bump, Birth and Beyond.        

If you, or a member of your family, are under the age of 25 and have special educational needs and disabilities, support is available through the Local Offer in Kent or Medway, depending on where you live.