Mental health charity Nessie to offer free workshops for parents of children with self-harming behaviours

Nessie, a charity supporting the positive mental health of children, young people and their families, is to deliver free workshops and support for parents and carers supporting those who are displaying self-harming behaviours.

Cambridgeshire County Council has commissioned the Royston-based not-for-profit, which offers informal parent workshops face-to-face and online, within schools and community settings, as well as support on the phone and via a moderated Facebook page.

It is inviting all parents, schools and community settings to get in touch now to book the informal workshops for this term.

A spokesperson for the charity said it was pleased “to have the opportunity to work with, and offer guidance to, parents who might be struggling to understand self-harm or to access advice on how to support at home”, adding: “Nessie’s staff are all qualified psychotherapists, counsellors and teachers who have been delivering this support in surrounding counties for a number of years and have extensive experience in supporting parents in this area.”

This term, the organisation will offer monthly online workshops, as well as collaborating with Pin Point to support parents of children with neurodiversity. The first online workshop, titled ‘Helping Parents & Carers to support young people with self-harming behaviours’, is to take place on Monday, January 30, from 10am-12pm. Places must be booked in advance.

For further information and to book, visit nessieined.com/workshops, or visit the Facebook pages, Cambridge Support Group for Parents of Children/ Young People that Self Harm and Nessie in Ed.

The helpline is open on Wednesdays from 9am-12pm, and appointments can be made by calling 07932 651319, or emailing cambridgefamilies@nessieined.com.