It is important, and often difficult to look after your own wellbeing when you are caring for someone else. The following links offer some practical advice and support for you as parents and carers:

Calm connections offer help and support to you as a parent/carer and to the whole family. Support includes online and face-to-face support groups, workshops and mindfulness sessions. www.calmconnections.org 

MIND - offers a self-care hub where you can access lots of tips and resources to support your own wellbeing.

ANNA FREUD - The following advice about the importance of self-care has been created with the Anna Freud Centre’s Parent Champions.

For information on specific strategies which you could try, either on your own or as a family, please view the self-care resource for On My Mind.

Some of the tips mentioned here might be helpful for you to try to look after your own wellbeing when things are difficult.

 selfcarepc-final.pdf (annafreud.org)

Closed support groups

There are many online support groups where you can ask questions and seek support from other parents/carers. These can be helpful and make you feel less alone in your situation. However, remember that everyone’s situation and experiences are unique to them, and you should not take ‘advice’ from anyone other than your clinical team.

The following groups are on Facebook, are carefully monitored and posts are confidential within the group:

• CAMHS and Mental Health Services Support Group for Parents - CAMHS and Mental Health Services Support Group For Parents | Facebook
• Eating Disorders Parent/Carer Support (UK) - Eating Disorders Parent/Carer Support (UK) | Facebook
• Calm Connections Family Support - Calm Connections Family Support | Facebook

Feeling worried or in crisis?

If you feel you need more urgent or specific support, the following organisations may be helpful:

• Samaritans - To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
• SANEline - If you're experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day)
• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service.
• Shout - If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK - Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).

For information on local helplines use Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

MIND also have a helpline and webchat Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child | YoungMinds

Young Minds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/ (Offering tailored information, advice and support to parents and carers who are concerned about their child or young person’s mental health - either over the phone, or chat online).

Newbold Hope Home - Newbold Hope offer support to families who are worried about a child's difficult or dangerous behaviour.

Films on various MH/neurodivergence for carers: https://nipinthebud.org/films-for-parents-carers/

Parenting Mental Health:

https://www.parentingmentalhealth.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingmentalhealth/

Young people and children will need support when their sibling is unwell or in hospital. These resources offer some ideas in how you can support them as a parent/carer.

Eating disorders:

New Maudsley Carers Worksheet for siblings

New Maudsley SUCCEED Sister Conversation Change

Find your local young carers service here:

Find Your Local Young Carer Service | The Children's Society (childrenssociety.org.uk)

For support for siblings, please see the Sibs website:

YoungSibs - Sibs