Overview
If you’re finding it hard to cope with the impact of your child’s mental health difficulties, we’re here for you.
MY Family is a free peer support group run by parents and carers for parents and carers.
We know how challenging it can be to care for a child or young person with mental health issues. We understand that the constant worry and the emotional repercussions for the whole family can feel like a lot to deal with.
How does MY Family work?
When you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or isolated, talking to other parents and carers who are in a similar situation to yours can really help.
Our friendly monthly sessions create a safe, non-judgmental space where everyone can learn from and support each other.
Sign up to join our group here
FAQs
What is a parent/carer peer support group?
Our parent/carer peer support group is a space where parents and carers come together and use their own experiences of caring for a child or young person with mental health challenges to help each other. It is a place where you can feel accepted, understood and supported by others who share similar challenges.
Who can join the group?
Our group is for any parent or carer who has or looks after a child or young person with a mental health challenge. Your child might be experiencing anxiety, low mood, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm or an eating disorder, or may be struggling to attend school because of their mental health.
If you are finding it difficult to cope with the impact of whatever mental health issues your child has, please come along and we’ll do our very best to support you.
I get nervous coming to new groups – will someone be able to greet me?
Yes! Before your first session, just let us know in an email that you’re feeling nervous. Then Karen, our Parent Facilitator, will meet you when you arrive so you don’t have to walk into the group on your own. She’ll introduce you to a few other parents/carers and make sure you feel comfortable.
What will we talk about?
There’s no set agenda for the group. The purpose of us coming together is to talk about the difficulties we’re facing, maybe offload our own emotions, express frustration if we need to, and share our experiences. By doing this we learn from and support each other and discover some new ways to navigate some of the challenges.
Will anything I share be discussed outside the group?
No. Respect and trust are important in all our sessions – what is said in the room stays in the room! Confidentiality is key when talking about our personal experiences. We encourage all parents and carers to only share their own first name when talking and never to use their young person’s name. This way we can be sure that there will be no breach of shared information outside of the sessions.
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