When to Seek Specialist Help for Trauma

Early help shortens recovery, so don’t wait until your child seems sick enough to need it.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 5 to 11.

Where to start

Ask whether early input would help, not whether your child is sick enough.
Take changes that last more than about a month to your GP, and go sooner if they’re getting worse or severe.
Go through your GP for community paediatrics, CAMHS and a talking therapy for trauma.
Any of these is worth bringing to your GP, and so is distress that is severe at any point, or anything else that worries you.
The GP is the way into NHS services, including community paediatrics and CAMHS.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

YoungMinds, parents’ guide to trauma, including when to seek professional help; Child Bereavement UK (incorporating Winston’s Wish), on traumatic loss in children

It goes with

Trauma in Childhood. For parents whose child has been through something hard, or whose family has.
When a Child Is Grieving. For parents whose child has lost someone, or something, that was there last week.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Trauma. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
Parent wellbeing. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

The rest of the library

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you would prefer to text rather than speak: Shout · Text SHOUT to 85258 · 24/7 · giveusashout.org.
If you or someone you are worried about needs someone to talk to: Samaritans · 116 123 · 24/7 · www.samaritans.org.

If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.