If your child/young person is not in immediate danger you can:
Most children and young people will experience challenging times in their lives. For example, feeling left out by friends, sitting exams, moving school. It is normal and understandable to feel a range of emotions during these times. It can be hard to see your child upset. However, experiencing strong emotions does not necessarily mean they need professional help. With extra care and support from trusted adults in their lives, most difficulties will settle over time. There are some suggestions about how to support your child/young person during difficult times on our Emotional Development page.
However, there are times that difficult emotions continue and start to interfere with a child or young person’s day to day life. They can lead to children and young people feeling and behaving in ways that are concerning. At these times there are services that can help.
There are many helpful services that support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. These are often available through schools, local councils, third sector organisations, or online. Most children and young people with mental health difficulties will get the help they need from these services. A smaller number of children and young people may need support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Your child’s health visitor, nursery, school, or GP can guide you to what is available in your area and make any referrals required. There are also links to local supports below:
Children and young people (up to 18 years) with a moderate or severe mental health problem can be referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). You can find more information about CAMHS in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on our CAMHS page.
Any professional working with your child can make a referral to CAMHS, like their GP, nursery, school, school nurse or health visitor.
If you need urgent support you can contact:
Childline is a mental health charity for children and young people. You can get support by emailing, calling or chatting in a safe online space by logging in. You can also chat to a counsellor with British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter if you need to. They have a free telephone helpline, call 0800 1111.
NHS 24 for urgent mental health support and advice. Call 111, all calls are free of charge and you can call at any time, day or night.
Shout provides free, 24/7 mental health crisis support across the UK. If you need urgent help text 'Shout' to 85258.
The Hopeline247 (Call: 0800 068 4141 / Text: 88247 / E-mail: pat@papyrus-uk.org) is for children and young people experiencing thoughts of suicide, or for anyone concerned for a young person. It is run by Papyrus, a mental health charity dedicated to preventing young suicide.
Please always call 999 if your life (or a child/young person's life) is at imminent risk.
There are other digital mental health supports and helplines below that might be helpful:
Aye Feel is a Young Scot campaign providing mental health and emotional wellbeing support for young people.
Aye Mind is a website for professionals, however, it has a list of digital mental health supports that you can access and explore.
My App: My Mental Health Children and Young People section is a source of support designed for young people. Parents/carers may like to show their child or young person this dedicated app, which has been developed for young people in NHSGGC.
Young Minds provides a range of mental health help and advice for young people.
We are one of the leading paediatric care centres in the UK, and the largest in Scotland. We provide family centred care to newborns, infants, children and young people both in hospital and in the community.
https://www.glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org/
KIDS for Families
