Support for families

Wellbeing and mental health information and advice

A family of two adults and two children smiling at the camera.

Children, Young People and Families Community Mental Health Services

North East

Leith Wellbeing Services (Leith, Drummond and Trinity)

Leith Wellbeing Services is a partnership between The Junction, Citadel Youth Centre, Multicultural Family Base, Pilmeny Development Project, YMCA and the Ripple Project. They work together to support better access to mental health support in Leith and the surrounding area for young people and their families.  Most children and young people will attend schools in the Leith, Drummond and Trinity clusters.  The partnership offers-

Individual support

  • The Junction: offers up to 20 sessions of counselling for young people aged 12 to 21 years.
  • Citadel: offers targeted early intervention support for young people aged 12 to 19 years, including person-centred 1:1 support and a wellbeing group work programme.
  • Pilmeny Development Project and YMCA Edinburgh offer 1:1 mentoring spaces for girls who are anxious about attending a group or need additional support to attend their groups.
  • Pilmeny Development Project offers 1:1 support to children aged 7 to 16 years and their families in the Leith Walk area, who are experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues.

Group support

  • Multicultural Family Base (MCFB) offers targeted mental health support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic young people aged 12 to 16 through a weekly evening group, additional 1:1 support can also be offered
  • Pilmeny Development Project and YMCA Edinburgh deliver two girls' Emotional Health and Wellbeing Groups for girls, one for girls aged 9 to 11 years and one for Girls 12+ years. The groups are a supportive and safe space to build friendships and take part in sessions focusing on emotional and physical health and well-being. Flexible support and signposting are also available to parents/carers of young people attending the groups.
  • The Ripple offer a Wellbeing group work programme for young people aged 10 to 15 years. Parents/carers will be offered a place on an adult course at the same time as their children attend. 

Parent and carer support

  • Citadel Youth Centre offer support to parents/carers of children aged 12 to 16 years. This can include 1:1 family work (parenting advice and emotional support); family mediation and peer support.

For more information or to make a referral contact

Be Strong, Be You -Edinburgh Leisure (Portobello and Niddrie areas) 

This project works with young people aged 12 to 18 years living in the Portobello and Niddrie areas and attending Castlebrae, Holyrood or Portobello High School. It supports young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress, using the power of physical activity and sports to help them improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Specialist Wellbeing Instructors work with young people to build strong mental health, develop resilience and feel better equipped to cope with the challenges life throws at them. The project provides- 

  • An initial consultation with a Specialist Health Instructor and a Pupil Support Teacher within the school setting
  • 1:1 motivational support to be active from a Specialist Health Instructor for 16 weeks followed by regular follow ups 
  • 1:1 physical activity sessions 
  • Group physical activity sessions 
  • A free one-year youth membership to Edinburgh Leisure facilities 

For further information speak to the Pupil Support Leader in your child’s school.

Community Counsellor (Portobello and Niddrie areas)

The community mental health counsellor works with primary aged pupils and wellbeing support to families with primary schools in the Portobello and Castlebrae catchment area. Counselling offers a safe place for children and families to feel supported and listened too. The community counsellor can help with things like;

  • improving parent-child communication and understanding the developmental changes of childhood
  • 1:1 counselling for children including counselling related to: grief and loss, anxiety, low mood, managing conflict, anger and other areas of concern
  • Short-term 1:1 advocacy work with identified children when counselling is not felt to be appropriate
  • Parent or child group work

For more information contact your child’s primary school.

North West

BWell Together 

This North West community mental health partnership between Circle, Stepping Stones, Intercultural Youth Scotland, Granton Youth, Muirhouse Youth Development Group, Wester Hailes Youth Agency, Pilton Youth and Children’s Project offers a range of supports and therapeutic interventions including-

  • An outreach family support service which aims to provide holistic support to children (5+), young people and their parents/carers alongside 1:1 support for children. Building resilience, parenting capacity and positive relationships to aid positive mental and emotional wellbeing.
  • Therapeutic Support from Intercultural Youth Scotland for young people, aged 12 to 25 years and identifying as Black or a Person of Colour (PoC) and Counselling from Granton Youth for children over 10 years.
  • A range of group work and one-to-one youth work opportunities which focus on giving young people the tools to help them utilise their strengths in building resilience and coping strategies in relation to the challenges they face on a daily basis. Support is tailored to individual needs so that young people can develop coping strategies, manage feelings, deal with stress and work from a strength-based approach to build confidence and resilience.

