Are you a parent or carer worried about the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic? Do you work in an education or childcare setting and aren’t sure where to turn? Or maybe you just want to find out more about the impact of coronavirus on mental health and wellbeing.
Whatever the reason, you’ll find below a collection of resources produced by the UK government and other trusted organisations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We’ve put these together to guide and support you and those you care for during these difficult times and will update them as further information becomes available.
We hope you find them useful.
The ADS team
The NHS
Communicating with children about COVID-19
A guide to help key workers to talk to their children and families about their role and the impact it may have. Produced in collaboration with clinicians at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Children’s Commissioner
Children’s guide to coronavirus
A guide that aims to answer children’s questions about coronavirus, including how to stay safe, protect other people and make the best of their time at home.
Children’s guide to staying safe online
A guide to keeping children safe during the coronavirus outbreak when their screen time may be higher than usual.
Parents’ digital safety and wellbeing kit
Useful tips and guidance to help protect your child on a range of issues including video calling, ensuring your device and web browser are set up and updated correctly and tips on best practice for username and passwords.
Department for Education
Guidance on maintaining educational provision
A government guide for all schools, childcare providers, colleges and local authorities in England on providing education during lockdown.
What parents and carers need to know about schools and education during the coronavirus outbreak
Information for parents and carers of children at registered childcare providers (including nurseries and childminders); primary and secondary schools; and further education colleges.
Applies to both state-funded and independent schools.
The Anna Freud Centre
Supporting schools and colleges
A PDF guide to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and students during periods of disruption. To accompany the guide, Anna Freud has also produced the following videos, each designed for a specific audience. To view a video in fullscreen mode, click the play button followed by the square fullscreen icon:
guide
carers’ guide
young people’s guide
Supporting staff wellbeing in schools
A booklet developed with mental health experts that aims to give school staff and senior leadership teams simple guidance and practical examples of where schools have successfully implemented wellbeing strategies.
Liverpool CAMHS
Supporting children during social distancing
A huge collection of resources to support children and young people during social distancing, produced as part of the Liverpool Whole School Approach to Mental Health.
Mindheart
COVIBOOK
A short, printable book designed to support and reassure young children about COVID-19 and stimulate family discussion. Available in many languages.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
A PDF guide including advice for carers on mental health issues and helping children to cope (see page 4).
Young Minds
YoungMinds’ blog
A range of articles about COVID-19 for young people, with tips on coping, self-care, keeping in touch and much more.
British Psychological Society (BPS)
Talking to children about coronavirus
A PDF guide on how to speak openly with children while offering reassurance about the unsettling changes in the world around them.
Advice for key workers and their children
Guidance for key workers and their children on navigating the emotional effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BPS work to raise awareness of the ways in which psychology has a positive impact on the world.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Coronavirus anxiety: how to cope if you’re feeling anxious about the outbreak
Thoughts from counsellors on strategies for dealing with the mental health impact of this global news story.
The BACP is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK.
Good Thinking
Tools to help your mental health
Resources designed to help you to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including apps, advice and a self-assessment tool, as well as a dedicated coronavirus support page.
Include Me Too
COVID-19 information and resources
Links and resources for familes of disabled children and young people, including the COVID 19 Hospital Communication Passport: a printable PDF record of important information for medical staff when a disabled person is admitted to hospital.
National Autistic Society
Coronavirus resources
Guidance for autistic people and their loved ones on coping with the COVID-19 outbreak.