MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FORCHILDREN PARENTS AND CARERS

If you're struggling with depression and/or anxiety, and need to speak to someone now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Mental wellbeing is important for every child’s development. If you’re a parent or carer of a child facing emotional, behavioural and mental health challenges, you may be wondering what you can do to help them. The good news is, having the right tools can make a big difference to the wellbeing of the whole family.

Below are programs and resources to help give children and carers the tools to support and promote mental wellbeing.

Some of these are free for everyone, others we can provide to eligible HCF members at a reduced cost or no cost. 

MANAGE BIG FEELINGS WITH CALM KID CENTRAL

Do you have concerns about your child's:

  • negative emotions, thoughts and self-esteem?
  • friendships and family relationships?
  • ability to listen, follow instructions and manage frustrations?
  • coping skills at both school and home?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, Calm Kid Central may be a useful program for you and your child.

Calm Kid Central is an online educational and support program for kids aged 4–11 with big feelings and emotional challenges.

The program includes:

  • courses, video lessons, activities, posters and animations to help children understand and better manage their feelings
  • fast and confidential access to a team of experienced child psychologists, who will address and answer unlimited questions from parents and carers within 48 hours
  • videos and articles to help parents know what to say and do to support their child emotionally. 

These tools will help teach children to act bravely and confidently, behave in positive ways, develop good friendships and manage tough life situations.

HCF members with hospital or extras cover have access to Calm Kid Central, which also has specific videos and resources for children who are feeling worried or unsettled by COVID-19.

To check your eligibility, email your name and HCF membership number to wellbeing@hcf.com.au with Calm Kid Central as the subject line.

ACCESS VIDEO COUNSELLING WITH PSYCH2U

We know finding the time and resources to go to face-to-face counselling can be tricky and costly. If you feel you and your child would benefit from more support in addition to Calm Kid Central, you may be able to access our PSYCH2U online mental wellbeing program delivered by PSYCH2U for parents and their children^.

To give you quick and early access to appropriate mental health support, we’ve expanded our mental health offering with PSYCH2U to include a free HCF HealthyMinds Check-in with a PSYCH2U psychologist for eligible members*.  

To find out more about PSYCH2U's mental wellbeing and navigation support services, visit our mental support page, call PSYCH2U on 1300 472 866 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm AEST/AEDT) or book an appointment online. 

ACCESS FREE PROGRAMS FROM This Way Up

Another option for parents is to enrol in online treatment programs through This Way Up+, a not-for-profit initiative developed by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, to help you take control of your mental wellbeing today.

Clinically proven to help, the programs understand and improve mental challenges like stress, insomnia, worry, anxiety and depression.

The programs are available free of charge when prescribed by a clinician. Your provider will register with This Way Up and refer you to an appropriate online program under their supervision.

Alternatively, you can access the programs without a supervising clinician for $59 per program.

There are also a wide range of practical resources and coping tools for consumers and clinicians available at no cost.

Read more

READ MORE ABOUT YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS

We also have a range of articles to guide you on mental health and parenting on our Health Agenda blog.

Read more on mental health Read more on parenting

CALM KID CENTRAL: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Am I eligible for Calm Kid Central at no cost?

If you have hospital or extras cover with a child aged between 4 and 11 years old on your policy, you and your child may be eligible for Calm Kid Central at no cost. Excluded on Accident Only Basic cover and Overseas Visitors Health cover.

To check your eligibility, email your name and HCF membership number to wellbeing@hcf.com.au with ‘Calm Kid Central’ as the subject line. One of our friendly team members will reply within 2 business days to acknowledge your email and eligibility. They'll then provide you with a code and a link to Calm Kid Central website so you can get started. 

Can I use Calm Kid Central at a reduced rate if I’m ineligible to access it for free?

Yes, you may still be able to use these programs at a reduced cost of $93 – the usual price is $177.50. To use Calm Kid Central at a reduced cost of $93, enter the code HCFSF2020 on the Calm Kid Central website.

Learn more about Calm Kid Central

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

* 1 HealthyMinds Check-in available per member per calendar year. Service is available free to all members with hospital cover. Excludes extras only cover, Ambulance Only, Accident Only Basic and Overseas Visitors Health Cover.

Must have HCF Gold level hospital cover for at least 2 months. Eligibility is based on clinical need as assessed by PSYCH2U.

This service is not affiliated or associated with HCF in any way. You should make your own enquiries to determine whether this service is suitable for you. If you decide to use this service, it'll be on the basis that HCF won't be responsible, and you won't hold HCF responsible, for any liability that may arise from that use.

YOUR PRIVACY

When you email HCF about Calm Kid Central, HCF will collect your name, membership number, and contact number, so that HCF can check your eligibility and (if you are eligible) contact you about the Calm Kid Central program. If you do not provide this information, HCF may not be able to check your eligibility or contact you about the service.

The Calm Kid Central service is run by Developing Minds Pty Ltd. In order to use the Calm Kid Central service, you may be required to disclose personal information directly to Developing Minds. Developing Minds will only disclose to HCF your name, date of access to the Calm Kid Central service and member number so that HCF can evaluate the service, track utilisation of the service and manage its billing arrangements.

With your consent, Developing Minds may disclose your personal information (including health and other sensitive information) to your regular doctor or other health care provider. Your information is not stored or sent outside of Australia.

For more information about how Developing Minds and HCF collect, use, disclose, hold, secure and otherwise handle your personal information, including how to access and correct your personal information or make a complaint, and how HCF and Developing Minds will deal with such a complaint, see their respective privacy policies. 

Read the HCF Privacy Policy Read the Developing Minds Privacy Policy