Further resources

Here’s a list of useful resources.

Resources

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 works to increase awareness of the symptoms and dangers of depression and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness.

Mind offers lots of advice to support well-being.

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:

• Depression
• Self-harm
• Suicidal feelings
• How to stay connected during lockdown

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.

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’.

Information written for young people

Young Minds on ‘how to stay connected during lockdown’.

The BBC website has information written for parents/carers including:

• Geek Dad Advice
• Do screen time rules still apply in lockdown

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

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.

Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT

Improve your understanding of depression and anxiety and find out more about an effective and evidence-based treatment: CBT.

Find a full list of University of Reading online courses on our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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