THE SUN'S AGONY AUNT BACKS ONLINE SUPPORT FORUM FOR PARENTS

View PDF | Print View
by: Guest Total views: 4919 Word Count: 480   

The Sun's Agony Aunt Deidre Sanders is backing an online forum for parents of young people with emotional problems, launched today.

YoungMinds' Parents Helpline Forum will give parents and carers of young people with emotional problems a place to go for support online and share their experiences with others facing similar situations.

The charity said that having a child who is self-harming, depressed or won't get out of bed or go to school can be highly stressful and upsetting.

Parents and carers of young people with emotional problems often have nowhere to turn for support if their child is acting up or being withdrawn, and are left powerless and feeling they are to blame, YoungMinds added.

Deidre said: "If a child is depressed, hearing voices or self harming, it's a terribly worrying time for parents and so hard to know what is the right thing to do.

"Parents often feel they are to blame for their child's emotional problems and don't know where to go for help.

"With one in 10 young people diagnosed with serious mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, it's really important that their parents don't feel alone and know informed help is available.

"YoungMinds parents helpline provides invaluable support for them, and their new parents' forum will allow parents to share their experiences, offer each other support and help break the isolation they are experiencing."

Actor Bruce Byron, who plays DC Terry Perkins in ITV's The Bill, who is also supporting the forum, has made a short film about his experience of being a dad to celebrate its launch. The film can be viewed on the charity's website.

Tanya, the mother of 16-year-old Rhiannon, who has depression, said: "You feel so guilty, like you have failed as a parent, but there is no one to talk to, no help out there for you as their parent.

"Often when she disappears or won't get out of bed I just don't what to do. I am walking on egg shells and don't know whether to shout at her or leave her alone.

"Talking to YoungMinds - their helpline and other parents - has been such a relief. I hope this new forum will allow many more parents to access this support."

Sarah Brennan, YoungMinds chief executive, said: "Mums and dads often tell us that they wish they had a space where they could talk to other people in the same situation, and at last we are able to provide this vital facility not just via our telephone helpline but online too."

YoungMinds is a children's mental health charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of children and young people by ensuring mental health is placed firmly on the public and political agenda. For further information or to join the Parents Helpline Forum, visit www.youngminds.org.uk.

end

Top of page

Additional information:

Staffordshire- Mental - Health - Helpline
Mental Health Matters Helpline
Ottawa County - Community Mental Health - Help Line - Holland
Rethink - Asian Mental Health Helpline
Funny Stuff - Solutions - Mental Health Helpline
Mental Health Helpline - Health & Wellness - Blue Shield of California
Mental Health Helpline . (Humour ). - It's Me.
Irish Mental Health Helpline Video by Shrek - MySpace Video
Psych Central - Suicide Helpline
National helplines

Related "Health":

• Multiple Orgasms - Ogoplex Male Orgasm Intensifier
  You've probably wished you could have multiple org ...
• Meaningful work can help people with mental illness
  Don t you miss it? After leaving my job at The ...
• How to Increase Your Sperm Production through Volume Pills
  Volume Pills is one such product. This is an all n ...
• ProSolution Gel is a Safe and Better Alternative to Other Forms of Male Sexual Enhancers
  First off, it's fast-acting. Unlike herbal supplem ...
• Fast Acting Penis Enlargement - Cures to Work Fast and Easy!
  Penis enlargement products could also give other b ...

Comments

Add Comment