Further resources
Here’s a list of useful resources.
Resources
UK Government information on COVID-19
Please note these links take you to UK government advice; we recommend that you follow the advice of your own government if you are not living in the UK.
General information on coronavirus.
Information about looking after your own mental health and looking after your feelings and body.
Information for parents and carers around supporting the mental health of children and young people.
24-hour support lines (UK)
Childline offers information and advice on a range of issues relating to children and young people. You can call them anytime (free of charge) on 0800 1111 or visit their website.
Samaritans offers a listening service if you are having a difficult time or are worried about someone else. You can call them anytime (free of charge) on 116 123 (UK and Ireland) or visit their website.
Support outside of the UK
Since 2003, Samaritans has been working with Befrienders Worldwide, a network of 400 international centres in 39 countries set up to help people who need emotional support, to talk about problems in a confidential space. Visit the Befrienders Worldwide website to find out more.
Other support websites
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT) works to increase awareness of the symptoms and dangers of depression and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness. The website has a number of practical resources, including tips for parents and teachers including talking to children about COVID-19 and looking after mental health and well-being.
Mind offers lots of advice to support well-being, including information around how to stay well during the COVID-19 crisis.
Family Lives is a family support charity providing help and support to families who are struggling. They have a helpline which operates Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm, and 10am – 3pm Saturday – Sunday.
Young Minds is a UK charity offering support and information around child and young people’s mental health. It offers a free and confidential parent’s helpline (0808 802 5544) which is open Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 4pm. Below are relevant links that we referred to during this week:
Harmless is a user-led organisation that provides a range of services about self-harm and suicide prevention including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self-harm, their friends and families and professionals.
Diet, healthy eating and exercise
NHS website has guidance around healthy eating.
Joe Wicks is offering a live 30 minute session on his YouTube channel at 9am every weekday morning or you can choose to do it at a time that suits you.
Londonsport have gathered a useful list of suggestions for under 25’s.
Maintaining social contact and screen time usage
Young Minds website on ‘How to stay connected during lockdown’.
The BBC website has a video on ‘How kids can stay connected during lockdown’.
The Conversation Website on ‘Social Distancing can make you lonely’.
How to stay connected
Chatterpack website has ‘a list of free, online, boredom-busting resources’.
The Guardian news website has ‘Weird and wonderful ways to get through COVID-19’.
Information written for young people
Young Minds on ‘how to stay connected during lockdown’.
The BBC website has information written for parents/carers including:
Books
Reynolds, S. and Parkinson, M. (2015). Am I Depressed and What Can I Do About It?: A CBT self-help guide for teenagers experiencing low mood and depression. London: Robinson.
Parkinson, M. and Reynolds, S. (2015). Teenage Depression – A CBT Guide for Parents: Help your child beat their low mood. London: Robinson.
Academic papers
Mothers’ Experiences of Having an Adolescent Child with Depression: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis examines the experience of having an adolescent child with depression. By Armitage, S., Parkinson, M., Halligan, S. et al. J Child Fam Stud (2020).
Exercise for depression by Cooney GM, Dwan K, Greig CA, Lawlor DA, Rimer J, Waugh FR, McMurdo M and Mead GE.
Other online courses
The University of East Anglia has a FutureLearn course starting 1 June: Anxiety in Children and Young People during COVID-19. Learn about anxiety and discover helpful strategies to support young people struggling with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’d like to delve deeper into the topics on this course then you may be interested in two other University of Reading courses on FutureLearn.
Understanding Low Mood and Depression in Young People
Understand how to recognise depression and low mood in teenagers and learn how to help.
This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.
Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT
Improve your understanding of depression and anxiety and find out more about an effective and evidence-based treatment: CBT.
This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.
Find a full list of University of Reading online courses on our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Don’t forget to ‘mark as complete’ and check your progress. If you complete over 90%, you become eligible for a free certificate.
COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression
COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression
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