Family wellbeing - information to support your child or young person's wellbeing

Parent and carer mental health workshop programme 

The Parent Workshop Programme offers free 45 minute mental health workshops for parents and carers, offering support, advice and guidance on how best to support a child or young person's emotional health and wellbeing.

This programme offers families a range of workshops, led by the psychology in schools team from Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT). The Psychology in Schools Team is made up of clinical psychologists and senior psychotherapists who have worked in specialist mental health services. 

Psychology in Schools Team (PST) parent and carer workshops - Autumn Term 2026

Supporting your child/young person with Emotion Based School Avoidance (ESBA)

For parents/carers of children aged 11-16. This workshop focuses on supporting parents/carers to help their child to attend or get back to school. It aims to help parents/carers to develop an understanding of school avoidance and provides the tools that can be used to help your child feel confident in re-engaging with school.

Tuesday 20 October 1 to 2:15pm

Book a place on the EBSA workshop

Supporting Your child/adolescent with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This session covers: what OCD is, how it affects and impacts children and young people, how parents and carers can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with OCD, and what further support is available.

Thursday 19 November 1:15 to 2.30pm

Book a place on the OCD workshop

Understanding and supporting behaviour

Children and teenagers may show behaviours that are difficult for the adults around them, for example: aggression, risk-taking behaviours, impulsivity, testing boundaries and inattention. This workshop explores how to understand behaviour and how parents/carers can support their child with these behaviours which may stem from distress.

Tuesday 15 December 12 to 1:15pm

Book a place on the supporting behaviour workshop

Browse recorded workshops you may find useful

If you are unable to make a workshop date you can view previous recorded workshops online.

Neurodiversity is a term used to describe people whose brains work in different ways. This programme of free virtual workshops for parents and carers will explore nurturing the unique strengths of neurodiverse children and young people and provide advice and guidance on how to support them with the challenges they face.

There are a number of workshops available to support parents and carers regardless of whether their child has a neurodiverse (SEND) diagnosis. These free online workshops can be found listed on the Suffolk Local Offer website workshops page.

You can also find lots of useful resources available to support neurodivergent young people in Suffolk on The Source website.

Five Tips for Families

These family leaflets have been co-produced with parent and carers carers.

Tips for getting better sleep

• Five Tips for Families, to Help Children get Better Sleep (pdf. 485KB)
• Fives Tips for Families, to Help a Young Person get better sleep (pdf. 469KB)

Tips for going back to school, college or starting university

• The Source, back-to-school nerves
• Five Tips for Families, going back to school with Anxiety (pdf. 489KB)
• Five Tips for Families, going back to school with Autism (pdf. 519KB)
• Going back to Primary School (pdf. 516KB)
• Going back to Secondary School (pdf. 569KB)
• Kooth guide for managing back to school or college anxiety (pdf, 178KB)
• Kooth guide to settling into student life (pdf, 167KB)
• Kooth guide for starting university (pdf, 161KB)

Five Tips for people with Autism

• Five Tips for Children with Autism (pdf. 490KB)
• Five Tips for Young People with Autism (pdf. 464KB)

Five Tips for people with Anxiety

• Five Tips for Children with Anxiety (pdf. 388KB)
• Five Tips for Young People with Anxiety (pdf. 510KB)

Five Tips for coping with Self-Harm

• Five Tips for helping Children that Self-Harm (pdf. 472KB)
• Five Tips for helping Young People that Self-Harm (pdf. 478KB)

Also take a look at Self-harm resources on the Children and Young People's Wellbeing page

Five Tips for people with Challenging Behaviour

• Behind Challenging Behaviour in Primary School (pdf. 700KB)
• Behind Challenging Behaviour in Secondary School (pdf. 816KB)

Positive Self-Talk Rainbows

• Positive Self-Talk Rainbows for Primary School (pdf. 998KB)
• Positive Self-Talk Rainbows for Secondary School (pdf. 1.5MB)

Other resources

• Emotional Wellbeing Gateway website
• The Source website for young people in Suffolk
• Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize
• Every Mind Matters - Mind Plan Quiz
• How to deal with Childhood Trauma - Anna Freud
• Feel Good Suffolk website

Emotional Wellbeing Hub - Access to CAMHS (Child and Adolescence Mental Health Services) for families in East and West Suffolk.

Just One Number - Mental Health Support Services for families in Lowestoft, Waveney and Norfolk.

Emotional Wellbeing Gateway Website - For Suffolk parents, school staff and professionals. This site has advice on various mental health issues in children and young people and access to CAMHS services.

The Source website - For young people in Suffolk to find support on all health and wellbeing topics on

Kooth - Provides free online emotional wellbeing support to 11-25 year olds in Suffolk.  

PACT Parents and Carers Together - Provide free support to parents and carers of children or young people with a mental health issue.

NHS Crisis Support Line - For anyone of any age in Norfolk and Suffolk. Call 111 and select the mental health option.

Useful YouTube videos for families

How to manage anxiety on the return to school.

Mental health and wellbeing workshops for parent and carers to support children and adolescents 

Gaming and screen time - What you need to know as a parent.

Listen to 'Mental Health and You' Podcast.