Supporting parents to chat about sexual health and relationships

The Chat is a new website that has been developed by health professionals to help you to support your child as they learn about friendships, relationships and growing up.

You can look for what you need depending on the age of your child, the topic that they are interested in or the questions they ask.

The Chat website was developed in response to feedback from, parents who took part in an engagement process to share their experiences of supporting their child’s learning at home.

Conversations with parents and a national survey provided insight into life at home and how parents want to support their child from the early years, through childhood and into the teenage years so that they are equipped to be healthy, happy and safe in their friendships and relationships.

One of the things found was that parents wanted a ‘one stop shop’ online resource to help them feel more confident when talking with children and young people on a range of topics within relationships, sexual health and parenthood. Parents also trusted the NHS as a source of information and support.

Elaine McCormack, Health Improvement Lead, Sandyford Sexual Health Services, which is hosted by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said: “In response to the engagement work, our Health Improvement Team for Sexual Health worked with colleagues across Scotland to develop The Chat parent resource.

“There are sections on the Questions Children and Young People ask, Support to talk about topics, where to get support as a parent and nursery and school education.”

If you have any questions relating to the resource or to the initial engagement work, please contact elaine.mccormack@nhs.scot