“Happy Maps” is a fantastic free online resource. A charity developed by GPs and CAMHS professionals, with help from parents and young people. Happy Maps have pooled some of the best local mental health resources for parents & for young people in one place. https://www.happymaps.co.uk/
Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity for Children and Young People’s Mental Health. There is accessible support and lots of resources here for young people and their carers. https://www.youngminds.org.uk
Kooth.com is an online Mental Wellbeing Community for Young People with articles, discussion boards and a free online diary with mood tracker. https://www.kooth.com/
Young Devon are a local charitable organisation. They have put together a helpful resource package including “tips, tricks and techniques for maintaining positive mental health, during lockdown and beyond. You can download this here:
Coping With Self Harm – A thoughtful and practical guide to managing self harm in children and young people
Kidscape provide practical support, training, and advice to challenge bullying and protect young lives. https://www.kidscape.org.uk/
BEAT – The UK’s leading Eating Disorders charity. Information, Resources, Helplines and more. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
I have a clinical interest in Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome. The key to managing these conditions is having a good understanding of them in the first place. I recommend the charity Tourette’s Action. Also, Great Ormond Street Hospital have produced some fabulous information sheets for young people, families, teachers etc which can be found here: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/tourette-syndrome/tourette-syndrome-information-pack/
Medicines For Children – This is another free resource where young people and their families can find about the pros and cons of psychotropics. wwww.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/
The NHS, as you might well expect, has an online section devoted to CAMHS. There is a link through which you can find your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/nhs-voluntary-charity-services/nhs-services/children-young-people-mental-health-services-cypmhs/
Papyrus UK – A national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. Their helpline is open 9am–12am (midnight) every day of the year. https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
SLEEP is a very common difficulty for children and young people. There are lots of resources available online. The Mental Health Foundation is recommended: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-sleep-better For those with neurodevelopmental disorders / neurologic problems, Cerebra is very good. They have a guide for parents here: https://cerebra.org.uk/download/sleep-a-guide-for-parents/
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a freely available screening tool for young people and their carers to complete to help look for the presence and severity of mental illness. Available via the Youth in Mind website: https://youthinmind.info/py/yiminfo/
Connected Child Health 