Families in North Nottinghamshire have welcomed a pioneering scheme designed to help parents support children and young people experiencing anxiety, OCD and related difficulties.
The Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) programme, launched in October 2024 by Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s North Nottinghamshire CAMHS team, has already supported 50 families and is receiving positive feedback for its practical, empowering approach.
Delivered primarily through group sessions, SPACE provides parents with advice and strategies to help their children manage anxiety. Parents have highlighted the group format as a key strength, offering opportunities to share experiences and learn from others. For families with more complex needs, one-to-one sessions have also been provided to ensure tailored support.
Most families take part in up to eight sessions, with additional help available where required. The programme aims to reduce anxiety-related distress and improve family wellbeing by equipping parents with tools to respond effectively to their child’s needs.
Ryan Smith, Clinical Lead for CAMHS North Nottinghamshire, said:
“This is a new treatment offer we have introduced to proactively address mental health needs before they escalate, reducing the likelihood of crisis presentations or long-term service dependency.
“The support is particularly suited to families where the young person is unwilling or unable to engage in direct therapy, often due to high levels of anxiety, oppositional behaviour, or avoidance.
“We're really pleased with the feedback we've had from families so far and we're now exploring how this approach can be incorporated into treatment pathways in other areas.”
The success of the pilot reflects growing recognition of the importance of parental involvement in mental health interventions for children and young people. Nottinghamshire Healthcare continues to explore ways to expand the programme and deliver long-term benefits for families across the region.
Image credit: iStock
