A STRING of celebrities have given their backing to a new child mental health website launched by a district partnership.

Stars including ex-international footballer and Match of the Day anchorman Gary Lineker, and TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay, have voiced their support for the This May Help initiative.

The website – thismayhelp.me – is aimed at parents and carers who may have concerns about their child’s mental health, and is also designed to help professionals working with children.

Devised by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, the site offers advice developed by NHS professionals as well as parents who have been through challenges with their own child’s mental health.

A wide range of topics is covered including self harm, gaming and online activity, teenagers' safety, eating disorders, school avoidance, understanding mental health, online threats, self care and managing an emergency and in a crisis.

Subjects were chosen by families and young people who have been through a mental health 'journey'.

Therese Patten – chief executive of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, and the partnership's executive lead for children and young people – says: "This May Help is a great resource not just for parents and carers but also professionals who are in regular contact with children.

"We know that the past three years have been extremely difficult for children because of the pandemic, which has affected their mental health.

"Parents and carers are now faced with the cost-of-living crisis, which is also likely to impact their child’s mental health.

"The advice on This May Help has been developed by NHS professionals in partnership with Rollercoaster Family Support and the PLACE network at Charlie Waller Trust, plus parents and carers.

"I want to thank everyone who took part in This May Help advice films – the videos will help us to deliver key tips to people locally as well as nationally.

"The initiative offers helpful advice on a number of topics which we may feel uncomfortable with, or not have much knowledge about."

The films were fronted by a number of celebrities. They included Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of the country's greatest-ever Paralympic athletes.

She said: "Life can be extremely difficult sometimes but the more resilient you are as a family, the easier it will be to keep functioning both physically and mentally during tough times.

"The film I present for This May Help offers down-to-earth advice."