Skip to content

Secondary School Years 11-16

Supporting a child through the teenage years can be both rewarding and challenging, and when a young person is neurodivergent or experiencing difficulties with their mental health, finding the right guidance becomes even more important. Today’s families are surrounded by an overwhelming amount of information online—and it’s not always easy to know where to turn or which resources are reliable.

This section brings together a carefully curated collection of trusted digital resources designed to help parents and carers of young people aged 11–16. These platforms offer clear, practical advice on everything from understanding neurodiversity and navigating school support, to promoting positive mental health, managing online life, and finding help in moments of crisis.

Whether you’re looking for neurodiversity‑affirming guidance, tools to support emotional wellbeing, or simply reassurance from organisations who understand the pressures young people face today, this collection offers a strong starting point. Each resource has been selected because it provides high‑quality, evidence‑based information and accessible support for families—helping you feel informed, empowered, and less alone as you navigate the journey with your child.

Barnardo’s Family Space – Digital Wellbeing (13–19)

Explains online risks, social media pressures, pornography exposure, digital balance, and how to support teens' emotional wellbeing online. Includes conversation starters and links to further tools.
Link: https://families.barnardos.org.uk/13-19-years/digital-wellbeing

Parentkind – Online Safety Toolkit

Practical guidance for parents on digital wellbeing, screen time limits, cyberbullying, online harm, social media safety, and digital role‑modelling.
Link: https://www.parentkind.org.uk/online-safety-toolkit

UK Government – Online Media Literacy Resources

Trusted government guidance on media literacy, misinformation, online privacy, cyberbullying, extremism, and online safety education. Includes the Online Safety Parent Hub.
Link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-media-literacy-resources


Collins – Teen Digital Wellbeing Guidance

Seven practical tips from digital wellbeing experts to help families support healthy tech habits, screen balance, critical thinking, and online safety.
Link: https://collins.co.uk/blogs/collins4parents/7-ways-to-support-your-teens-digital-wellbeing

Teen Tips – The Wellbeing Hub

A multi‑award‑winning online platform offering webinars, workshops, expert‑led resources, and proactive mental‑health guidance for parents and teens.
Link: https://teentips.co.uk/

Ditox – Best Digital Wellbeing Resources (Free)

A global digital wellbeing directory including guides on online safety, cyberbullying, digital citizenship, gaming safety, and healthy online habits for teens.
Link: https://www.ditox.co/resources/best-digital-wellbeing-resources

Barnardo’s Family Space – Digital Wellbeing (13–19)

Explains online risks, social media pressures, pornography exposure, digital balance, and how to support teens' emotional wellbeing online. Includes conversation starters and links to further tools.
Link: https://families.barnardos.org.uk/13-19-years/digital-wellbeing

Parentkind – Online Safety Toolkit

Practical guidance for parents on digital wellbeing, screen time limits, cyberbullying, online harm, social media safety, and digital role‑modelling.
Link: https://www.parentkind.org.uk/online-safety-toolkit

UK Government – Online Media Literacy Resources

Trusted government guidance on media literacy, misinformation, online privacy, cyberbullying, extremism, and online safety education. Includes the Online Safety Parent Hub.
Link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-media-literacy-resources


Collins – Teen Digital Wellbeing Guidance

Seven practical tips from digital wellbeing experts to help families support healthy tech habits, screen balance, critical thinking, and online safety.
Link: https://collins.co.uk/blogs/collins4parents/7-ways-to-support-your-teens-digital-wellbeing

Teen Tips – The Wellbeing Hub

A multi‑award‑winning online platform offering webinars, workshops, expert‑led resources, and proactive mental‑health guidance for parents and teens.
Link: https://teentips.co.uk/

Ditox – Best Digital Wellbeing Resources (Free)

A global digital wellbeing directory including guides on online safety, cyberbullying, digital citizenship, gaming safety, and healthy online habits for teens.
Link: https://www.ditox.co/resources/best-digital-wellbeing-resources

Parents’ Mental Health Support Hub – clear guides on mental health conditions, feelings, behaviours, life events, and how to navigate services like CAMHS.

