I need help now
Do you need to speak to someone about your emotional wellbeing?
No matter what their age, children and young people can need emotional support, for many reasons.
If you’re a parent or carer, we have resources which might help.
We also have a A-Z of resources for young people here.
This page remains under development. If you have any ideas or resources you want to share, we’d love to hear from you.
Parents, carers and emotional wellbeing
While we offer services for children and young people under 18 years old, we recognise that the adults in their lives may also be experiencing their own challenges with their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
If you think this might apply to you, we recommend the following:
- check out our resources below
- look at Dewis Cymru to find local resources in your area that could help
- contact your GP to talk about how you are feeling and how it is affecting your life
Services and helplines
Action for Children
Action for Children run a one to one webchat for parents and carers to speak to a qualified parenting coach.
It can be accessed Monday to Friday via webchat and email – check the website for further details.
Family Lives
A service for parents/carers of children with emotional wellbeing and/or mental health issues, aged 0-18, living in either Cardiff or the Vale of Glamorgan. Offers a peer support service for parents and carers whose children are experiencing emotional wellbeing and/or mental health issues.
This flyer has more information about the support available: Family Lives Flyer
Family Lives has a free confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222 or email on askus@familylives.org.uk
Gingerbread Wales
Gingerbread offer free services for single parents, including a helpline, information pages, online forum and friendship groups.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 802 0925 – check their website for opening hours.
Kidscape
Kidscape offer a helpline and email service for parents, carers and other adults who have concerns about a child or young person being bullied.
You can contact their helpline on 02078 235 430 between 9:30 am – 2:30 pm Monday and Tuesday, leave a message or email on parentsupport@kidscape.org.uk
SNAP Cymru
Information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have or may have special education needs or disabilities. Includes a helpline, casework, discrimination advice, independent advocacy and disagreement resolution services.
The information and advice line is available Monday – Friday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm on 0808 801 608.
Young Minds Parent Helpline
Contact Young Minds for information, advice and emotional support about the mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.
You can call for free on 0808 802 5544 or use the webchat option between 9:30 am – 4 pm Monday to Friday.
PAPYRUS
Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life?
For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINEUK. They are are open 9am–12am (midnight) every day of the year, contact them on 0800 068 4141 or pat@papyrus-uk.org
Apps and online resources
We also have some resources provided below as a starting point if you’d rather have a browse. You can Contact us if you have additional resources to share or if there are topics you’d like to hear more about.
These resources, apps and helplines are not part of the services provided by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (unless otherwise stated).
- We are not responsible for the external content mentioned on this site.
- Always read an app’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy to see how your data may be used.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human response to stressful situations and a very normal feeling.
However, it can be scary to feel anxious if we don’t know why we are feeling that way or it is lasting a long time.
Guides for anxiety, including one for parents and carers.
Drugs and alcohol
Using drugs and alcohol can have an impact on a child or young person’s mental health.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders can be very complex. They are not just about food but are often a way of coping or feeling in control.
They can have an impact on a person’s physical health, so it is important to get advice and support quickly.
The UK’s eating disorder charity, provides information and helplines.
Parents and carers should contact the Adults Helpline on 0808 801 0677, webchat or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
All Beat helplines are open 9 am – 8 pm during the week, and 4 pm – 8 pm on weekends and bank holidays.
App for young people and their parents and carers.
Includes a screening tool, self-help strategies and tips for how to present concerns to medical professionals.
A free video-based peer support group hosted over Zoom for anyone who supports a person with an eating disorder.
Topics include meal plans, setting boundaries and understanding why change is difficult. You will be asked to commit to 8 sessions over 6 weeks.
Go to the website for more information.
Education
Resources and advice that may be helpful if you have a child or young person attending school.
Advice to support children and young people as they return to school.
Information on bullying for parents and carers, including how to stay safe online and when playing video games.
Advice on supporting children and young people at primary and secondary school, as well as resources for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Advice for parents and carers for when their child is starting secondary or high school
A checklist of practical activities and grounding exercises that parents/carers can use to support their child during the Year 6-7 transition.
Emotional wellbeing
There are lots of resources out there where you can learn more about emotional wellbeing.
Advice on how to help your child or young person, life events that may be affecting their wellbeing and where to get help.
Information and resources for parents and carers of autistic children.
Bridge the Gap offer free resources for parents and carers to support a child’s wellbeing.
They also offer a free course providing information on how to keep a child safe in a crisis. This can be done in your own time by watching a series of videos.
A search engine to find local resources in your area about a variety of topics, including emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Top tips to support children and young people.
The Mental Health Foundation have developed this resource for parents and carers to help them to teach their children to understand, protect and sustain their mental health.
Advice and information to help you understand how problems occur, how you can best support your family and how to look after yourself, written by specialists and parents working together.
Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services do not diagnose children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders – this falls under the remit of the Neurodevelopmental Service.
Tips for looking after your child while also looking after yourself.
Learn more about mental health and the stigma that still surrounds this topic.
Feeling low
Advice on what you can do and where you can find support if your child is feeling low.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about choosing to pay attention to what is happening in the moment. It is a chance for someone to take a break from their worries and help them feel more in control of their emotions.
Starting conversations
Sometimes it can be hard to start a conversation about topics that affect you and your family. Check out these resources for tips.
Activities, conversation starters and what do to next to support your child or young person.
How to start the conversations about ‘difficult’ subjects that you need to have if you want to keep your children safe.
Young carers
A young carer is someone aged under 18 who looks after a family member who is ill, disabled, has mental health challenges or is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Find out more on our young carers page.
Young Carers in Cardiff can contact the dedicated Young Carers co-ordinator directly
To contact the Young Carers co-ordinator:
- Office number 02920872046
- Mobile – 07772 439767
Or call the Cardiff Family Gateway on 03000 133 133
The young carers project in the Vale of Glamorgan is run by YMCA Cardiff and is currently supporting almost 100 young carers across the County. This project is funded by Vale of Glamorgan Council.
The Young Carers Youth Club at the YMCA Hub, Court Road, Barry, CF63 4EE, is open is open every Thursday & Friday evening during term time.
This club is only for young people who have been accepted onto the Project.
Please contact the Families First Advice Line to make a referral:
- 0800 0327 322
- familiesfirstadviceline@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Join the Dots is a young people’s mental health involvement group that has been set up to provide support and resources in Cardiff Vale to:
- young mental health service users between the ages of 11 and 25;
- and/or young carers between the ages of 11 and 25.