Information for family members and carers

This area of the website has been developed to help parents and carers support children and young people with their mental health. You will find lots of resources and information from local and national organisations focussed on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. You'll also find support for your own mental health, if you're worried about a young person's behaviour, you're not alone.

You may also find it useful to look through the pages designed for children and young people here either on your own or with a young person.

This service offers both parent peer support groups and one-to-one sessions for parents and carers seeking help for a child who is experiencing emotional health and wellbeing difficulties. The support is available to families across the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Parents and carers can access support when their child is struggling with issues such as:

Anxiety
Low mood and depression
Self-harm
Eating disorders
Suicidal thoughts
Obsessions and compulsions

The service has been co-developed by children, young people, parents, and carers. Sessions are delivered online and face-to-face across a range of local venues regularly.

This service aims to offer a safe and positive space for families navigating the challenges of supporting a child with mental health concerns, ensuring they are never alone in their journey.

To find further information about the service, including sessions, follow the links or scan the QR codes below.

Place	Link
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre	Lancashire Mind
Central and West Lancashire	Key Charity
East Lancashire	PAC
Blackburn with Darwen	CANW
North Lancashire	SAFA
South Cumbria	SAFA

ADHD North West is a free unique parental support service that supports parents/carers of children aged between 5-18 and up to 25 for children in further education with an EHCP.

We are funded in Lancashire & South Cumbria for parents of children affected by ADHD and associated conditions.

Our service offers tailored support to families depending on their needs:

Telephone Support – We have people on hand to speak to you for any advice.
Parental online course – Our online course covers all aspects of ADHD, associated conditions, other difficulties, communication, ineffective practices, behavioural strategies, lived experiences and much more.
Advocacy in schools – Advise & strategies for schools regarding the young person in school
Attendance in meetings – Our attendance in professional or any other meetings with parents/carers.
1-1 support – Once the course has been completed, any further intense tailored 1-1 support is offered if the family requests.
Peer support – Our online Facebook peer support group is available for everyone who has completed our course.

Parents can self-refer into our service, or professionals can refer families who they feel could benefit from our service. Referral forms can be accessed from either our website on our contact us page https://reception06660.wixsite.com/adhd-north-west/contact-us or by emailing reception@adhdnorthwest.org.uk

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Someone with ARFID avoids eating certain foods, limits how much they eat, or does both.

When a person develops ARFID, they are less worried about their body weight or shape and develop the eating disorder for other reasons, which include:

a dislike of the smell, texture or taste of certain foods.
feeling anxious following a negative experience with food, for example choking or sickness.
previous fussiness with eating which develops into a more severe dislike of certain foods.
a lack of interest in food and not feeling hungry.

ARFID is more common in children with learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Signs and symptoms:

a sudden refusal to eat foods
no appetite for unknown reasons
fear of choking or vomiting
very slow eating
difficulty eating meals with family and friends
losing or no longer gaining weight
delayed or no growth

Support for ARFID

Strategies for managing a holiday away

Creating supportive mealtimes

Helping your child add new foods

Changing your eating environment

Further information/resources - ARFID Awareness UK

Local mental health services

Find resources, information, support organisations and websites to help support your mental health. The mental health services directory lists all the organisations working locally, and allows you to search for your closest service or for specific types of support, to help you get appropriate care.

Explore the mental health services directory Compass resources (Central & West Lancs)

Online sources to support you

Young Minds help for parents

Young Minds are a UK charity fighting for children and young people's mental health. There website is full of resources, information and support for children and young people as well as their parents and carers. You can visit the Young Minds website here. You may find the sections below useful.

Papyrus prevention of young suicide

PAPYRUS is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. There website has support and information for anyone worried about a young person. You can visit the Papyrus website here. You may find the sections below useful.

For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week (weekends and bank holidays included).

Supporting a child or young person with mental health needs

If you're worried about a child or need advice and support for coping with anything affecting your child's mental health or wellbeing, there are different ways to seek help.

Visit the NHS website for online sources, understanding when to seek professional help and information about children and young people's mental health services, also sometimes referred to as CAMHS.

You can find information about local CAMHS services on this page of our website.

MindEd for families

Safe and reliable advice about young people’s mental health, created by experts and parents together. Visit the MindEd for families website for lots of support and information about children and young people's mental health including diagnosis, inpatient care and the transition from child to adult services.