Mental Health
EVERYBODY HAS MENTAL HEALTH
Talking almost always helps
Listening always helps others
The mental health and emotional wellbeing of children is equally as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well rounded healthy adults.
As a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, you may find that some children are experiencing stress, low mood or anxiety. We recognise that as a school we have an important role in supporting young people’s mental health and that the pandemic may contribute to a rise in children seeking mental health support. We are consistently putting interventions in place that not only support poor mental health, but also promote positive mental health.
In addition to a whole school nurture-based approach, we have a wide range of interventions to support mental health and emotional wellbeing including; emotions work, mental health support, Attachment Based Mentoring, Drawing and Talking Therapy, Counselling and Play Therapy. We are also in the process of recruiting 10 Mental Health Ambassadors in years 5 and 6 to offer peer support to children that may be struggling. Contact your child’s class teacher or Miss Pope if you feel your child would benefit from this type of extra support in school.
The link between sleep, diet, exercise and good mental health is well established and we have a number of before and after school sports clubs that your child can participate in to help with this – book on Scopay or contact Mr Rouse for more information.
Please let us know if you think that your child is struggling so we can work together to support them. Here are some ways that you can help your children or other members of the family when support is needed outside of school.
Think Ninja
Think Ninja is a mental health app designed for 10-18 year olds. It allows young people to learn about mental health and emotional wellbeing, and develop skills they can use to build resilience and stay well. This has been made free to download during the coronavirus pandemic.
ChildLine
Children and young people that are under 19 can chat online, email or call about any problem they have big or small.
Helpline : 0800 11 11 call FREE 9am – Midnight every day of the year.
Young Minds
Young Minds is a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, aiming to ensure young people can get the support that they need.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
For young people
Young Minds Textline: Text YM to 85258
Texts are answered by trained volunteers and can be anonymous other than when there is a risk of harm.
For parents
Parent helpline to talk to a trained advisor: 0808 802 5544 from 9:30am–4pm Monday–Friday. (An interpreter can be arranged if English is not your first language).
There is a parent webchat service through the website 9:30am–4pm Monday–Friday. Outside of these hours you can submit a parent email through the website from 4pm–9:30am.
Anna Freud - National Centre For Children & Families
The Anna Freud Centre have a text service.
If children are feeling distressed, overwhelmed, if they are struggling to cope or need somebody to talk to they can text AFC to 85258.
All texts are answered by volunteers that are supported by mental health practitioners.
MindEd
If you are concerned about the mental health of your child, or want some tips on parenting. MindEd has advice and information from experts and will help you to understand what you can do best to support your family and how to take care of yourself. It is a free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health.
TALKWORKS
Life can be overwhelming and difficult to manage for parents and carers too. TALKWORKS is a free confidential NHS talking therapy service for people in Devon that are over 18. They offer free confidential support to help improve your mental & physical wellbeing.
You can self-refer at https://www.talkworks.dpt.nhs.uk/
