Youth Mental Health Day, an opportunity to recognise the unique challenges that young people face, and the positive impact support can bring.

Grace House offer free, confidential counselling and mental health support for disabled children and their siblings aged 04-25 who live, work or study in in the North-East.

Every year, we support these young people through counselling, workshops, employment support and access to resources.

We currently have a team of 11 Psychotherapists and Counsellors supporting disabled children and their siblings here at Grace House.  We know it’s brave to ask for help so we make sure to offer a wide range of support and access/entry points in the hope that it means young people can ask for what they need more quickly.

Disabled children and their siblings tell us that seeing others like them who have asked for help, and have a story of recovery, helps them feel better able to ask for help.

We believe supporting disabled young people and their siblings to understand themselves, and their mental health, allows them to take charge of their wellbeing and gives them confidence to ask for help. This is all part of being brave.

Disabled children and their siblings tell us that counselling, and taking part in our workshops and other Grace House activities helps them to feel more confident and braver. Recent feedback includes:

“Counselling has been so beneficial for C to help him process his thoughts and feelings.  It was really important to C to feel heard and believed, and the counsellor was brilliant supporting C so that he felt this.  The counsellor also proactively liaised with school to support C with his difficulties.”

“O seems happier in himself and able to cope better with his stress.  He has learned coping strategies for times he feels overwhelmed, it has been noticeable that he doesn’t bang his head off ‘anything’ to deal with frustration.”

“The therapeutic service has been good. I have seen a noticeable and positive change in my daughter’s wellbeing and behaviour. My daughter has gained in confidence and self-esteem. My daughter has developed strategies to help with bullies. My intention was for her to be happier in life, and she is!”