Support for Mental Health and Autism in the UK

A guide to the main sources of free support available to families of autistic children and young people, with a dedicated section on local services in Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool

If your child is autistic, or you are waiting for an assessment, you may already know how difficult it can be to find the right support, particularly for mental health. Autistic children and young people are at significantly higher risk of experiencing mental health difficulties than their neurotypical peers, and families often report feeling left to manage without sufficient professional help. The good news is that a growing number of high-quality, free resources now exist online for parents and carers in the UK. This page brings them together in one place.

Autism Central

This is probably the most important recent development in parent support. Autism Central is the national peer education programme for families and support networks of autistic people of all ages in England. It is commissioned by NHS England and delivered by the Anna Freud Centre. Since its launch in 2023 it has supported over 30,000 parents and carers. Everything it offers is free.

The programme provides a single national learning platform with accessible resources and training materials, free online events including virtual meet-ups and reflective sessions, and confidential one-to-one peer coaching from trained guides with lived experience. The peer guides are autistic and non-autistic family members who have been trained to share knowledge and provide practical guidance on navigating services and systems. Families consistently rate the sessions highly, and the programme is actively growing its reach across all regions of England.

Autism Central Website: autismcentral.org.uk
Email: autismcentral@annafreud.org

YoungMinds

YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity for children’s and young people’s mental health. Their website has a dedicated section on autism and mental health, with practical advice on supporting an autistic child or teenager who is struggling, understanding how autism interacts with anxiety and low mood, and navigating the diagnostic process. They make the important point that autism itself is not a mental health condition, but that autistic young people can be more likely to experience difficulties such as anxiety.

YoungMinds also runs a free Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544, alongside webchat and email support. This is a valuable resource for any parent who is worried about their child’s mental health, whether or not autism is part of the picture.

YoungMinds Website: youngminds.org.uk
Autism section: youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/autism-and-mental-health
Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (free)

National Autistic Society

The NAS remains the single largest source of autism-related information and support in the UK. Their mental health section offers guidance on a wide range of topics and includes a good practice guide, produced in collaboration with Mind, aimed at helping mental health professionals adapt talking therapies for autistic adults and children. They also offer a free online module designed to increase understanding of autistic mental health experiences and to explore practical strategies for supporting young autistic people.

For parents of younger children, the NAS delivers structured programmes through locally licensed professionals. EarlyBird is designed for families of children under six, EarlyBird Plus covers ages five to ten, and Teen Life is aimed at ten to sixteen year olds. Each programme typically runs over six sessions, covering topics such as understanding autism, communication, sensory processing, stress and anxiety, self-esteem, and working with professionals. These are group-based, so availability depends on local provision, but they are well regarded and worth asking about.

National Autistic Society Website: autism.org.uk
Mental health section: autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/mental-health
Family support: autism.org.uk/what-we-do/support-in-the-community/family-support

NHS Resources

The NHS website itself has a section dedicated to children’s and young people’s mental health at nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults. The Every Mind Matters programme provides self-help tools and practical advice for supporting mental wellbeing. NHS England also publishes a useful autism resources page that signposts families and professionals to the Autism and CAMHS Toolkit, which offers advice on accessing community CAMHS for autistic children.

It is also worth knowing that Mental Health Support Teams are being rolled out in schools across England, with the aim of reaching national coverage by the end of the decade. If your child’s school has an MHST, this can be a helpful first point of contact for concerns about anxiety, low mood or emotional difficulties.

NHS Every Mind Matters Website: nhs.uk/every-mind-matters

NHS England Autism Resources Website: england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/about/useful-autism-resources-and-training

Ambitious about Autism

Ambitious about Autism is a national charity that works specifically with autistic children and young people. They provide advice and support for parents and carers and run an online community, Talk About Autism, where families can connect with one another. Their youth network supports autistic young people aged 13 to 25 directly. The charity also campaigns on issues such as school inclusion and the transition to adulthood.

Ambitious about Autism Website: ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk

Place2Be

Place2Be is a charity that provides mental health support within schools. If your child’s school is a Place2Be partner, they may have access to counselling and early support services on-site. The charity also publishes free resource packs for families each year, typically around Children’s Mental Health Week in February, with practical activities and conversation starters for use at home.

Place2Be Website: place2be.org.uk

Reframing Autism

Reframing Autism offers a free, self-paced online course called Autism Essentials. It provides a neurodiversity-affirming understanding of autism and is designed for a wide audience, from autistic individuals and family members through to professionals and researchers. For parents who want to deepen their understanding of autism from a strengths-based perspective, this is a thoughtful and well-produced resource.

Reframing Autism Website: reframingautism.org.au

Helplines and Crisis Support

If you are worried about your child’s immediate safety or wellbeing, or if you need someone to talk to urgently, several free helplines are available around the clock.

YoungMinds Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544 (free, weekdays)
Webchat and email also available at youngminds.org.uk

Childline (for children and young people under 18) 0800 1111 (free, 24 hours)
Online chat at childline.org.uk

PAPYRUS (suicide prevention for young people up to age 35) HOPELINE247: 0800 068 4141 (free, 24 hours)
Website: papyrus-uk.org

Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24 hours)
Website: samaritans.org

Local Resources: Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool

If you live in the Tees Valley, there are several local organisations that provide autism-specific and mental health support for children and families. Many of these services are free or very low cost, and some do not require a formal diagnosis to access.

