Finding room to breathe: supporting a parent through her daughter's mental health crisis

When a mother found herself awake every night worrying about her teenage daughter's safety, FACCS helped her find support for both of them, and reclaim her own wellbeing in the process.

● Parent wellbeing ● Mental health ● Parent and teenager

The situation

A parent sought support due to significant challenges within the family, particularly relating to her teenage daughter's mental health and their strained relationship. The young person had experienced trauma and was displaying risk-taking behaviours, self-harming, refusing school, and becoming increasingly isolated at home.

These difficulties were placing considerable emotional strain on the parent, who was already managing her own mental health challenges linked to past trauma. She felt overwhelmed, unable to work, and was struggling with severe sleep deprivation, often staying awake at night out of concern for her daughter's safety.

Key pressures the family were facing

Teenage daughter experiencing trauma and self-harming

Daughter refusing school and becoming increasingly isolated

Parent managing her own mental health linked to past trauma

Severe sleep deprivation from staying awake to monitor her daughter

Unable to work due to the level of stress and exhaustion

Strained relationship between parent and daughter

The support provided

Support was built around both the parent's own wellbeing and her ability to help her daughter, recognising that neither could be addressed in isolation.

Space to talk openly

During initial sessions, the parent was given space to talk about both her daughter's experiences and her own emotional wellbeing. This helped her better understand her feelings and recognise the impact the situation was having on her own health.

Practical strategies for her daughter

An anxiety ladder was introduced as a practical tool to gradually support the young person in leaving the house and re-engaging with daily activities at a pace that felt manageable.

Signposting to specialist services

The parent was connected with a range of services including Mindspace for young people, Trauma Healing Together, and PKAVS Young Carers, as well as Relationship Scotland and the Teen Triple P parenting programme.

Self-care and personal wellbeing

Practical encouragement focused on the parent's own health, including guidance on self-care and support to access local Live Active facilities, recognising that her own stability was central to her daughter's recovery.

What changed

Progress built gradually as the parent grew more confident and her support network around her strengthened.

The parent's mother began staying overnight twice a week, giving her daughter uninterrupted sleep for the first time in months and a significant improvement in her overall wellbeing.

Improved sleep and mental health. With her mother staying overnight twice a week, the parent was able to sleep properly for the first time in months, significantly improving her overall wellbeing.

Stronger family support network. Opening up to her immediate family meant practical help arrived closer to home, reducing the parent's sense of isolation.

Returned to work. With greater emotional stability and support in place, the parent was able to return to employment.

Growing parenting confidence. Engagement with the Triple P programme strengthened her communication skills and confidence in supporting her daughter.

Daughter took her first step toward help. The young person requested counselling through Lighthouse at school, an important milestone in her own recovery.

Young Carers referral completed. Further tailored support was secured for the family through a Young Carers referral.

Positive change noticed by others. Extended family members observed a noticeable improvement, reflecting how far the family had come since first contacting FACCS.

The parent reflected that the support had given her practical tools and confidence, enabling her to prioritise her own wellbeing while effectively supporting her daughter to access the help she needs.