Stories
By sharing our knowledge and experiences, we can put an end to the myths and assumptions around parental mental illness. If you want to share your own story and help others find out more about parental mental illness, you can submit your blog or your vlog online through the Our Time website.
Stress and how our workshops can offer respite
We all need some stress in order to get us out of bed in the morning and life is full of opportunities to experience stress, from the demands of school, to friendships and sometimes the home environment.
Ensuring the environment in which a child can thrive is supported not just supportive – an educational challenge
Today I went to a large secondary school in north London to discuss how we might follow up and raise awareness of parental mental illness, and its impact on students, among the staff.
We need to be more hopeful when it comes to mental health
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, Michael Rutter Centre for Children and Families. There I met two very impressive people who have been working with and researching families who are coping with mental illness.
Dear friends
Over the years, Our Time – the multi-family programme for families coping with mental illness, loved by children and parents alike – has been a consistent and invaluable source of support for us three and our families.
Response to the Children’s Commissioner’s Report in the Guardian October 2017
I read the report of the argument between Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner, and Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, in the Guardian on Saturday, with dismay.
World Mental Health Day – Stories of survival
I now spend much of my working day thinking about a hidden issue, but one that has enormous implications for society, and particularly children and young people.
Back to school: Respite, relief or reason to worry?
It’s the start of September and children are preparing to go back to school; parents are preparing them for a new school year, new teachers, new schools and the inevitable stresses and strains associated with transitions.
KidsTime Workshop in action
The day was excellent. The sessions are just getting better and better. We are getting to know each other and people are more comfortable and being themselves.
Ambeya on winning ‘Young Student Volunteer’ at the Westminster Community Awards
I do not do what I do for appreciation or recognition, but when I found myself being celebrated at an award ceremony, where the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the director of communities and chief executives, were congratulating me for the time and dedication I give to Our Time, it made me realise that it isn’t officials or leaders who create change.
Building communities for Carers Week 2017
Everything we do here at Our Time, whether it is working with families, schools or lobbying the government, is working to build a community around the child who has a parent with a mental illness.