  • Parents’ A–Z Mental Health Guide – covers concerns such as anxiety, autism & mental health, self-esteem, bullying, exam stress, gender identity, school anxiety, gaming, depression, and more.
  • Parents Helpline (phone & online chat) – confidential advice for parents of children up to age 25.
  • Resource Library & Webinars – downloadable wellbeing activities, toolkits, and practical guides for supporting teens, including autistic young people.

Link: youngminds.org.uk

Solent Mind (Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight)

Solent Mind provides mental health support for children, teens, families, and carers — with specific resources for neurodiversity, self-harm, and transition from CAMHS.

Key Parent & Teen Resources

  • Self-Harm Support Hub – a dedicated digital space for anyone supporting a young person who is self-harming or at risk. Includes explainers, myths, and guidance for parents.

Link: https://www.selfharmsupporthubhants.org.uk/

  • 16–25 Services – one‑to‑one mental health support, peer mentoring, signposting, and neurodevelopmental training for families of autistic or ADHD young people.

Link: https://solent-family-assist.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/225

  • General Mental Health Information for Young People & Families – advice, support lines, and resources that can be used by parents with teens aged 11+.

Link: solentmind.org.uk

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

A leading centre for child and adolescent mental health with an extensive library of digital tools for families, young people, and educators.

Key Parent & Carer Resources

  • Families Resource Hub – guidance on self‑care for parents/carers, managing conflict, supporting adopted/kinship/foster children, and accessing specialist neurodiversity support.

Link: annafreud.org

  • Self-Care Strategies for Young People (11–25) – co‑produced with teens; includes relaxation, healthy living, hobbies, digital balance, and mental health strategies. Includes the 24/7 AFC Crisis Text Messenger (text AFC to 85258).

Link: familytoolbox.co.uk

  • School & College Mental Health Resources – free digital resources that help families understand how schools can support wellbeing and neurodiversity.

Parents’ Mental Health Support Hub – clear guides on mental health conditions, feelings, behaviours, life events, and how to navigate services like CAMHS.

  • Parents’ A–Z Mental Health Guide – covers concerns such as anxiety, autism & mental health, self-esteem, bullying, exam stress, gender identity, school anxiety, gaming, depression, and more.
  • Parents Helpline (phone & online chat) – confidential advice for parents of children up to age 25.
  • Resource Library & Webinars – downloadable wellbeing activities, toolkits, and practical guides for supporting teens, including autistic young people.

Link: youngminds.org.uk

Solent Mind (Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight)

Solent Mind provides mental health support for children, teens, families, and carers — with specific resources for neurodiversity, self-harm, and transition from CAMHS.

Key Parent & Teen Resources

  • Self-Harm Support Hub – a dedicated digital space for anyone supporting a young person who is self-harming or at risk. Includes explainers, myths, and guidance for parents.

Link: https://www.selfharmsupporthubhants.org.uk/

  • 16–25 Services – one‑to‑one mental health support, peer mentoring, signposting, and neurodevelopmental training for families of autistic or ADHD young people.

Link: https://solent-family-assist.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/225

  • General Mental Health Information for Young People & Families – advice, support lines, and resources that can be used by parents with teens aged 11+.

Link: solentmind.org.uk

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

A leading centre for child and adolescent mental health with an extensive library of digital tools for families, young people, and educators.

Key Parent & Carer Resources

  • Families Resource Hub – guidance on self‑care for parents/carers, managing conflict, supporting adopted/kinship/foster children, and accessing specialist neurodiversity support.

Link: annafreud.org

  • Self-Care Strategies for Young People (11–25) – co‑produced with teens; includes relaxation, healthy living, hobbies, digital balance, and mental health strategies. Includes the 24/7 AFC Crisis Text Messenger (text AFC to 85258).

Link: familytoolbox.co.uk

  • School & College Mental Health Resources – free digital resources that help families understand how schools can support wellbeing and neurodiversity.

