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Scottish Borders CAMHS Official page for NHS Borders Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

November is here! 🍂🍁As we welcome a new month, we're looking ahead to a range of topics designed to support children, yo...
02/11/2026

November is here! 🍂🍁

As we welcome a new month, we're looking ahead to a range of topics designed to support children, young people, parents and carers with their mental health and wellbeing.

💙 This month we'll be talking about:
👨‍🦱 Men's Mental Health Awareness
🧡 Anti-Bullying Week
🌱 Wellbeing Tips
🤝 How to reach out for support and support others
🏠 Support and Resources

As we move into the winter months, remember that looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health. Small steps can make a big difference.

✨ Follow along throughout November for information, tips, activities and resources to help support wellbeing for the whole family.


🍂 Coming Up in November 🍂As we welcome a new month, we'll continue sharing information, tips and resources to support th...
30/10/2026

🍂 Coming Up in November 🍂

As we welcome a new month, we'll continue sharing information, tips and resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and families. 💜

Throughout November, we'll be raising awareness of men’s mental health month and anti-bullying week while continuing to share practical wellbeing tips, support resources and ways to encourage positive mental health.

💜 We look forward to sharing these conversations and resources with you throughout the month.

🍂💜

🎃🧡 Halloween Your Way 🧡🎃For many children and young people, Halloween is an exciting time filled with costumes, sweets, ...
28/10/2026

🎃🧡 Halloween Your Way 🧡🎃

For many children and young people, Halloween is an exciting time filled with costumes, sweets, and activities. However, for others, trick-or-treating can feel overwhelming due to anxiety, sensory sensitivities, unfamiliar social interactions, busy environments, loud noises, or changes in routine.

💚 It's important to remember that there is no "right" way to celebrate Halloween. Finding activities that feel comfortable, enjoyable, and manageable is what matters most.

👻 Here are some alternatives to trick-or-treating:
🎬 Have a Halloween movie night at home
🍪 Decorate Halloween-themed biscuits or cupcakes
🎨 Create spooky crafts, colouring pages, or pumpkin artwork
🎃 Carve or decorate pumpkins at your own pace
📚 Read Halloween stories together
🏠 Organise an indoor treasure hunt with Halloween treats
🧩 Enjoy favourite games, puzzles, or calming activities with a Halloween twist
🍬 Set up a mini trick-or-treat trail around your home or garden
🌙 Go for a quiet evening walk to spot decorations in your local area
👕 Have a dress-up day at home without the pressure of attending events

🌟 It's okay to celebrate differently
Some people love busy Halloween events, while others feel happiest joining in from home. Both experiences are valid.
The goal isn't to push through discomfort, but to find ways to have fun that feel safe, manageable, and enjoyable.

This Halloween, let's remember that being inclusive means making space for different needs, personalities, and experiences. 🎃💚

👻🧡

🎃👻 Facing Fears This Halloween 👻🎃Halloween can be a time for spooky stories, costumes, and things that make us jump! But...
26/10/2026

🎃👻 Facing Fears This Halloween 👻🎃

Halloween can be a time for spooky stories, costumes, and things that make us jump! But it can also be a great opportunity to think about something we all experience from time to time... fear.

💚 Did you know?
Fear is a normal emotion that helps keep us safe. Our brains are designed to spot potential threats and prepare us to respond. Sometimes this can make our hearts race, our stomachs feel funny, or make us want to avoid something that feels scary.

We can feel afraid of lots of things, such as: 🎤 Speaking in front of others 🏫 Starting a new class or school 🌙 Sleeping alone 🐕 Dogs or other animals 🤝 Meeting new people 📚 Taking tests or exams
Feeling nervous or worried doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. It means you're human!

🕸️ The tricky thing about fear...
When something feels scary, it's natural to want to avoid it. While avoiding fear can help us feel better in the short term, it can sometimes make the fear feel bigger over time.

🌟 Facing fears little by little can help
Taking small, manageable steps towards something we're worried about can help our brains learn that we can cope, even when things feel uncomfortable.

For example: ✅ Spending a short time in a situation that feels scary ✅ Practising a new skill with someone you trust ✅ Celebrating each brave step, no matter how small

Remember, being brave doesn't mean not feeling scared. Being brave means doing something even when it feels difficult.

👨‍👩‍👧 For parents and carers
When a child is worried or fearful, acknowledging their feelings and encouraging small, supported steps can help build confidence. Praise effort rather than focusing on the outcome and remember that progress often happens gradually.

