Abbott Community Primary SchoolParent Advice
Young people and self-harm: Information and advice for young people and their parents and carers
Levels of self-harm continues to rise amongst our young people and though a taboo subject for many, which adds to stigma and feelings of shame, we need to understand and talk about it more if we are going to find a way to support those affected, provide support at the earliest opportunity, and reduce the incidence of self-harm.
The difficulty of understanding why someone may hurt themselves and fear of making things worse can stop us engaging with this difficult issue at all.
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care has produced information resources for young people and their parents and carers which explain why people may self-harm, how to talk about it and strategies to help young people manage their emotions before they reach a crisis, while highlighting sources of help (see documents below).
Help is available and no young person should ever suffer alone.
https://hub.gmintegratedcare.org.uk/mental-health/whats-new/young-people-and-self-harm/
Online Safety
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
https://www.internetmatters.org/
Parent Support
National Network of Parent Carer Forums
MindEd - Online support and advice for children with emotional and mental health needs
Building a Positive Relationship with your Child's Class Teacher
Have a look at the advice, that can be downloaded below, on some tips for developing positive relationships with class teachers.
“Trust your child’s teacher! Teachers are highly-trained professionals, who for the most part love the job they do, despite long hours and lots of stress. Wherever you can, remain supportive and help your child at home by doing lots of reading, helping with homework and praising effort rather than attainment. Even if you had a negative experience with your teachers, that doesn’t mean your child will.”
Early Help
Sometimes, a family might need support. Manchester's 'Early Help Strategy' is a process that is available to all families. 'Early Help - A Guide for Parents and Carers' [which can be downloaded below] explains the support that school and outside services can provide.
“Early Help is intervening early and as soon as possible to tackle problems emerging for children, young people and their families or with a population most at risk of developing problems. Effective intervention may occur at any point in a child or young person's life.”
Early Help is about supporting families in helping things to get things going well again. If you feel that you may need support in any area of your family life, please do not hesitate to speak to our PSA, Ms Jackie Melling or Mrs Emma Wyatt, the SENDCo.
Further Support and Advice
Support website for single parents: Gingerbread
Manchester's new Health and Wellbeing Service: Buzz Manchester
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship. But it isn’t just physical violence – domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse.
Abusive behaviour can occur in any relationship. It can continue even after the relationship has ended. Both men and women can be abused or abusers.
Domestic abuse can seriously harm children and young people. Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their relationships. NHS
Support websites for women:
Support websites for men:
Support for children who have experienced Domestic Abuse: