Looking after your child’s wellbeing
An investigation can be very distressing for your child and they might have intense levels of shame, anxiety and isolation. They might also be at a higher risk of self-harm and suicide.
Please get support from your GP if you have any worries. If you think your child is in immediate danger, call 999 or go straight to A&E.
Your child can also get mental health support from Childline and Kooth. If they are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, Papyrus offers confidential suicide prevention advice.
Looking after your own wellbeing
It is important that you look after yourself. It’s incredibly hard navigating the emotional and practical challenges associated with a child being involved in harmful sexual behaviours, whether that’s offline or online. Make sure you find the support you need and find ways to look after your own emotional wellbeing. You will need to look after yourself in order to look after your family.
Think about where you might find support through friends, family, your doctor and other local services. The experienced advisors on our confidential helpline can support you with any worries. You can stay anonymous and don’t have to give your real name, location or any contact details. If you’re not ready to speak to anyone yet, you can also use our live chat or send a secure email.
Telling other people
You might be worried about other people finding out about what has happened. Think about who else needs to know, such as other adults responsible for supervising your child.
We suggest that you only tell people you can trust and who need to know, like close friends, family members or your children’s school. They should be people who can give you and your family support and help.
Try to be as open as you can with your child about who you plan to talk to and why. Let them know this is to keep them safe.
