Quick guide for parents and carers of 5-10 year olds
This page has everything you need to know about getting advice, getting help, getting more help, and getting crisis support for a 5-10-year-old.
You can download the quick guide below.
Quick guide to support for 5-10-year-olds
Things that could help
- The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families and Young Minds provide a range of different types of support for children, young people, parents and their families.
- The Little Blue Book of Sunshine has tips on how to deal with problems such as anxiety, stress, body image, relationships and anger. It is available for free from Google Play Store and Apple Books
- The Good Mental Health Handbook is a guide which describes the difficulties that young people might be experiencing and provides top tips to help you manage these difficulties together as a family.
Getting advice
You may notice some or all the following things which might be signs of mental health difficulties in a young person:
- Anxiety that is short-term, noticeable but non-problematic
- Nervousness, irritability, impatience, sadness or feeling overwhelmed
- Avoidance of school, seeing friends or doing activities
- Tired, low energy, muscle tension or headaches
Where to go for help
- You or the young person could speak with a teacher, youth worker, peer or GP
- You could try ‘Things that could help’ – see above
- You or the young person could speak to the school’s pastoral support such as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant
- If the young person improves, support them to continue to thrive with ‘Things that could help’ – see above
- If the young person continues to struggle or is getting worse see support options in the ‘Getting help’ section – see next section
Getting help
You may notice some or all the following things which might be signs of mental health difficulties in a young person:
- Anxiety that is becoming problematic, appears out of context or disproportionate to the reason why they might be worrying
- Some episodes of panicking such as getting distressed, racing heart rate, quicker breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, vomiting or shaking
- Anger, withdrawal, pervasive sadness, hopelessness, poor concentration, increased fatigue or aches/pains
Where to go for help
- You or the young person could speak with a teacher, youth worker, peer or GP
- You or the young person could speak to school’s pastoral support such as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant
- The school could consult with the local Mental Health Support Team and refer if appropriate
- Your GP, Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or Mental Health Support Team can refer to Hampshire Youth Access for play-based counselling
- If the young person improves, support them to continue to thrive with ‘Things that could help’ – see above
- If the young person continues to struggle or is getting worse see ‘Getting more help’ – see next section
Getting more help
You may notice some or all the following things which might be signs of worsening mental health difficulties in a young person:
- Anxieties or episodes of low mood/depression are severe and enduring. These cause significant distress to a young person and significantly disrupt daily coping such as school/college, socialising and self-care activities such as sleeping, bathing or eating
- Regular episodes of panicking such as getting distressed, racing heart rate, quicker breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, vomiting or shaking
- Isolating themself from friends and family, feeling hopeless about the future
Where to go for help
- You or the young person could speak with a teacher, youth worker, peer or GP
- The school could consult with the local Mental Health Support Team and refer if appropriate
- The young person could be referred to Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- If the young person improves, support them with a robust maintenance plan and signpost ‘Things that could help’ – see above
- If the young person is in crisis see ‘Getting crisis support’ – see next section
Getting crisis support
You may notice the young person experiencing intense emotional distress with a high risk to self and others. For example, the young person might be verbalising a plan to harm themselves or others and the family or network is not able to contain or manage the issue without urgent intervention. This might be a sign of impending or worsening mental health crisis in the young person.
Where to go for help
- If you have any urgent concerns about a mental health problem use the NHS 111 online service at 111.nhs.uk or call 111
- If the young person has injured themselves, taken an overdose or are in an emergency and their life is at risk, dial 999 or go to the nearest emergency department
- Identify a lead professional
- If the young person continues to struggle or is getting worse see ‘Getting more help’ – see previous section
- Get a support discharge plan
Description of support services
All secondary schools have a named Mental Health Lead and a range of pastoral support available. Schools also work with other professionals to gain advice and guidance on how best to support children’s social and emotional needs. These services may include the Portsmouth Educational Psychology Team, the Multi-Agency Behaviour Support Team and the Inclusion Outreach team.
Within many schools, pastoral support may be provided by Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs). ELSAs are teaching assistants or learning mentors in schools who have been trained by Educational Psychologists to work with children who are showing a wide range of emotional or social needs for example anxiety, low self-esteem or problems with anger. Through a range of support programmes ELSAs help children to develop their social and emotional skills.
MHSTs deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems. This includes 1:1 high/low intensity CBT work with parents and group work. MHST are available in all secondary schools across Portsmouth.
Young people/parents can speak to their school about making a referral to MHST.
Hampshire Youth Access (HYA) offer counselling, mental health and emotional wellbeing support to people aged 5-17 (or up to age 24 for care leavers or those with SEND).
Sessions are delivered by No Limits in schools, in the community and, for older children, the sessions may be online via Zoom.
Children aged 5-10 will need a referral from a GP, CAMHS, or the MHSTs. Children aged 11-17 (or up to 24 with SEND/care leavers can refer themselves, or be referred by a parent/carer or any professional.
To refer a young person: call 023 8214 7755, email enquiries@hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk or refer online at Hampshire Youth Access.
Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS delivers evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. This can include medication and talking therapies on a 1-2-1, group or family basis.
Available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Contact: 0300 123 6632
Listening Ear offers a specialist counselling service for children and young people who have lost someone by suicide. Any parent, guardian or professional can refer the young person by visiting the Listening Ear website
Get in touch
Our friendly team at the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub are here to help.
Get a call back
Enter your details and someone will call you back between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health help, please call 111 – the NHS non-emergency number. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is free from any phone. They have specialist mental health nurses who can support adults and young people.
In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.