Children’s wellbeing is closely bound to their parents’ wellbeing. Over the last decade the Government has tried to build a system of support so that parents and carers can find help when they need it to raise their children to be happy, healthy, ready to learn, able to make a positive contribution to society and to achieve economical and emotional wellbeing.
What is less recognised is the additional need to address the mental health and wellbeing of the adults themselves and the relationships they have with each other as a couple, as well as the differing needs of mothers and fathers.
This section of our website aims to provide our parents with links to advice on how they can improve their own wellbeing and in turn support their child’s.
NHS
According to the NHS there are 5 steps you can take to improve your emotional wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life.
Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. Learn more in Connect for emotional wellbeing.
Be active – you don’t have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Learn more in Get active for emotional wellbeing.
Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? Find out more in Learn for emotional wellbeing.
Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Learn more in Give for emotional wellbeing.
Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Learn more in Mindfulness for emotional wellbeing.
MindEd 
This is a free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health for families. (Click on the logo for more info).
Young Minds
Parenting isn’t always easy. Although it’s 
often amazing and rewarding to watch your children grow, and to help them learn to be independent, it can also be really hard work. Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of young people. Their Parents Survival Guide offers useful tips on how you as a parent can look after yourself. If you are a parent needing help you can contact their Parent Helpline on 0808 802 5544. (Click on the logo for more info).
Derwentside Mind 
A local charity which was set up in 1984 by a local pharmacist and psychiatric nurse. Together with other local people who themselves had experienced emotional stress, they decided to form a local Mind Pressure Group. They offer counselling and a listening ear programme, self help groups for woman and young people suffering from anxiety. Social Access Groups in Consett and Stanley provide a safe and supportive environment where people can refer themselves into the service. (Click on the logo for more info).
Public Health England 
Research carried out by Public Health England on ‘How healthy behaviour supports children’s wellbeing’, indicates that making time to spend together as a family, eating meals together, ensuring children are physically active, rationing children’s screen time and ensuring children eat a healthy breakfast, may all have the potential to improve children’s wellbeing. Read the findings by clicking here.
5-19 School Nursing Team
The 5-19 Team comprises Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (School Nurse), Community Staff Nurse , FISCH Team (Family Initiative Supporting Children’s Health) School Nurse Assistant Practitioners, School Screeners and Health Administrators. We have a link named School Nurse for each school and GP Practice in the localities in which we work.
We work closely with Health Visitors so that children and families with complex health and social care needs are identified early. We support the development and implementation of health management plans to promote the child’s health and wellbeing, school attendance, education and attainment.
When young people and families require targeted interventions, these may be provided solely by the School Nursing Team or delivered in partnership. We work as part of the Integrated Team approach in County Durham, also known as One Point.
Location
We work in local schools and a variety of community venues including children’s centres, health and home settings.
Referral
We accept referrals from a range of sources including:
Children and Young People, Parents / Carers, Schools, Other Health professionals, GPs, Partner agencies, Families First
Consent and Confidentiality
When young people under 16 years of age ask for certain services they are assessed by trained practitioners against ‘Fraser guidelines’ to determine their level of understanding.
This assessment may be used when you need a prescription for something such as smoking cessation, or when you need referring to another service, for example sexual health services.
This assessment does not affect your rights to confidentiality.
Please contact the School Nursing Team for further advice and support.
Contact
Central number: 03000 263538
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