Call for more support for parents of kids with mental health problems

When Alison's daughter Paige was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when she was just five, she found it difficult to know how to help her - because there was no option for parents to get support.

Alison says she felt helpless because she wasn't sure what she should say to Paige, or how to help her cope when her illness flared up:

"We were left in limbo, we didn't know how to cope with that. Everyone was talkiing about the adults with mental health and the children with mental health problems, but no-one was talking about the adults who care for children suffering with mental health problems.

"If my daughter is suffering, my mental health suffers as well and it's sort of a knock-on effect, because she sees me suffering and then it reflects back to her. It's vital parents are involved with children, because we know them better than any agency or service, we know them 100% better."

So she, along with a friend, set up SHARE, a support group for parents in Salford whose kids are struggling with mental health conditions.

They meet over a brew and some food to talk over any problems or concerns they may have, and to share ideas for how to tackle them.

"Children are really open about it, Paige is amazing. But as parents go, it is a massive taboo. We don't want to admit our children have these mental health issues because we blame ourselves and we think 'what have I done wrong as a parent?'. So we're trying to rid that stigma and say 'it is OK.'"

"Although it's not a massive amount, the way we look at it, those families would have still been sat at home battling their own issues. There's still a stigma attached to it, but people are starting to talk about it, they are starting to say that, as parents, we do need to help our children.

"I used to think I was own, along with her dad, that nobody else suffers like this, but when you start talking to parents you realise we're not on our own, we do have the tools to help Paige. There are some days where I think I won't know what to do, but then I'll take a step back and say that, yes, I actually do."

For more information about the work SHARE does, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share.littlehulton