Your child's health and wellbeing
Living a healthy lifestyle is important for people of every age.
If you need information or have concerns about your child/young person's health or wellbeing, check the sections below to find services that offer support.
Physical health and wellbeing
Physical activity has been shown to boost self-esteem, mood, improve sleep quality and increase energy, while reducing the risk of stress and depression.
There are:
- sports and leisure facilities in Slough that children and young people can access
- clubs that offer specialist activities for all ages of children such as football, martial arts or athletics clubs, arts & music groups
- many outdoor open spaces including local parks and play spaces with new and exciting equipment to play on. These provide a wealth of free activities.
Find:
Mental health and wellbeing
We all struggle with how we feel.
Problems with friends, family or school can make your child anxious, depressed, angry or scared. They may feel better if they talk to someone, but may find it difficult to talk to people they know.
If your child or young person is between 11 to 18 years old and up to 25 if they have special educational needs:
- kooth offers online counselling and emotional well-being support
- Number 22 will listen to your child's problems and worries and support them to make decisions to bring about positive changes in their life
- Childline offers information and advice on bullying, abuse, safety and the law, feelings, friends, relationships and sex, home and family, school, college and work
- The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families provides therapy services.
The following services can also help and support your young person.
- The Mix offers free, confidential support via online, social and mobile.
- Check Talking Therapies if your young person is aged 17+ and has low mood, anxiety or stress.
- Samaritans helpline - 116 123 provides 24/7 emotional support.
- Shout offers 24/7 text support.
- Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention gives confidential advice for young people at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them.
- Beat offers a non-judgemental space to share feelings and thoughts around eating disorders.
- CAMHS support children and young people whose difficulties are very distressing and who are registered with a GP in East Berkshire.
- Charlie Waller Trust offer information, resources and training to parents and carers of children with mental health issues.
Every Mind Matters has been created by Public Health England, with tips and advice for looking after a child or young person’s mental health and also self care for parent/carers.
Place2Be: parenting smart offers offers practical advice to support your child's wellbeing and behaviour.
If you are a parent of a young person who has been supported by:
- Berkshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Rapid Response Team (RRT) after your young person came to hospital with either a form of self-harm (an overdose, cutting, use of ligature) or high levels of mental distress or
- one of the duty clinicians at your local CAMHS team
check Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) letter on:
- things your young person can do to reduce stress
- what you can do to enhance safety
- guidance to manage escalating/agressive behaviour
- urgent support available
- resources to help your young person.