Referrals can be made by families, education, health professionals, social workers, other community projects and housing officers. For more information contact

South West 

Wellbeing Together 

This South West partnership made up of Space@The Broomhouse Hub, Big Hearts Community Trust, SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) and With Kids offer a range of supports with the aim of improving the mental health and wellbeing of 5 to 26year-olds in South West Edinburgh. Support includes:

Individual support

  • With Kids offers 1:1 play therapy sessions for 5 to 12-year-olds
  • Space provides counselling and art therapy services for young people, aged five to 24 (26 if care experienced), at The Broomhouse Hub and in schools across South West Edinburgh.
  • Space PHEW offers 1:1 mental health support for 16 to 24-year-olds (26 if care experienced) for those who might not be comfortable or ready to take part in group sessions.
  • SAMH - Time for Me is an 8-session life skills course for young people aged 11 to 18 years experiencing low to moderate low mood and anxiety and is based on the principles of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). 

Group support

  • T.E.A.M is run by Big Hearts Community Trust for children in P6 to S2. A Weekly after-school club based on equality and diversity to thrive together.  
  • School’s Out is Big Hearts’ Community Trust holiday club for local pupils facing social isolation
  • Welcome Through Football run by Big Hearts Community Trust. Social inclusion of young refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
  • That’s Me run by Big Hearts Community Trust: One-to-one advice and weekly group activities focusing on emotional wellbeing for young people, aged 12 to 18.
  • PHEW group: Recreational activities in a friendly space for young people 18 to 24 years (26 if care experienced) promoting social connections and a better understanding of mental health.

Parent and Carer Support

  • 1:1 Parent consultation
  • parent/carer workshops

For more information visit the Wellbeing Together website

Professionals or families can make referrals by completing the Request for Support form.

South East

Be Strong, Be You -Edinburgh Leisure (South East) 

This project works with young people aged 12 to 18 years living in South East Edinburgh. It supports young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress, using the power of physical activity and sports to help them improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Specialist Wellbeing Instructors work with young people to build strong mental health, develop resilience and feel better equipped to cope with the challenges life throws at them. The project provides:

  • An initial consultation with a Specialist Health Instructor and a Pupil Support Teacher within the school setting
  • 1:1 motivational support to be active from a Specialist Health Instructor for 16 weeks followed by regular follow-ups 
  • 1:1 physical activity sessions 
  • Group physical activity sessions 
  • A free one-year youth membership to Edinburgh Leisure facilities 

For further information speak to the Pupil Support Leader in your child’s school.

Back on Track (Liberton and Gracemount Area)

This partnership between Home Link Family Support (HLFS), CrossReach and Goodtrees Community Centre offers a range of therapeutic interventions including art therapy, systemic family counselling, adult counselling and young person counselling.

  • Art therapy is offered to 5 to 12 year olds and adults
  • Young persons counselling is offered to 13 to18 year olds
  • Adult counselling is offered for 19 years.
  • Systemic family counselling works across the generations. 

Requests are welcome from individuals, education, the voluntary sector, health, social work and any other organisation supporting the child, young person or family.

Paula.s@homelinkfamilysupport.org

South East Wellbeing Service (Boroughmuir, James Gillespie’s areas)

This partnership between Canongate Youth, UEvolve, Edinburgh Lothians Greenspace Trust and Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust provides services and support to 8 to 18-year-olds and their parents and carers. It aims to support wellbeing through an early intervention approach. Most children and young people accessing support live in the Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s catchment areas, including those that attend other schools like St Thomas’s. Support includes-

  • 1:1 Wellbeing Support for 8 to 18-year-olds with a youth worker.
  • Groupwork programmes in schools and in the community - topics can include anxiety management, identity, stress management, and high school transition.
  • Therapeutic coaching for 11-18 year-olds.
  • Parents and carers drop-ins with the Crannie.

Referrals are welcomed from individuals, education, the voluntary sector, health and social work.

clare@canongateyouth.org.uk

Edinburgh Positive Wellbeing Service

A whole-family approach to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Children, Young People and Families impacted by the imprisonment of a family member and experiencing family and social adversity. The service can offer Intensive Family support, Mental health and wellbeing family support, Group work and drop-in sessions and online support.

edinburghpositivewellbeingservice@barnardos.org.uk

Find out more about the support available on the Barnardos Website

Parent Anxiety Workshops 

These six short recorded information sessions, which have been developed and collated by NHS Lothian CAMHS and The City of Edinburgh Psychological Services, are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the recommended treatment for managing anxiety and worries.

