Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing - helping your family
In school, the children learn about their feelings, emotions and how to deal with them effectively during assemblies, PSHE sessions and using the Zones of Regualtion resources. The Zones of Regulation | A Curriculum For Emotional Regulation They may require extra help with this from our Learning Mentor of by referral to our Education Mental Health Practitioner. The EMHP is brought into school by Healthy Minds which is part of the NHS CAMHS service. Healthy Minds and Mental Health Support Team - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk) for more information and links.
Referral criteria for low intensity CBT provided by an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
EMHPs are trained to provide early intervention for problems related to low mood or anxiety. EMHPs work with children with emerging mental health concerns, or mild/moderate mental health problems, as this is where our treatments are found to be effective. Severity is often gauged by the impact a problem is having on a child’s day to day life (e.g. their ability to learn, socialise, have fun).
You might notice:
- A child becoming more quiet and withdrawn
- A recent decline in academic work/attendance
- Excessive worrying, such as:
- Failure to meet unrelenting high standards
- Events outside their control (i.e. loved ones getting hurt or ill; world events; climate)
- Friendships and social situations
- Avoidance of things such as:
- Particular places/things/activities (i.e. particular lessons; dogs; heights)
- Crowded/busy places
- Answering questions in class, or even making eye contact with authority figures
- Repeatedly seeking reassurance from school staff
- Complaints about physical symptoms such as an upset stomach or headaches
- Becoming more easily annoyed or upset than usual
- Appearing more distracted than usual, or struggling to concentrate
- Looking tired and/or making less effort with their appearance
If you are concerned about your child and feel this service may help them, please speak to their class teacher or one of the SENCOs.
For other higher level mental health concerns please see your GP.
Other places that offer support:
Mind are a nationwide mental health charity who are able to offer information and support for a variety of mental health issues. Working closely with the NHS they have a wide range of resources and information on their website, including an A-Z of Mental Health, advice for helping someone else, guides to support and services and Elefriends - their online community. Everyone is affected by a mental health difficulty at some point in their lifetime and Mind are on hand to help.
Visit their website on https://www.mind.org.uk/
Or call them today on 0300 123 3393 for their info line.
Change4Life
Change4Life is here to help your family be healthier and happier. On their website you can find out more about what's really in the food your family eats. You can get food facts, recipies, information about healthy weights and activities.
Visit their website at https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/food-facts
You can also call the healthy eating healthline on 0300 123 4567
Carers Direct
Carers Direct is for anyone who is looking after a family member who is ill or disabled or needs special help. It is part of the NHS website and offers information and advice.
There is a phone number you can call to talk to someone on 0808 802 0202
Or you can visit their website on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support/carers-assessment/#the-types-of-carer-support-available
Calming Family Activities
Activities and Tools for families via Calm zone | Childline
- Breathing Exercises
- Expressing yourself
- Yoga Videos
- Play games
- Ways to Cope Videos
Activites and resources to build a wellbing plan are available at:
Bereavement signposts for support
https://www.cruse.org.uk/ - bereavement support and information. For staff to find information.
https://www.hopeagain.org.uk/ - youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support. Staff might want to read this but the children are probably too young for the material
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ -resources-for-children-and-young-people – books for children covering all the age groups and some nice creative activities staff could do with the children (although obviously some thought would need to be given to this, and the member of staff would need support themselves)
https://www.winstonswish.org/ - support children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling. The website is good, and includes referral guidance if young people struggle with complex grief, however this would not be recommended (or indeed needed) by most children following a bereavement
Other useful resources
Free Resources Archives - Page 3 of 34 - Elsa Support (elsa-support.co.uk)
Zoe Brownlie from Healthy Minds has shared these short videos. The Neurosequential Model in Education, is based on an understanding of the structure and nature of the brain, can help increase our understanding of how children learn and why we might experience behavioural issues. Listen as Dr. Perry describes the model and its significant impact on how we interact with our students, our own children, and each other.
Session 1: The Neuro sequential model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3is_3XHKKs
Session 2: How stress effects the Brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMwI2akgqM
Session 3: The power of connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oElS6AGwuxU
Session 4: Regulating yourself and your classroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqW2Xv16bWw
This government document contains further information and links to specialist support services.
