Supporting your child or teen’s emotional wellbeing

Some young people struggle with their feelings and find this impacts on their day-to-day activities – they might seem low, or have trouble eating, sleeping or concentrating at school. For some children and young people it can be difficult to manage and understand their feelings. Young people might experience a wide variety of difficulties including low mood, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating or might be avoiding school.

The School Health Team may support you and your child directly or refer you to another provider if appropriate.

Our team works closely with the Kent Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service.

You can also contact the Kent School Health Service - we really want to hear from you if you feel you need more support for you and your child and can offer one-to-one support if needed for healthy weight, emotional health, toileting, parenting and behaviour.

We also offer the following services:

ChatHealth

ChatHealth is a text service for 11-19 year-olds. Young people can text with a member of our team about any physical or emotional health concerns they have. This service is available Monday to Friday, 9am on 07520 618850.

This service is confidential and anonymous.

Supporting a child at home

These online courses support emotional wellbeing for grown-ups and children. With resources on brain development, emotional health and parenting, Togetherness can help you build healthier relationships and happier lives.

Created by NHS clinical psychologists, alongside practitioners and parents, these online courses will help you and your family better understand and manage your emotional health in daily life.

Families can register for a free account with the access code ‘Invicta’ and complete at your own pace.

• Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby - for anyone who is expecting a baby including friends and family. There is a course for female same-sex couples too.
• Understanding your baby - for anyone caring for a baby from birth to six-months-old. There are courses for parents caring for a preterm or sick baby in hospital.
• Understanding your child from toddler to teenager  - for anyone caring for a child from six months to 19 years plus.
• Understanding your child with additional needs.
• Understanding your child's feelings (a taster course)
• Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing.
• Understanding your teenager's brain - for anyone caring for a teenager in Kent and one for teenagers themselves.
• Understanding your relationships

If these courses raise any concerns please contact your local Health Visiting Team or School Health Team for more support. We really want to hear from you if you need our help or are feeling worried about anything.

• The Kent Resilience Hub is aimed at parents of children aged between 10 and 16. It has a range of helpful articles, tools and resources for parents and carers, so that you can increase understanding and find tools and approaches to help build your child’s resilience.
• Good Mental Health Matters is another site that provides great resources to help parents support their whole families emotional health.

You can find all the plans to transform services for children, young people and young adults’ emotional wellbeing and mental health at the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Service website.

Useful resources for children and young people

• Health for Teens provides health information and advice directly to young people.
• Kooth is a free online mental health and wellbeing service for young people aged 10 to 25. It’s a place to get advice, information and support 24/7. Watch their video to understand how Kooth can support your child with their mental health and wellbeing.
• Access org.uk to learn about mental health and find tips and resources to keep emotionally healthy.
• Good Health Matters is a great website which can help support a child or young person to make small changes to support their mental health.
• Child Line has help and advice about a wide range of issues and you can talk to a counsellor online or phone 0800 1111. Childline is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
• Samaritans provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts. Available 24 hours a day at jo@samaritans.org / 116 123.
• Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Services for under 18s 24-hour phoneline for Kent: 0800 011 3474 / Medway: 0300 300 1981
• ChatHealth is a text service for 11-19 year-olds. Young people can text with a member of our team about any physical or emotional health concerns they have. This service is available Monday to Friday, 9am on 07520 618850. This service is confidential and anonymous.
• SHOUT - If you are anxious, worried or stressed you can text SHOUT to 85258 for free 24/7 support from trained volunteers. Messages are confidential and anonymous.
• Live Well Kent is a free service for anyone over 17, with information to help you improve your mental and physical health and wellbeing.
• Young Minds has a crisis messenger, for free 24/7 support if you are experiencing a mental health crisis – text YM to 85258. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
• Stem 4 is a mental health charity for children and young people. They have five evidence-based mental health apps that support various mental health conditions.
• The Mix Counselling Service is suitable for you if you are looking for short-term help with your mental health and emotional wellbeing and are aged 25 years old and under.
• There is a new online hub for neurodivergent people of all ages in Kent and Medway to find support for learning disabilities, autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). You’ll find information and links to local and national support for children, young people and adults living in Kent and Medway.
• Understanding your teenager's brain is a free online course for anyone caring for a teenager in Kent and there is also a course for teenagers themselves.

Useful resources for parents and carers

• Young Minds offers excellent advice and resources. They also have a parent helpline with expert advice and a crisis messenger for free 24/7 support across the UK. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, call 0808 802 5544 or text YM to 85258. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, supported by experienced clinical supervisors.
• Understanding your teenager's brain is a free online course for anyone caring for a teenager in Kent and there is also a course for teenagers themselves.
• Understanding your child's mental health and wellbeing
• Understanding the impact of the pandemic on your teenager helps you understand how the COVID pandemic may have affected your teenager emotionally. It may take you about 20 minutes to complete.
• Understanding your relationships: A course for adults, young people, and older adults covering communication, anger, conflict, repair and more.
• Action for Children has advice and activities to support children and parents with their mental health and emotional well-being. They have a live chat service for parents from experienced parenting coaches.
• There is a new online hub for neurodivergent people of all ages in Kent and Medway to find support for learning disabilities, autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). You’ll find information and links to local and national support for children, young people and adults living in Kent and Medway.
• BEAT is the UK’s eating disorder charity and their mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders.
• Family Lives provides early intervention and crisis support to families.
• Samaritans- provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts. Available 24 hours a day at jo@samaritans.org / 116 123.
• Mental Health Matters – phone 0800 107 0160 for 24hr phone support from compassionate helpline staff, trained in counselling skills.