COVID-19 Resources – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

At present the Coronavirus is the cause of much anxiety and concern for young people and families.

Here are some resources designed to help cope with such stress and uncertainty at this time.

COVID-19 Information and Resources for Parents and Carers

General Information about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

NHS Inform
Latest guidance about COVID-19 from NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.A guide for older children and adults who may wish to access more information about COVID 19.

Scottish Government
Scottish Government COVID 19 information for older children and adults.

General Wellbeing Support Resources

Aye Mind
Aye Mind has worked in collaboration with young people and workers to bring together a suite of positive digital resources and methods, for widespread use.

Kids Health
Advice on children’s health, behaviour and growth – from before birth through the teen years.

Hands on Anxiety
Information about anxiety in children and young people.

NHS Inform – Anxiety
Information about anxiety in children and young people from the NHS.

Mental Health and Wellbeing – COVID-19

ParentClub
The Parent Club website has lots of useful information to help families who are in isolation at home with young children.

Mind
Mind have developed a helpful list of things you can try to take care of your mental health and wellbeing during this time.

WHO – Coping with Stress
Tips for young people for managing anxiety and stress for during the COVID-19 outbreak from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

BEAT – Eating Disorders and Coronavirus
BEAT have developed guidance to try to respond to specific worries and practical concerns regarding coronavirus and treatment for people with an eating disorder, or supporting those with an eating disorder.

NHS Grampian – Resource Pack for Parents
A COVID-19 resource pack for parents to help support children and young people who are experiencing difficult feelings about coronavirus, developed by NHS Grampian.

NHS Grampian – It’s ok to find parenting hard during COVID-19
A covid-19 resource pack for support with parenting during COVID-19, developed and shared with permission by NHS Grampian. Please contact your local CAMHS team to speak to the appropriate health professional for further support if required. Contact details for CAMHS teams in NHS Lothian are available on this website.

Neonatal care and advice
Some sources of helpful and supportive information and advice for neonatal care, developed by Dr Melanie Gunning, Clinical Psychologist.

COVID-19 Resources for Children and Young People

For Young People

Young Minds – Tips for Coping with OCD during COVID-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a difficult time for a lot of people, but for those with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) it may be particularly challenging. Charlie, 21, shares their tips on coping.

Penumbra – Responding to Change
A resource produced by Penumbra for young people about how to manage your wellbeing during Covid-19.

NHS Sheffield Children’s Services Self-Care Kit for Young People
This is a very helpful guide to self-care at home during COVID-19. Kindly shared with permission by Sheffield’s Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. More information and resources are available on the trust’s website. Please contact your local CAMHS team to speak to the appropriate health professional for further support if required. Contact details for CAMHS teams in NHS Lothian are available on this website.

NHS Grampian – Keep CAMHS and Carry On
A series of podcasts to help young people manage stress during coronavirus, developed by NHS Grampian.

NHS Grampian – It’s ok to worry about coronavirus
A COVID-19 resource pack for teenagers to help manage difficult feelings about coronavirus, developed by NHS Grampian. Please contact your local team to speak to the appropriate health professional for further support if required. Contact details for CAMHS teams in NHS Lothian are available on this website.

Psychology Tools
This resource provides guidance for managing stress and anxiety that may come from global uncertainty such as with Coronavirus.

For younger children

NHS Grampian – it’s okay to worry about coronavirus
A COVID-19 resource pack for children under 12 years old to help manage difficult feelings about coronavirus, developed by NHS Grampian.

Coronavirus – a book for children
A free book explaining the coronavirus to children. Published by Nosy Crow with input from Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and illustrated by ‘The Gruffalo’ illustrator Axel Scheffler.

COVID-19 Resources for Children and Young People with Autism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders and/or Learning Disability

Enable
Easy-read information about COVID-19 is available on the Enable site. Easy read factsheets include: information about Coronavirus; looking after your feelings and body; guidance on shielding; advice on staying at home and keeping away from other people.

Enable – Guide for Parents and Carers
Enable Scotland Coronavirus advice for parents and carers.

NHS – Videos for Carers (families, staff, friends, advocates) of People with Learning Disabilities
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust has put together 13 videos for family and other carers to support them during coronavirus. Topics include, talking together about coronavirus; maintaining wellbeing through a varied routine; supporting others to structure their day; understanding behaviour that challenges and understanding anxiety and advice for trying strategies with the person you care for.

Scottish Government – Supporting disabled children, young people and their families: guidance
Advice from the Scottish Government; this COVID-19 support page provides links to information which can explain rights and access to services during this time. This page also contains links to organisations which may be adapting their services to offer you further support.

Learning Disability Professional Senate – Resources for Carers
Resources to support families / carers of people with learning disabilities through the Coronavirus restrictions, produced by the Learning Disability Professional Senate.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation – an Introduction to Challenging Behaviour
During the Covid 19 restrictions the Challenging Behaviour Foundation are unable to send out our DVD resources. However, the Foundation have therefore published their DVDs online and are free for anyone to watch.

NHS Grampian – It’s okay to find changes hard during Coronavirus
A COVID-19 resource pack for parents with children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) to help with COVID-19 related changes, developed and shared with permission of NHS Grampian CAMHS. Please contact your local team to speak to the appropriate health professional for further support if required. Contact details for CAMHS teams in NHS Lothian are available on this website.

NHS Grampian – It’s okay to worry about Coronavirus
A COVID-19 resource pack for young people with a learning disability who are worried about Coronavirus, developed by NHS Grampian.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation – Positive Behaviour Support Information Pack for Carers
The Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) Information Pack for Family Carers has been produced by the PBS Academy and The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) and provides an introduction to Positive Behaviour Support for family carers.

Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD)
The Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD) has been collating general and easy-read information and resources on Coronavirus.

Scottish Autism – Information for families
Scottish Autism have created some information resources about COVID-19 that they hope you will find useful at this challenging time.

Social Care Institute for Excellence – Guide for Carers
This is a guide to help family members and carers living with and supporting adults and children with learning disabilities, or an autistic adult or child, through the COVID-19 crisis. Its aim is to assist carers to carry on giving good, safe support to their family members during the pandemic.

ACAMHS – Coronavirus and helping children with Autism
The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has released a podcast for parents and carers about supporting children and young people with autism during the Coranavirus outbreak.

NHS Wales – Supporting Children with Learning Disability/ASD
Developed by NHS Wales this guide provides helpful information for parents for coping with isolation during COVID-19. Please contact your local team to speak to the appropriate health professional for further support if required. Contact details for CAMHS teams in NHS Lothian are available on this website.

NHS North Derbyshire CAMHS
Staying at home – helpful information for parents and carers of children and young people with learning disabilities. Please note, some leaflets were created prior to the current social distancing guidance. Please continue to follow the most up to date government guidelines around social distancing and social isolation.

Video – Supporting Neurodiverse Children during challenging times
A video produced by NHS East London Foundation Trust about supporting neurodiverse children with challenging times such as during self-isolation.

Hand washing tips
Hand washing tips for people with sensory difficulties.

How to use a Visual Timetable
A video explaining how to use a visual timetable.

Visual Timetable Example
An example of a simple visual timetable.

COVIBook by Manuela Molina
The author developed this short book to support and reassure children regarding COVID-19.

Social Story
A Social Story explaining Coronavirus, developed by Illinois Autism Partnership.