Children, Emotional and Psychological – Mental Health & Wellbeing
Children, Emotional and Psychological – Mental Health & Wellbeing
Last Updated: October 2024
All children and young people experience a range of emotional ups-and-downs as they navigate our complex world. Disabled children can face additional stresses and challenges. They may become anxious, frustrated or angry about the additional barriers they face:
- They may question ‘why me?’
- Hospital appointments and stays may interfere with their opportunities to make friends at school and / or to do the things they want to.
- They may experience physical barriers to access – for example to a friend’s house or social get together.
- Dealing with pain, struggling to do things independently, and feeling ‘different’ may affect their emotional and psychological well-being throughout childhood and into adulthood.
It can be hard for you to hear these things from your child. But your willingness and the willingness of other family members to listen and support them often makes a positive difference. Sometimes, though, even the best family support may not be enough. A child may not want to express their feelings and frustrations to their family.
If you do feel concerned about your child’s emotional well-being, you might want to ask advice from someone who knows them and what support might be possible. This might be a member of your child’s neuromuscular clinical team. Your child’s teacher, community nurse or GP are also people who can advise you what local individual or group support might be available.
Some of the following avenues of support may also be helpful:
You may find it helpful to ask other parents for their tips and ideas about what has helped their children. You can contact other families by joining our
Ross, a young adult who has SMA, says: We’re all human, we all have
bad days – sometimes all you need is a little shove in the right direction." He gives his five top tips to help improve a low mood – read his Community Voice here: “Life’s too short”.
You can also listen to Becca and Ross (who have SMA), talking to Ellie (an Integrative Art Psychotherapist), about: Mental Health and living with a long term condition (in two parts) from our Living with SMA podcast:
Part one:
Recorded: June 2023
Part two:
Recorded July 2023
Getting involved with organisations that welcome and include disabled children can help increase your child’s confidence and self-esteem.
You can find suggestions in: Hobbies, Clubs and Sports >
Your child may find it helpful to talk confidentially with a psychologist or counsellor. If you are not sure what counselling involves, the links below may help. Your child’s school may have a counsellor, or you may be able to contact one via your GP, medical team or local hospice. If your child is aged under 16, they will need your permission.
You may wish to talk in confidence about possible options with a worker at one of the organisations listed under the ‘Online Support’ section below.
Free services
If your GP thinks it appropriate, they can refer your child to your local specialist NHS mental health services for children and young people. This includes Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) >
Play and music therapy can especially help younger children who are struggling emotionally. Older children may find talking confidentially with a psychologist or counsellor helpful. Your child’s school, GP or clinical team should be able to guide you. Other possibilties are:
- Children’s hospices – some offer play therapy and counselling, or can tell you where you can access these services locally. They may also offer activities, newsletters, weekends oroutings which can all be helpful. Services vary; you can find your local children’s hospice >, along with details of who they can support and how.
- Young Minds – Phone 0808 802 5544 – a national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people. They also have a parents’ helpline for any adult with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person.
Private (paid) services:
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) > Phone: 01455 883 300 – for useful guidance on counselling and how to find a suitable counsellor.
Counselling Directory > – online information about different types of counselling and a directory to search for qualified counsellors.
Play Therapy UK > has a register of accredited play therapists.
The British Association for Music Therapy > explains more about music therapy and has an online Find a Therapist > search tool.
If you are not sure who to speak to or which is the right route for your child, our Community Support Team > is here to talk through your options.
Childnet International> work to help make the internet a better and safer place. They have resources for parents, children and teachers.
Childline – Phone: 0800 1111 – for young people to turn to whatever problems or dangers they are facing. Trained childline counsellors are there 24 hours a day.
Support Line – Phone 01708 765 2000 – confidential emotional support for children, young adults and adults by phone and via their website.
The Mix – Phone 0808 808 4994 – free helpline for young people under the age of 25 providing information and emotional support.
Unfortunately, children with health conditions are sometimes also more at risk of bullying than their peers.
Contact has information, including a leaflet called Dealing with Bullying > which has been written for families with disabled children.
If your child is being bullied at school through their mobile or online (cyber bullying) talk to their teachers straight away. Schools are responsible for having a whole-school approach to dealing with bullying. The following organisations can also help:
- Family Lives – 0808 800 2222
- Childline – 0800 1111
- Kidscape – 07496 682785