other-news - pact

Other news and resources:

 

Almost half of teenagers are victims or witnesses of violence, study warns
"The effects of this exposure to violence were also found to be wide reaching with 47 per cent of children reporting that the fear of violence impacted their day to day life.

Some 20 per cent told researchers that they had skipped school in the past 12 months because they felt unsafe."
Read the article here


5 signs of burnout in teens - and how to help them through it
"Whether they’re preparing for exams or just feeling the pressure from schoolwork, it’s normal for teens to feel stressed at school. However, if this stress starts to build or your teen feels overwhelmed for long periods of time, this can lead to something called burnout"....
Read the article here


Small group parent-guided CBT sessions online
Using the book written by two of the UK's foremost experts on childhood anxiety, these sessions will help you to understand what may be causing your child's worries and to carry out step-by-step practical strategies to help to overcome them, including addressing specific fears and phobias as well as general anxiety and 'worrying’. Research has shown that the outcomes using #CBT tools and techniques are about the same whether it is delivered by a parent or a therapist. Knowing the waiting lists for therapists can be long, and how many of our children are signed off from services because of a perceived "lack of engagement", we want to share some of these tools and techniques with parents to give them more understanding of the cycle of anxiety and ideas on possible steps to take. We are also working with a local child psychologist to develop some resources for parents of neurodiverse young people on how traditional #CBT can easily be adapted to suit each child as an individual. 

Rise of Britain's "Ghost children" who are so frozen in fear they can't attend school - by Beth Neil
But this startling statistic doesn’t begin to tell the full story and it’s far more complex than a simple truancy problem, not least because of the mental health crisis, with waiting lists for CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) hitting almost three years in some parts of the country.
Campaigners say the main driver behind school avoidance is the fact that many of these children have special educational needs (SEN) and are trapped in an inflexible “one size fits all” education system. Read the full article HERE
features Louise Parker Engels - Define Fine CIC 



Dame Rachel and The Missing Children (Part 1) by @johncosgrove405 (retired Headteacher, author and freelance writer)

"Linking the issue of “missing children” to Covid, as Dame Rachel is doing, suggests that over the past 18 months thousands of young people have taken advantage of pandemic turmoil to absent themselves from education, and thousands of parents, concerned for their own or their children’s health, have kept their children at home. For Dame Rachel, this is a problem caused by parents and pupils themselves, whereas the real scandal – or rather, series of scandals – is that some schools, most Local Authorities and many Academy Chains routinely and knowingly deprive large numbers of pupils of their right to an education and the Department for Education is complicit in this." click HERE to read the full article


Young adults are among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with many having lost jobs, missed school, and been unable to meet friends and family during lockdowns. They will also carry the long-term economic burden of COVID-19 for years to come.
So this guide will give you a lot of important facts and figures around COVID-19's impact on young people such as:
The financial impact of the pandemic: OECD data shows people aged 15-24 were most affected by unemployment at the start of the crisis.
Career and education figures: 73% of 14-to-18-year olds expressed concerns about the pandemic's impact on their future careers.
Mental wellbeing: survey data showed 18-24-year-olds experienced the highest proportion of negative feelings during lockdowns.
Tips and advice to help with the long-term challenges faced by young adults and other useful links.
Here’s the full version if you’d like to check it out - click here


'You'd walk out if your husband hit you - you can't when it's your child'

“Most parents never have to worry about being attacked by a violent child, but if it happens, they face a dilemma. They can't just walk out - and they may fear that seeking help will have repercussions for their child. Research suggests the problem is often hidden, and far more common than we imagine.”

'You'd walk out if your husband hit you - you can't when it's your child' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-57942296

Contact Supportline: 07856 038799

Meetings in Suffolk

parent support Suffolk

We are currently meeting up on the first Monday of every month in Stowmarket, and the third Monday in Bury St Edmunds. We are a very informal group and tea and coffee is always provided - sometimes even biscuits and cake! Come along.

Support for parents/carers

carer support Suffolk

PACT offer free, confidential support, including information and advice to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person. We offer a safe environment to support with no judgement.

Self Help Resources

Self help for parents and carers

We can offer a wide range of self help resources to support you and your child. These include access to books, links to online content, connections with other organisations and the chance to come to one of our meetings to chat and share ideas.