Many parents will have moments where they feel like it’s difficult to cope. There are some things you can do to support yourself, and places you can go for help.
If you’re in crisis or at risk of harm, call 999 or read about support for parents with suicidal thoughts.
Understand that this is a common feeling and it’s OK for things to feel difficult. Think about your support network and who you could ask for help. If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to someone about how you’re feeling. Or see a list of services below.
Try to identify what’s making you feel like you can’t cope. Understanding this can help you find the right sort of support. Possible triggers might include:
Everyone’s situation will be different and you might experience a combination of these or something else.
Think about what you’re good at and recognise your successes. It can be tempting to dwell on what’s going wrong, so remind yourself what you have achieved. This could be putting food on the table for breakfast, giving your child a hug, or getting them to school even when it was a battle.
It can also help to:
If you need extra support, you can speak to a parenting coach about day-to-day family life on our 1:1 live chat service. Or you can get help from specialist organisations on specific issues.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you can:
If your child is under five years, you can contact your health visitor. Details are in your child’s red book or you ask your GP surgery.
If you need support with relationship issues, you can:
If you need support with money issues, you can:
If you need support with housing, you can:
If someone close to you has died, you can:
If you need support with your child’s behaviour, you can:
This advice was written by our experienced Parent Talk coaches. Parent Talk is a free online service for parents and carers, provided by the charity Action for Children. For more advice, message our parenting coaches with our online chat.
