Forming a family and parenting is an important part of life, with many changes taking place. Both mothers’ and fathers’ mental health may be affected during this transition, which may influence their child’s mental health.
Parental mental health problems, if untreated, can affect the long-term well-being of both parents and children. We work on a variety of innovative projects with children and young people.
Current families, children and young people programmes
Amplifying Maternal Voices
The Amplifying Maternal Voices (AMV) project will spotlight the maternal mental health experiences of mothers from seldom heard communities.
Becoming a Man
BAM aims to support the personal development and wellbeing of young men aged 12 to 16.
Creating Connections
Creating Connections is a project working to create a safe space and increase social connection for young people and young mothers through facilitated peer support.
Family Zone
Family Zone uses a creative, whole-family approach to work with young people who are living with a parent with a diagnosed mental illness to improve family wellbeing and connection.
Mums and Babies in Mind
This programme supports local leaders in four areas of England to improve quality of life for mums with mental health problems.
Parent Champion Group
The Parent Champion Group is a peer-to-peer supportive group that connects and empowers parents by giving them a space to have their voices heard!
Professional Learning Resource for School Staff
The Scotland team has developed a professional learning resource on mental health and wellbeing for all school staff in Scotland.
Single Parents
Run by single parents for single parents, this programme provides a compassionate, motivated and empowering approach to being a single parent.
SITUATE project
We run the SITUATE project with the University of Sussex, to help with students’ mental health.
U OK?
U OK? is our university, college and sixth form based project that aims to give students the skills they need to look after their mental health.
Young Leaders
The MHF Young Leaders are a diverse group of young people who inform the Foundation’s work with families, children and young people.
Young Mums Together
This is a programme funded by the Big Lottery to develop sustainable hubs of support for young mothers in three London boroughs.
Young Parents Connect
Young Parents Connect is a three-year peer support project for young mothers that uses a creative, whole-family approach to mental health prevention within a community setting.
Resources for schools and families
Our Resources for schools and families programmes have developed a series of resources to help support mental health in children and young people, for parents, caregivers and people working in education.
Explore the resources