n 2015, Claire and Joel Sutton discovered that their 11-year-old daughter’s ADHD had led to anxiety, depression, an eating disorder and daily self-harm. They visited their doctor, who referred Jade to the NHS’s CAMHs (Child u0026 Adolescent Mental Health Services), but also warned she faced an 18 month wait for an assessment, and that because demand for help was so high, only children that had attempted suicide were receiving support. In desperation, the Suttons found a private counsellor for Jade, but when she stopped attending the sessions, realised that they had to take on the daunting task of supporting Jade’s recovery themselves.
Claire committed herself to supporting Jade’s healing and recovery. They embarked on a winding journey of learning, filled with surprises, set-backs and successes…but the end result was Jade’s recovery.
And on the other side of this journey, witnessing the transformative power of parental support, Claire and Jade recognised the need for them to pass on their experience and learning, to extend this support to other families in desperate need.
Understanding the key role parents can play supporting a child or young person’s mental health, Claire, Joel and Jade, alongside a team of experts including psychotherapists, psychologists, and a neuroscientist, founded the Youth Mental Health Foundation. Our mission: to provide practical resources, guidance, and peer support to parents navigating the complexities of supporting a child through mental health crisis.
Since its establishment as a registered non-profit organisation, the Youth Mental Health Foundation has provided coaching to over 1500 parents through free in-person and online training programs. It supports a community of over 2.4k parents in its Facebook group and receives referrals from the UK’s NHS (National health Service), doctors, mental health professionals, schools and non-profit organisations around the world.
Driven by their shared experiences and commitment to help other families supporting a young person struggling with mental health, Claire, Jade and their team continue to expand the Foundation’s programmes and reach. With a focus on parental support and early intervention, they work to ensure that no parent or child feels alone in their mental health journey.
“The parent-child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind.”
-trauma-specialist and best-selling author, Dr Bessel van der Kolk.
If you’re a parent or carer facing similar challenges, or a school focused on your pupils’ mental health, know that we’re here to help. Take a moment to explore our website to access our free resources, guidance, and a community dedicated to supporting each other help a child struggling with mental health