Parents and carers

Children and young people can find it hard to talk about how they’re feeling and the difficulties they’re having.

This might be because they don’t want to cause worry or upset, or they feel it could cause trouble. They may feel embarrassed or believe that telling someone might only cause them more pain. For some, it may simply be that they don’t know how to put into words what it is that they’re feeling.

Signs your child may need help

There are often signs that a child may be having a difficult time with their mental health. For example you might notice your child is:

• Falling behind at school or college, or refusing to go
• Being more aggressive, disruptive or challenging in their behaviour.

Or they may be displaying more inward behaviour, such as being:

• Quieter, less communicative
• More anxious
• Depressed
• Less social, not mixing with friends
• Withdrawn, perhaps not eating.

How to get help

If you’re worried about your child, a good first step is to talk to a professional who knows them well. This might be a teacher, social worker or GP. They’ll be able to tell you about possible courses of action, and will often be able to refer your child direct to CAMHS should that prove necessary.

In many cases, referral to CAMHS will not be necessary and the professional will be able to offer advice or treatment, or tell you about other services that may be able to help you.