Do you have any ideas on how I can help my child stay mentally healthy?
Our Education and Children Service has created some great resources for parents, guardians or carers around emotional support including a series of podcasts (please see below for the range of topics covered) and how to relieve stress and anxiety through play.
This webpage hosts RNIB’s wellbeing resources for children and young people with vision impairment and their families:
www.rnib.org.uk/toughtalks
It includes “Tough Talks”, a resource on talking to your child about their vision impairment as well as a number of emotional wellbeing podcasts on topics parents frequently ask about.
Podcasts Series 1
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Podcast 1: Resilience, confidence, and self-esteem
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Podcast 2: Talking to your child about their eye condition
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Podcast 3: Talking to others about your child’s eye condition
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Podcast 4: Isolation and anxiety
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Podcast 5: Managing behaviour
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Podcast 6: Coping with a new diagnosis
Podcasts Series 2
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Podcast 7: Early years development
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Podcast 8: Sleep
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Podcast 9: Bullying
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Podcast 10: Confidence, resilience and transitions
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Podcast 11: Social development and making friends
Stress relief
Play is a great way to relieve stress. Activities like playing with sand, water or playdough can have a grounding effect, helping children to relax. The repetitive and rhythmic nature of some types of sensory play can also be comforting, helping children feel secure. Our Education and Children’s Service has created some sweet-smelling “slimes” to make and play with to create this relaxing and calming effect.
You can find the recipes along with other ways to reduce anxiety and stress such as getting outside for a scavenger hunt or curling up with an audio book on our World Mental Health Day webpage.
Mental health support
If a child or young person with vision impairment needs mental health support, there are lots of options available to them such as:
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Talk to a friend or family member
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Talk to a trusted adult at school or in a community setting
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Use the resources available through YoungMinds: YoungMinds
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Talk to a GP and ask for onward referral to supporting resources
If a child or their family member requires urgent mental health support, please refer to RNIB’s safeguarding guidance and raise any concerns with a DSL.
If an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the emergency services (dial 999).
Some other services that may take referrals for emergency support under DSL and Safeguarding guidance are:
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Children’s Services (under 18s) or Adult Services (over 18s) and local mental health support units
RNIB Specialist Advice Service Advisors can give further information on this topic
