Parent and carer advice to help children with mental health

Healing from a heartbreak is a natural process that takes time and will be different for each person.

Teaching your child what consent means from a young age will help them to understand healthy relationships as a teenager.

Often boys and young men find it hard to express their anxieties in words.

Children or teenagers may struggle to share what’s going on in their life. Let them know they can share anything.

If your child is exploring their gender identity, you might have questions about what it means and how to support them.

Gender equality can sometimes feel like a complicated issue. Look for moments to talk to your child about equality.

There are things you can do to help your child develop self-esteem, confidence and independence.

Your child will go through lots of changes as a teenager. Embrace the change and support them as they grow.

Children don’t always find it easy to understand or express their emotions. You can help them cope with new situations.

When your child feels listened to, they know that you are making a genuine effort to understand them.

It’s natural to feel worried, scared or anxious sometimes. Help your child to talk about their mental health.

Talking to your teen about relationships and consent will help them understand how to take care of themselves and others.

Sometimes children feel worried by stories they hear about in the news. You can help to reassure your child.

It’s natural for your child to experience loneliness or sad emotions. Talk to your child and be there for them.

Discussing serious subjects with your child won’t always feel easy. There are things you can do to help communication and understanding.

It can take some time for your child to learn how to deal with their emotions.

Friendships are an important part of children’s lives. They’re crucial for mental, physical and emotional health.

Teach your child to cope and learn from their experiences, to be curious and brave, and trust their instincts.

You can help your child or teen to love themselves and their body.

Coping with the death of a loved one is hard. You may feel unsure how to support your child through grief.

You can show your child how to manage feelings of stress in a healthy way.

If you think your child has low self-esteem, you can support them to feel more positive.

Talking about feelings