Parents / Carers
Over the last decade the Government has tried to build a system of support so that parents and carers can find help when they need it to raise their children to be happy, healthy, ready to learn, able to make a positive contribution to society and to achieve economical and emotional wellbeing. Because a child’s wellbeing is closely bound to their parents’ wellbeing, it is important to address the mental health and wellbeing of the adults themselves and the relationships they have with each other as a couple, as well as the differing needs of mothers and fathers, and how this can impact negatively on their children.
This section of our website aims to provide our parents with links to a variety of free advice and support about all aspects of family life- including topics about being a parent and family relationships.
Durham County Council’s Help for Families
Click this link for further information
Derwentside Mind 
A local charity which was set up in 1984 by a local pharmacist and psychiatric nurse. Together with other local people who themselves had experienced emotional stress, they decided to form a local Mind Pressure Group. They offer counselling and a listening ear programme, self help groups for woman and young people suffering from anxiety. Social Access Groups in Consett and Stanley provide a safe and supportive environment where people can refer themselves into the service. (Click on the logo for more info).
Public Health England 
Research carried out by Public Health England on ‘How healthy behaviour supports children’s wellbeing’, indicates that making time to spend together as a family, eating meals together, ensuring children are physically active, rationing children’s screen time and ensuring children eat a healthy breakfast, may all have the potential to improve children’s wellbeing. Read the findings by clicking here.
The Family Health Service team
The 0-25 Family Health Service team will include Family Health Visitors, Family Health Specialist Public Health Nurses, Emotional Resilience Nurses and support staff.
The team will support key transition points in children and young peoples’ lives. This includes starting school and moving into further education and adulthood. In addition, they will work closely with nurseries, schools and colleges to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people. They will continue to be responsible for measuring and weighing children as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.
They have formalised their service offer for young people with a special educational need (SEND) and/or disability and those who are Care Leavers up to the age of 25. This offer includes support for low-level emotional health issues, and support to access adult services.
Every school and GP practice will continue to have a linked Specialist Public Health Nurse to ensure communication and referrals into the service are easy and accessible. Further information can be found by contacting the Single Point of Contact on 03000 263 538.
There are 5 steps you can take to improve your emotional wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life.
Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. Learn more in Connect for emotional wellbeing.
Be active – you don’t have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Learn more in Get active for emotional wellbeing.
Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? Find out more in Learn for emotional wellbeing.
Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Learn more in Give for emotional wellbeing.
Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Learn more in Mindfulness for emotional wellbeing.