🎃 This Halloween, while we're facing ghosts, ghouls, and scary movies, let's also remember that we can face our real-life fears one small step at a time.

✨ Every act of courage, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.

👻💚

👭💚 Friendship Changes and Worries: You're Not Alone 💚👭Friendships are an important part of growing up, but they can also...
23/10/2026

👭💚 Friendship Changes and Worries: You're Not Alone 💚👭

Friendships are an important part of growing up, but they can also be one of the biggest sources of worry for children and young people.

As the school year progresses, friendships can naturally change. Friends may spend time with different people, join new clubs, move classes, or develop new interests. While these changes are a normal part of growing up, they can sometimes feel confusing, upsetting, or lonely.

💭 You might find yourself wondering: • "Why don't they want to spend as much time with me?" • "Have I done something wrong?" • "What if I don't fit in anymore?" • "What if I can't make new friends?"

These thoughts can be difficult, but many young people experience friendship worries at some point.

🌱 It's normal for friendships to evolve
Not all friendships stay exactly the same, and that's okay. Some friendships grow stronger over time, some become less close, and new friendships can develop when we least expect them.
A change in a friendship doesn't mean you've done anything wrong or that there is something wrong with you.

💚 What can help?
✅ Talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling
✅ Focus on friendships that make you feel valued and respected
✅ Be open to meeting new people through hobbies, clubs, sports, or activities
✅ Remember that quality is often more important than quantity when it comes to friendships
✅ Be kind to yourself during times of change

👨‍👩‍👧 For parents and carers
Friendship difficulties can have a big impact on a young person's confidence, mood, and wellbeing. Listening without judgement, validating their feelings, and helping them explore positive ways forward can provide valuable support.

Sometimes, young people don't need solutions straight away. Simply feeling heard and understood can make a huge difference.

🌟 Remember
Friendships can change throughout the school year, and while these changes can feel difficult, they also create opportunities for growth, new connections, and learning more about ourselves.
You are not alone in experiencing friendship worries, and support is always available when you need it.

💚

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it can be tempting to spend more time indoors and withdraw from oth...
21/10/2026

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it can be tempting to spend more time indoors and withdraw from others. While this is completely understandable, staying connected with the people around us can make a big difference to our mental health and wellbeing.

🤝 Why is staying connected important?
Feeling connected helps us: • Feel supported and understood • Reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation • Share worries and challenges • Boost our mood and sense of belonging • Build resilience during difficult times

💭 Staying connected doesn't have to be complicated
Small actions can make a big difference: 📱 Send a text to check in on someone ☕ Arrange a catch-up🚶 Go for a walk with a friend or family member 🎮 Play a game online with friends 📞 Call someone you haven't spoken to in a while 🏫 Join a club, group, or community activity 💬 Spend quality time talking and listening to one another

👨‍👩‍👧 For parents and carers
Darker nights and colder weather can sometimes be a difficult time for young people. Changes in routine, less daylight, and spending more time indoors can affect mood and wellbeing. Encouraging opportunities for connection, whether through family activities, friendships, hobbies, or community groups, can help young people feel supported.

🌟 If you're struggling
It's okay if reaching out feels difficult. Start small. A simple message, conversation, or shared activity can be the first step towards feeling more connected.

Remember, we all need connection. Looking after our relationships is just as important as looking after our physical health.

💚 Let's check in with ourselves and each other. Sometimes the smallest act of connection can make the biggest difference.

🔥 Let's Talk About Anger 🔥Anger is a normal human emotion. Everyone feels angry sometimes.Anger itself is not a problem....
19/10/2026

🔥 Let's Talk About Anger 🔥

Anger is a normal human emotion. Everyone feels angry sometimes.

Anger itself is not a problem. In fact, it can be a helpful signal that something doesn't feel right, that a boundary has been crossed, or that we're feeling stressed, hurt, worried, or overwhelmed.
Sometimes, however, anger can feel very intense and difficult to manage and may result in physical violence. When this happens, it can affect our relationships, wellbeing, and daily life.

💭 What can anger look like?
Anger can show up in different ways, including: • Feeling frustrated or irritated • Shouting, arguing or fighting • Crying or becoming upset • Wanting to be alone • Feeling tense, restless, or unable to relax • Finding it difficult to think clearly or solve problems
For some young people, anger may be a way of expressing other difficult emotions that feel harder to talk about, such as sadness, anxiety, embarrassment, disappointment, or fear.

