Getting help

If your child’s reactions to a traumatic event go on for more than a month, get worse or are having a big effect on their daily life, you should go to your GP and ask for help. You can go without the child if they do not want to come. If your child is under 18, your GP may decide your family needs to be referred to specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Your child may be offered talking therapy to help them deal with the effects of the trauma. You and other family members may be offered support to help them get over it.

If your child is over 18 they will need to ask for the help themselves. If they are not willing to do this you can still ask your GP for support for yourself, to help you cope with the situation.

Youth counselling services can also help, and young people can refer themselves to these. Most will see young people between the ages of 13-25.