YoungMinds Parents' Helpline
The YoungMinds Parents’ Helpline offers free confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.
*Call us free on 0808 802 5544
Monday to Friday 9.30am-4pm.
*Email parents@youngminds.org.uk
PLEASE NOTE OUR ONLINE CHAT SERVICE IS NOW CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING. We are working to reopen this service as soon as possible. Please CALL THE HELPLINE or EMAIL as usual, it is just the web chat facility that has closed.
Our helpline service (by phone and email ) is confidential. This means our discussions with people who contact us for advice are private and we will not share personal information with anyone else, without asking first.
The only exception is if we have reasonable cause to believe a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm or in danger.
what do people contact youngminds about?
Parents, carers, grandparents, anyone close to a child who is worried about their mental health. We also advise professionals including counsellors and teachers.
What do parents ask about?
Any concerns they have about their child’s emotions or behaviour, including:
There are just a few of the subjects we hear about, if you are concerned about your child, contact us or look at our Worried about your child? section..
Some parents contact us with worries about whether their children are OK, wondering if these worries are justified or if their child's behaviour is normal. Others have children with diagnosed difficulties but are struggling to get the help they need. Other parents need to know how to manage their child’s behaviour while waiting to get professional help.
What happens when you call us?
When you ring the helpline number, you’ll get through to one of our friendly trained helpline advisers. They will explore your concerns and find out what’s worrying you, and what support you have had so far. They can advise on practical steps you can take to get help and relevant local or national services. They can also post you leaflets and factsheets.
Callers who need further advice will be offered a free confidential telephone consultation from a YoungMinds child mental health specialist. Our advisers include psychotherapists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses, all are qualified in child and adolescent mental health. They can give advice on your child’s behaviour, making the best use of services, and how to move the situation on.
You will receive a call within seven working days of requesting it, at a time convenient to you. Calls last up to 50 minutes. They give parents a chance to think through the situation with an expert, and to work out the best way to resolve the problem.
what happens when you email us, or chat online ?
Sometimes it’s easier to write things down when they are really worring you. Email parents@youngminds.org.uk anytime for advice. Our friendly, trained advisers will reply within three working days (often sooner).
(If other people can read your emails and you would prefer to keep the content private, you may prefer to telephone us).
One parent's story
“I called YoungMinds about my 14-year-old son Jamie, his behaviour was really bad at home and at school and he was about to be excluded. The person who answered the phone was really friendly and put me at ease. She asked me all about Jamie and what was going on for him. She posted me some helpful leaflets and organised a phone consultation for me from a YoungMinds child mental health specialist. I had nearly an hour on the phone with her, we talked about Jamie’s behaviour and how to deal with it. She helped me think about how Jamie was feeling as his dad and I had recently split. We also talked about school. Jamie was dyslexic and finding it hard to keep up in class. She gave me lots of good advice about who to ask for help. A few weeks later, Jamie is much less angry, he is doing better at school as they are giving him extra help, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to YoungMinds for being there for us when we needed help.”
Parents' helpline service standards
YoungMinds is committed to:
- Treating all parents who contact us with respect, listening to their concerns and doing our best to help
- Answering your call within 30 seconds
- Answering 85% of calls first time
- Delivering calls from our child mental health specialists within seven working days
- Providing written information packs within five working days
- Responding to emails within three working days.