💚 Tips for Managing Anger
✅ Notice the warning signs Pay attention to how anger feels in your body. You might notice a racing heart, clenched fists, tense muscles, or feeling hot.
✅ Pause and take a breath Taking slow, deep breaths can help calm your body's "fight, flight, or freeze" response.
✅ Take some space If possible, step away from the situation for a few minutes and return when you feel calmer.
✅ Get moving Physical activity, such as walking, dancing, stretching, or playing sports, can help release built-up tension.
✅ Talk to someone you trust Sharing how you're feeling with a friend, family member, teacher, or trusted adult can help you feel supported.
✅ Think about what's underneath Ask yourself: "What am I really feeling?" Anger is often linked to other emotions that need attention too.

👨‍👩‍👧 For parents and carers
When a young person is angry, it can help to remember that they may be struggling to communicate difficult feelings. Staying calm, giving space, listening without judgement, and helping them to name their emotions can make a real difference.

🌟 Remember: Feeling angry doesn't make you a bad person. Anger is a normal emotion, and with practice, we can all learn healthy ways to understand and manage it.

💚 OCD Awareness Week💚This OCD Awareness Week, we're raising awareness of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and helping...
16/10/2026

💚 OCD Awareness Week💚
This OCD Awareness Week, we're raising awareness of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and helping children, young people, parents, and carers recognise the signs and know that support is available.

🧠 What is OCD?
OCD is a mental health condition that can affect anyone including children and young people of any age. It involves:

🔹 Obsessions – unwanted thoughts, worries, images, or urges that keep coming into a person's mind and can cause distress or anxiety.

🔹 Compulsions – actions or rituals that someone feels they must do to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening. These might include excessive checking, washing, counting, seeking reassurance, or repeating certain actions.
For a young person with OCD, these thoughts and behaviours can feel overwhelming and difficult to control.

🚸 What might OCD look like in children and young people?
A child or young person may: • Frequently seek reassurance from parents or carers • Spend a long time completing routines or rituals • Avoid certain situations that trigger anxiety • Worry excessively about harm, contamination, mistakes, or things not feeling "just right" • Experience difficulties at school, home, or with friendships because of their worries and compulsions

It is important to remember that OCD is not a choice and is not simply about being tidy or organised.

💬 How can parents and carers help?
✅ Listen without judgement ✅ Let your child know they are not alone ✅ Learn about OCD together ✅ Seek support early if symptoms are affecting daily life ✅ Encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling

🌟 Support is available

OCD is treatable, and many children and young people can learn effective ways to manage their symptoms. Support may include: • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) • Support from mental health services • Advice and guidance for parents and carers • Medication where appropriate

If you're concerned about your child or if you're a young person struggling with intrusive thoughts or compulsive behaviours, speaking to your GP or a trusted healthcare professional is a positive first step.

📚 Useful resources • OCD UK • OCD Action • NHS Inform • YoungMinds

You are not alone. With the right support, children and young people with OCD can thrive. 💚

🌟 We’re Back! 🌟Hello everyone! We’re excited to announce that the CAMHS page is up and running again. We’ve mis...
14/10/2026

🌟 We’re Back! 🌟

Hello everyone! We’re excited to announce that the CAMHS page is up and running again. We’ve missed connecting with you and are looking forward to sharing helpful resources, updates, and tips to support the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people, and families in our community.
Please give us a follow and share our page. Just so you know this page is not monitored 24/7, and we cannot provide crisis support. For urgent help please contact your GP, NHS24 (111) or emergency services (999).

Thank you for being part of our community 💙

💜 Confidence Building: Why Is Confidence Important? 💜Confidence doesn't mean never feeling nervous or getting everything...
26/08/2026

💜 Confidence Building: Why Is Confidence Important? 💜

Confidence doesn't mean never feeling nervous or getting everything right. It means believing in yourself and trusting that you can cope with challenges, even when things feel difficult.

🌟 Confidence can help us:

💜 Try new things
💜 Build friendships
💜 Share our thoughts and ideas
💜 Bounce back from mistakes
💜Feel more positive about ourselves

The good news? Confidence isn't something you're born with or without. It's a skill that grows over time through practice, experience and taking small brave steps.

✨ A confidence boost doesn't have to be something huge. It could be:

⭐ Answering a question in class
⭐ Trying a new activity
⭐ Speaking to someone new
⭐ Asking for help when you need it
⭐ Continuing even when something feels challenging

Remember, confidence grows when we do things despite feeling nervous, not when we wait for nerves to disappear.

🌱 What is one small thing you could do this week to build your confidence?

💜🌟

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