Mental health support for parents in the UK
Parenting is hard on your mental health, especially the years where children's lives move online. This page is a calm guide to where to turn for support — for yourself and for your child — alongside the everyday habits that help.
Looking after your own wellbeing
If you're feeling low, anxious, or burnt out, start with your GP. The NHS Talking Therapies service (formerly IAPT) accepts self-referrals across England and is free. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland the equivalent NHS services have their own routes — your GP can point you the right way.
If you're worried about your child
Speak to your GP or your child's school first. They can refer you to NHS CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). YoungMinds runs a free Parents Helpline (0808 802 5544) and an online crisis text service. The NSPCC helpline is 0808 800 5000.
In a crisis
If you or your child are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent mental health support that isn't an immediate emergency, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, or Samaritans free on 116 123 (24 hours).
Everyday habits that help
Sleep, daylight, a short walk, and a phone-free conversation each day are not silver bullets — but they are repeatedly the things parents tell us make weeks feel more bearable. Our teen wellbeing section has more on how those habits sit alongside screens.
Related guidance
Frequently asked
- Are these phone numbers free?
- Yes — NHS 111, 999, Samaritans 116 123, YoungMinds Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544, and NSPCC 0808 800 5000 are all free from UK landlines and mobiles.
- Is Parent Connect Hub a mental health service?
- No. We're a guidance website. We can help you have the right conversations and know where to turn — but we don't replace the NHS, your GP, or a qualified therapist.
- How do I talk to my child about my own mental health?
- Honestly, simply, and age-appropriately. Children usually notice more than we think. A short, calm explanation that you're getting help is often reassuring rather than worrying.