The Neurodiversity Hub – Free Resource Library

A broad range of neuroaffirming, downloadable tools to support autistic, ADHD and neurodivergent children and young people across all stages of life. Includes sensory profiles, emotional regulation tools and burnout resources suitable for teens.
Link: https://theneurodiversityhub.co.uk/resources/

NHS Dorset – Neurodiversity Digital Tools & Resources

A practical hub for families, including curated neurodiversity apps (via ORCHA), sensory resources, communication tools, and condition‑specific supports for autism and ADHD. Helpful for parents supporting organisation, focus, emotional regulation and daily living.
Link: https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/neurodiversity/support/resources/

Neurodiversity at Home (UK)

A reflective, parent‑focused blog offering real‑life strategies for supporting autistic, ADHD, dyslexic and dyspraxic young people in education and at home. Especially useful for parents navigating SEN support in secondary school.
Link: https://www.neurodiversityathome.co.uk/

Understanding Neurodivergent Teens – A Parent’s Guide (Help for Psychology)

A digital guide exploring how autistic and ADHD teens experience the world, manage risks, build resilience and access support. Includes a directory of UK helplines and organisations.
Link: https://help4psychology.co.uk/blog/a-parents-guide-to-finding-support/

Open University – Supporting Neurodivergent Children & Teens

A comprehensive directory of UK‑wide services, charities and resources for families of neurodivergent children, including autism and ADHD support, disability grants, neurodiversity education, and book recommendations.
Link: https://neurodiversity-toolkit.open.ac.uk/resources.php

Sirona Care & Health – Neurodiversity Advice & Signposting

A well‑structured digital hub with guidance on behaviour, emotional regulation, sensory processing, motor skills, attention, flexibility, and transitions to adulthood. Includes a “behaviour questions tool” and downloadable personalised guidance.
Link: sirona-cic.org.uk

UK-Wide Neurodiversity Support (NeurodiversitySupport.co.uk)

Provides practical online guidance including:

  • ADHD, dyslexia & dyspraxia neuroprofile assessments
  • Coaching for teens on executive functioning, emotional regulation & learning support
  • EHCP and school support guidance
  • Right to Choose pathway information

Link: https://www.neurodiversitysupport.co.uk/

The Neurodiversity Hub – Free Resource Library

A broad range of neuroaffirming, downloadable tools to support autistic, ADHD and neurodivergent children and young people across all stages of life. Includes sensory profiles, emotional regulation tools and burnout resources suitable for teens.
Link: https://theneurodiversityhub.co.uk/resources/

NHS Dorset – Neurodiversity Digital Tools & Resources

A practical hub for families, including curated neurodiversity apps (via ORCHA), sensory resources, communication tools, and condition‑specific supports for autism and ADHD. Helpful for parents supporting organisation, focus, emotional regulation and daily living.
Link: https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/neurodiversity/support/resources/

Neurodiversity at Home (UK)

A reflective, parent‑focused blog offering real‑life strategies for supporting autistic, ADHD, dyslexic and dyspraxic young people in education and at home. Especially useful for parents navigating SEN support in secondary school.
Link: https://www.neurodiversityathome.co.uk/

Understanding Neurodivergent Teens – A Parent’s Guide (Help for Psychology)

A digital guide exploring how autistic and ADHD teens experience the world, manage risks, build resilience and access support. Includes a directory of UK helplines and organisations.
Link: https://help4psychology.co.uk/blog/a-parents-guide-to-finding-support/

Open University – Supporting Neurodivergent Children & Teens

A comprehensive directory of UK‑wide services, charities and resources for families of neurodivergent children, including autism and ADHD support, disability grants, neurodiversity education, and book recommendations.
Link: https://neurodiversity-toolkit.open.ac.uk/resources.php

Sirona Care & Health – Neurodiversity Advice & Signposting

A well‑structured digital hub with guidance on behaviour, emotional regulation, sensory processing, motor skills, attention, flexibility, and transitions to adulthood. Includes a “behaviour questions tool” and downloadable personalised guidance.
Link: sirona-cic.org.uk

UK-Wide Neurodiversity Support (NeurodiversitySupport.co.uk)

Provides practical online guidance including:

  • ADHD, dyslexia & dyspraxia neuroprofile assessments
  • Coaching for teens on executive functioning, emotional regulation & learning support
  • EHCP and school support guidance
  • Right to Choose pathway information

Link: https://www.neurodiversitysupport.co.uk/