Parents and Carers

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Do you (or someone you know or care for) struggle with “unusual” experiences:

Hearing things that others can’t hear?

Seeing things that others can’t see?

Feeling like someone is watching, spying, or wanting to harm you?

Find out more about these types of experiences, ways to cope and how to get support.

Resources about Unusual Experiences

The referral process

Are you worried about unusual experiences, like hearing voices or feeling paranoid? Would you like support from NHS mental health professionals? Are you 14-35 years old, living in Oxford?
If you are 18-35 years old, you can initiate self-referral [or] check your own eligibility to OPEN-ARMS.
If you are 14-18 years old, speak to your GP or someone you trust and they can make a referral to OPEN-ARMS for you on this website.
If you are under 14 or over 35 years old, OPEN-ARMS speak to your GP about what services are right for you.

Start the referral process

Parents/carers of voice hearers

Supporting someone who is experiencing unusual perceptions can be worrying and confusing. The Voice Collective have put together some resources for the parents and carers of young people who hear voices, which you can download, along with other resources for your young person, here: https://www.hearing-voices.org/resources/free-downloads/

Carers’ assessments

As a carer, you may be entitled to support from the council. You can complete a carer’s assessment here: Carer Assessment information (oxfordshire.gov.uk). If you need support with this please contact us open.arms.service@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.

Support for you

Get support for yourself, including information and peer support from other people supporting a loved one who has mental health needs, from Rethink: https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/carer-support/oxford-carers-support-service/.

You may also want to take a look at the Carers Oxfordshire website: https://www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk/, and the parents’ pages of Young Minds: Parents Mental Health Support | Advice for Your Child | YoungMinds.

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has put together a carers handbook for over-18 mental health services: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/carers/handbook/.