The information sessions will help parents and carers learn more about what anxiety is and how they can support their child to overcome it. The webinars can be accessed at any time by following the links below. 

Supporting Your Child with Fears and Worries Guide

An NHS Lothian CAMHS self-help guide to help parents support their Child with anxiety and worries. The guide covers the following topics:

  • Part 1: Understanding and Talking About Worries   
  • Part 2: Anxiety Traps   
  • Part 3: Overcoming Anxiety  
  • Part 4: Looking After Yourself

Relaxation Exercises for Children and Young People

Helpful Relaxation exercises for children and young people developed by NHS Lothian CAMHS. 

Supporting Children with Anxiety: Computerised CBT Course

Parents can access these free module courses, one course is for parents of children and one for parents of teenagers. Parents can work through the modules flexibly at their own pace at any time on a computer, tablet or mobile phone. The courses are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and are most suitable for parents looking to support their young person with worry and anxiety while learning helpful strategies to manage their anxieties. 
 
These modules are available via the platform Silvercloud. 

Access Code: Lothian 

Conflict resolution sessions

These free online sessions are for parents and carers who may be struggling with conflict at home. Session subjects include: 

  • Understanding anger 
  • Growing up is never easy
  • Family conflict triggers
  • Understanding Emotions: Being Anxious and afraid
  • Conflict response styles
  • Bouncing Back – Resilience
  • How to have that difficult conversation
  • Feeling Connected
  • Cranial Cocktail: Mind & Body Connection

For more information and to book online training sessions visit the events page of the Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution website.  

For useful resources on conflict visit the Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution website or email 

sccr@cyrenians.scot. 

New Ways for Families Course

Shared Parenting Scotland is offering this online training course plus coaching for separated parents. The support is intended to reduce the impact of conflict on your children, reduce stress levels and aid communication. Free places are available for parents on benefits or low income.  

For more information visit the New Ways for Families Course website or email David McLean at 

dm@sharedparenting.scot 

VOCAL parent's peer support group

This service offers a range of support to parents and carers of children with additional support needs. These in-person peer support groups run on the first Friday morning of the month at  

60 Leith Walk 
Edinburgh  
EH6 5HB 

For more information visit the VOCAL website or email Megan Copley at 

mcopley@vocal.org.uk.

Sleep Action 

Sleep advisors are available to offer individual one-to-one advice and support for any child in Scotland, aged 18 months to 18 years. Advisors are available Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm. Parents, carers and young people can access support and arrange a callback by emailing their contact details to  

Sleep Action 
60 Ravenscroft Street 
EH17 8QW  

enquiries@sleepaction.org 

For more information visit the Sleep Action website. 

Supporting Children and Young People with loss, change and bereavement

All children and young people process and respond to loss and bereavement in different ways according to their age and stage.  

Find information and recommended resources to support children and young people. 

Transparentsees

This group was founded and is run by volunteer parents, providing information and support to parents with gender-questioning children. Monthly Zoom meetings are open to parents following a discussion with an admin/group leader. Initially, email 

transparentsees@gmail.com 

and then a follow-up call can be arranged from a parent volunteer. 

Gambling and Young People - Fast Forward

This advice and information booklet is for parents and carers on gambling and young people.

Building resilience - Back to school tips

These useful videos and tips are for parents and carers to use to support themselves and their children to become more resilient, develop the skills needed to cope with challenging times and feel safe and happy with attending nursery and school. 
 
For more information visit the City of Edinburgh Council's 'Building Resilience' website. 

Young Minds parent’s helpline, webchat, email and text service

Young Minds provides information and support for parents and carers worried about a child or young person’s mental health via their helpline, webchat or email service. Support is available Monday to Friday between 9.30 am and 4 pm.

To access the webchat or email service click on the chat icon on the bottom right of the Young Minds webpage.

Use the Shout Textline for free, 24-hour mental health support. 

For more information visit the Young Minds website. 

To access the helpline, contact  

0808 802 5544

NHS mental health information station             

The information station provides information on a range of adult mental health supports. Drop-in is available on Thursdays from 10.30 am to 3 pm (no appointment required) at 

Walpole Hall  
Palmerston Place 
EH12 5 AW 

or you can speak with an NHS mental health professional by phone on Thursdays between 10.30 am and 3 pm 

For more information visit the NHS Lothian Mental Health Information Station webpage 

You can send enquiries and request a call by emailing 

MentalHealthInformation@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk. 

0131 537 8688. 

iThrive 

This is an online space for mental health and well-being information in Edinburgh. Local information on services and support and links to self-help and self-management resources are available on the iThrive website.