The ‘Time Apart, Time Together’ group is all about helping families talk, listen, and better understand one another to improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Joint Activities and Motor Education Service (J.A.M.E.S) started the group in Keighley in 2023 and it’s now being extended to Bradford East thanks to funding from Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.
Official figures suggest that one in five children and young people aged eight to 25 in England are thought to have a mental health disorder.
The support young people receive from friends, family and community is key to good mental health and wellbeing, setting them up well for life. By promoting early awareness and resilience, J.A.M.E.S aim to reduce the risk of poor escalation of mental health.
During the session, parents and children are split into separate groups to talk through topics like stress, self-care, emotions, and relationships and discuss coping mechanisms, then reunite for a fun activity.
Parents also speak about ways to support their children through different emotions and situations. One parents feedback was “I feel less alone, it was reassuring to know other parents struggle too, we all helped each other, it felt safe to talk”.
Children are also developing a stronger understanding of their own mental health and recognising low moods. At the start of one cohort only one out of 11 young people knew what a low mood was and how to get out of it. By the end of the session, all 11 reported that they understood low mood and how to address it.
Angie Stack, operations manager at J.A.M.E.S said: “We have seen great success with this project in helping families be more open with their feelings and emotions.
“Everyone who has taken part has said that things have improved for them after the course. It is great to see and highlights the impact this project is having on people’s lives. It can be tricky for children and young people to deal with emotions and life changes, but these sessions help them to understand these feelings and provide coping mechanisms for when they need them, whilst also equipping parents/carers with the skills and strategies they need to support their children.”
To join the group, please email enquiries@jamesuk.org or call 01274 483075 with your interest in the group and the location (either Keighley or Bradford East).
Need to talk? Emotional support is also available through Guide-Line between 8am and 12am on 08001 884 884 or via www.healthyminds.services. For 24/7 urgent mental health crisis support, people should contact First Response on 0800 952 1181.