Information, Advice & Support
Mental Health & WELLBEING rESOURCES
Please find below some useful Mental Health Awareness Resources.
National College
The National College have packaged up a few free guides to support you over the festive season. Download these resources on 'Mental Heath & Wellbeing' to help you guide children and young people through what can be a challenging time of year for some.
Top Tips for Supporting Children to Build Emotional Resilience
This free guide provides expert advice on how to nurture self-esteem in children and young people and help them to effectively process difficult feelings.
Download here.
What Parents Need to Know about Worry & Anxiety
This free guide explores the impacts of worry and anxiety on children, and offers advice on how to support young people struggling with these experiences.
Download here.
Top Tips on Supporting Children with Self-Regulation
This free information guide offers a collection of useful tips for helping children learn to manage their emotions.
Download here.
The Lowdown
Please find below County wide Mental Health and Wellbeing information, guidance & drop in leaflets:
PHYSICAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Eating Well (Easy Read)
Top tips for eating well provided by West Northamptonshire Council.
Read the article here.
Being Active (Easy Read)
Top tips for being active provided by West Northamptonshire Council.
Read the article here.
Healthy Weight (Easy Read)
Top tips for maintaining a healthy weight provided by West Northamptonshire Council.
Read the article here.
Dental Health (Easy Read)
Top tips for maintaining dental health provided by West Northamptonshire Council.
Read the article here.
Sexual Health (Easy Read)
Top tips for maintaining sexual health provided by West Northamptonshire Council.
Read the article here.
What is Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating refers to a collection of symptoms or behaviours around eating that are abnormal but do not meet the criteria for an eating disorder to be diagnosed. Disordered eating occurs when an individual moves away from eating for nourishment and following cues from the body, and towards eating to meet goals or follow rules.
The following links also provide resources and information which was circulated for Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025 | Action Mental Health
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025
What To Do If You're Experiencing Eating Problems | YoungMinds
Be Body Positive - Support for Young People, Parents, Carers & Professionals
Eating Disorder Awareness Posters
In the UK, it's estimated that around 1.25 million people have an eating disorder. This statistic shows that, although eating disorders are complex mental illnesses, they can affect anyone of any age, ethnicity, gender or background. Please refer to the following awareness posters provided by Beat.
Support for families during the holidays
The festive season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, for many families in Northamptonshire, it can also be a period of increased financial strain and food insecurity. Recognising this challenge, various organisations, community groups, and local authorities come together to provide essential food support to ensure that no family goes hungry during the Christmas holidays.
There are a number of food banks and other organisations in Northamptonshire that may be able to help with food during Christmas:
- Kettering Foodbank: Located at Unit 1B, Horse Market, Kettering, this food bank is open on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 AM–1 PM, and on December 24 from 10 AM–1 PM. It is closed between Christmas and New Year. Find out more here.
- The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation: This food bank provides regular food parcels to individuals, families, and children in the local community. Find out more here.
- Northampton Hope Centre: This organisation offers a 'Place for Hope' campaign that encourages people to consider donating to those who are struggling to find food, warmth, and shelter during the winter months. They also have Food Clubs that offer discounted food staples and other support services. Find out more here.
- Restore Northampton: This food bank has distribution points at various locations in Northampton. They offer food and essentials for those in short-term crisis. Find out more here.
- North Northamptonshire Council: This organisation offers emergency parcels at their Bowling Green Road location in Kettering. Find out more here.
- The Salvation Army: This organisation has locations in Kettering and Rothwell. Find out more here.
- The Shack Food Project: This organisation is located at Grange Resource Centre in Kettering. Find out more here.
sleep
Sleep is important for teenagers at all times, but especially during the years of rapid physical, mental, and emotional growth. Sleep helps teenagers' bodies repair themselves, and it can improve their concentration, memory, and analytical thinking.
Why is sleep important for teenagers?
-
Physical growth: Sleep helps teenagers grow and develop normally.
-
Mental health: Sleep helps prevent mood problems and depression.
-
Academic performance: Sleep helps teenagers pay attention, learn, and remember information.
-
Athletic performance: Sleep helps teenagers recover from injuries and perform better in sports.
-
Skin and hair: Sleep helps teenagers have healthier skin and hair.
How much sleep do teenagers need?
-
On average, teenagers need 9–10 hours of sleep per night.
-
However, the normal range is between 7–11 hours.
-
Some teenagers may need a little more or less sleep each night.
How can teenagers get enough sleep?
-
Parents can model good sleep habits, such as sticking to a regular sleep schedule and cutting back on caffeine in the evening.
-
Teenagers can take a 15–20-minute nap in the early afternoon.
- Paediatricians can educate teenagers on how much sleep they need and screen them for sleep disorders.
Useful Apps - Sleep Cycle, Pillow, Sleep tracker
Website - https://thesleepcharity.org.uk
Resources - Some useful resources can be downloaded below:
Parent/Carer
Body Positivity, Self-Compassion and Self-Awareness
Children can struggle with their body image and self-esteem just like adults. Helping your child find positive self-worth early in life sets them up well and helps them develop healthy relationships. This workbook has a range of activities for you to enjoy together that will help your child to become more self-aware and more self-compassionate.