CAMHS Single Point of Contact

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services across Teesside are provided by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV). Anyone with concerns about a child’s mental health, including parents, carers, school staff and young people themselves, can contact the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) phone line to speak with a mental health nurse. The nurse can then consider the most appropriate next steps, which may include self-help guidance, signposting to local voluntary sector services, or referral into CAMHS. A 24/7 crisis line is also available for children and young people in acute mental health crisis.

TEWV CAMHS Single Point of Contact Phone: 0300 013 2000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Option 2: Middlesbrough CAMHS
Option 4: Hartlepool CAMHS
Option 5: Stockton CAMHS
Email (South Tees): tewv.stspoc-camhs@nhs.net
Email (North Tees): tewv.ntspoc-camhs@nhs.net

Daisy Chain

Daisy Chain is a well-established Tees Valley charity based at Calf Fallow Farm in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees. Founded in 2003, it works with autistic and neurodivergent children, young people, adults and their families. The charity offers after-school social clubs, holiday activity sessions, sensory rooms, a farm environment and parent and carer support groups. It also delivers the Tees Valley Family Support Service, commissioned to support children and young people aged 0 to 18 and their families who are on the autism, ADHD, sensory processing or FASD pathway. Importantly, your child does not need a diagnosis to access this service. The family support team offers weekly coffee mornings, drop-in sessions and multi-agency drop-ins.

Daisy Chain Website: daisychainproject.co.uk
Location: Calf Fallow Farm, Calf Fallow Lane, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, TS20 1PF

MAIN

MAIN was established in 2002 as an after-school service for children with autism in Middlesbrough and has since grown into a leading North East charity supporting children, young people and adults with a range of disabilities across the Tees Valley. Based at the Finlay Cooper Centre in Middlesbrough, MAIN offers clubs for all ages, one-to-one personal assistant support packages, alternative education provision, and training courses for both families and professionals. The organisation is also the SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service) provider for Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland, making it a valuable source of advice on education, health and care plans and other SEND-related matters.

MAIN Website: iammain.org.uk
Phone: 01642 608012
Location: The Finlay Cooper Centre, Elizabeth Terrace, Middlesbrough, TS3 6EN

Autism Parents Together (Tees Valley)

Autism Parents Together is a Tees Valley charity established in 2018 that provides support to children and young people aged 0 to 18, either diagnosed with or undergoing assessment for autism, along with their parents, carers and siblings. It runs a private Facebook support group for parents and carers to share experiences and seek advice, and organises subsidised activities and exclusive-hire events at venues such as trampoline parks, swimming pools and soft play centres, giving families a chance to enjoy outings in a non-judgemental environment. Sibling activities and parent and carer events are also part of the offer.

Autism Parents Together (Tees Valley) Website: autismparentstogether.org

North East Autism Society (NEAS)

The North East Autism Society is a regional charity with over 40 years of experience providing autism-specific services. While its main bases are in Sunderland and County Durham, it offers family support, toddler groups and autism hub sessions across the wider North East, including the Tees Valley. Its family support service works with autistic children, young people and adults, helping them access activities in the community, build friendships and develop independent living skills. NEAS also provides free downloadable resources designed to help families navigate day-to-day challenges.

North East Autism Society Website: ne-as.org.uk

Teesside Mind

Teesside Mind is a local Mind charity providing mental health services and training across Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool. Their services include support for children, young people and families experiencing stress, anxiety and depression. They also offer advocacy services and a range of wellbeing programmes.

Teesside Mind Website: teessidemind.org.uk

Healthier Together (North East and North Cumbria)

The Healthier Together website is an NHS resource developed by local healthcare professionals across the North East and North Cumbria. It provides trusted advice on common childhood conditions and has dedicated pages on neurodiversity, emotional wellbeing and local support services. For the Hartlepool, Stockton and South Tees areas it signposts families to the Tees Valley neurodevelopmental pathway and local authority-specific information. There is also a free mobile app available for iOS and Android.

Healthier Together (NENC) Website: nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk
Neurodiversity resources: nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/parentscarers/neurodiversity/neurodiversity-local-resources

Other Local Resources

WeHeartCBT provides free cognitive behavioural therapy resources to help schools, parents and professionals support children with mental health difficulties such as anxiety and low mood. The Stockton SEND Local Offer and Hartlepool Family Hubs websites provide directories of local services and information specific to families of children with special educational needs and disabilities. Mental Health Support Teams are also being established in schools across Hartlepool and Stockton to provide early support for children and young people aged 5 to 18.

A Note on Navigating Support

One of the most common frustrations parents report is knowing where to start. If your child has recently been diagnosed, or if you are still waiting for an assessment, the Autism Central programme is a particularly good first port of call. It was specifically designed to help families navigate the system and to provide the kind of peer support that many parents say they wish they had had earlier. For broader mental health concerns, whether related to autism or not, the YoungMinds Parents Helpline offers a confidential space to talk things through with someone who understands.

All of the resources listed on this page are free at the point of use. Some, such as the NAS parent programmes, depend on local availability and may have waiting lists. Others, such as Autism Central’s online events and the Reframing Autism course, can be accessed immediately from home.

Page last reviewed: March 2026