As a parent or carer, how can I help?
We’ve compiled a range of information that you and your child can explore together.
- The Coping with Common Issues page covers a variety of areas that can impact on a young person’s wellbeing and behaviour
- You can also find help on the advice for young people pages.
There’s also plenty you can do to help them. See below.
Talking and listening
Talking and keeping connected is vital when young people are struggling. Try our top tips on starting conversations.
Finding support for your child
Find out about support services in Swansea, and in Neath Port Talbot. For specific difficulties, see our Coping with Common Issues page.
Watch videos and on-demand webinars
The ‘Parenting under 11s‘ and ‘Parenting teenagers‘ pages contain numerous videos and on-demand webinars aimed at helping parents and carers to understand and support their children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Looking after yourself
When a child is unhappy or not coping, it can be hard on everyone. Try our top tips for feeling good.
Does your child need extra support?
Find out about the support available for children with special educational needs or disabilities by clicking on the link below.
Self-care
Self-care is for everyone.. Making changes to look after ourselves, or practice self-care, can have a positive impact on our mental health, and can even prevent difficulties from getting worse.
You might want to share some of the resources below with your child to help them support themselves.
Self-care & mindfulness resources
Self-care
Our ‘Getting the Support you Need’ page provides some useful self-care resources.
Mindfulness
Learn how mindfulness can support your child’s emotional wellbeing.
Local groups & helplines
tidyMinds
Visit the Coping with Common Issues page which links to numerous mental health and wellbeing topic pages that include guidance for parents and carers.
Platfform – Schools-based counselling
Platfform provide counselling services and therapeutic interventions for children and young people of school age in Swansea.
Speak to a school staff member to access support or to make a referral complete the following forms or give us a call:
- Primary school aged referral School Based Counselling for Primary School – Referral Form (jotform.com)
- Secondary school aged referral School https://form.jotform.com/242563306724354Based Counselling for Secondary School – Referral Form (jotform.com)
Tel: 07436 090 813 / 01792 763350
Platfform – Drop-in hangout
Platfform HQ, Beaufort House, Beaufort Road, Morriston, Swansea SA6 8JG
- Mondays and Wednesdays: 11 – 13 year olds
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: 14 – 17 year olds
Drop in to our welcoming space anytime between 3:30pm – 7:30pm for 121 wellbeing support or come to just hang out, get creative, game or chat.
No need to book, just turn up and stay as long as you’d like or get in touch if you’d like to chat before you come:
Tel: 07436 139075
Email: swanseahangout@platfform.org
Swansea Early Help Hubs
Working together to support children, young people and families to live happy, healthy, and safe lives by having access to the right help, at the right time if and when they need it.
To get in touch, contact:
Tel: 01792 635400
Email: eipinbox@swansea.gov.uk
Family Mediation – Llamau Neath Port Talbot
Experiencing difficulties in your relationship with your child at home? Call Family Mediation.
Tel: 01639 685219
Coram Family Lives
Coram Family Lives offers free, confidential support for parents and carers on the issues families face every day. Non-judgemental emotional support, information, advice and guidance are available through their:
- Confidential helpline 0808 800 2222 (Mon – Fri 9am to 9pm, weekends 10am to 3pm)
- WhatsApp chat (same hours as above)
- Live chat
- Email support
- Free online and on-demand parenting courses and videos
- Parenting forum
YoungMinds – Parents help options
Emotional support, advice and guidance for parents and carers concerned about their child or young person’s mental health is available via YoungMinds, the national mental health charity for children and young people. Support is available via YoungMinds’:
- Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (9:30am – 4:00pm Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 9:30am – 6:00pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
- Online chat
- Email: parents@youngminds.org.uk
PEGS
PEGS offers safe, understanding and practical support for parents, carers and guardians who are facing harmful, abusive or controlling behaviour from their child.
Support is tailored to individual support needs, but can include:
- 1:1 support
- Online peer support group
- Practitioner-led sessions
- Supportive workshops
- Online practical support session
Click on the link below to find out more or self-refer.
Action for Children
Every parent needs a little support from time to time. From bonding with your baby to potty training, behaviour and mental health or housing-related issues for young parents – we’re here to help you navigate the everyday.
Visit Parent Talk our free webchat/WhatsApp service, or find other ways we can support you by visiting the link below.
Parenting: Give it Time
Welsh Government website providing free practical guidance and support from experts in Wales.
Useful resources
Black dog named Depression
A story about overcoming the ‘black dog of depression’.
BBC Teach – An Exploration of Mental Health Issues
A collection of short animated films that use powerful personal testimony to explore mental health issues from the perspective of young people.
Suitable for 7+
BBC Teach – My Troubled Mind – Stories about teenage mental health
A series of powerful animated short films exploring through personal testimony the experiences of teenagers dealing with mental health issues including eating disorders, anxiety, addiction and depression.
Suitable for 11+
Parenting under 11s
Click below to find out about local support services, helplines, courses and free on-demand videos and webinars.