Mental Health and Wellbeing offer
Our Mental Health Team:
Mrs ML Peacock – Mental Health Lead and qualified National Education Lead in Mental Health.
Mrs S Tattersdill - Mental Health and Well-Being Champion
Miss S Wilberforce – PSHE Curriculum Lead
Mrs SJ Davies – Teaching Assistant specialising in SEMH
Miss E Wood – Teaching Assistant supporting well-being through PE
More information below
Activity
Get Set 4 PE - Active Families
Northfield School & Sports College - Stay Home Stay Active
Our school is working with Alliance Psychological Services’ Mental Health Support Team (MHST).
MHSTs are part of a government initiative that aims to expand access to mental health care for children and young people and have three core functions:
- to deliver evidence-based interventions for mild-to-moderate mental health issues;
- support the senior mental health lead (where established) in each school or college to introduce or develop a whole school or college approach and;
- give timely advice to school and college staff, and liaise with external specialist services to help children and young people to get the right support and stay in education.
Visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/cyp/trailblazers/ for more information
Alliance MHST provide support through the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems. They also help to strengthen links between our school and external mental health services as they work in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, CAMHS Professionals and Local Authority/Early Help services.
If you think your child would benefit from support, please speak to our school’s Senior Mental Health Lead (Mrs Marie-Louise Peacock). Parents and carers can also request help by completing an online self-referral, available at https://www.alliancepsychology.com/young-people/support-request/
Expert support and advice for children, young people and parents. Free to access in school. A range of programmes to support difficulties at home and school around anxieties, behaviour and emotional issues.
Anna Freud
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families provides a range of resources to support children and adults.
Barnardo’s See, Hear, Respond Programme
Focuses on finding and reaching out to vulnerable children around the country who are experiencing negative impacts on their health and welling as well as those at risk of harm.
Bereavement UK and the Childhood Bereavement Network
Information and resources to support bereaved pupils, schools and staff.
Below is a range of short guidance films produced by CBUK. Some are older and available through Child Bereavement UK website and some are more recent and have been made in response to the pandemic. There are a lot more available through the website and CBUK’s Youtube channel but seem to be appropriate in the current circumstances.
Supporting bereaved children through difficult times. Child Bereavement UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFm-SXeJwl8
Supporting a bereaved child with autism spectrum disorder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7EmW29Avx4
Remembering someone who has died
Children and Adults Mental Health Service. Support and advice provided on their website. They also provide self-help guides around different subjects that may be useful.
This collection of resources covers a whole range of issues. They are mostly aimed at adults.
A wonderful website with a range of resources to support children with any concerns.
Daisy Chain provides a range of support services to autistic children and adults, either with a diagnosis or who are undergoing the diagnostic process, their parents/carers and their siblings.
Includes an online tool and email journey which aims to support everyone to feel more confident in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
Exciting outdoor activities that can be done outside to encourage a positive mind-set for children.
Headspace offers meditation and relaxation activities
This website sets out the Government’s aims around a programme of support for children around health wellbeing and parenting.
A free, anonymous support service for children and young people between 11-18.
A useful website offering advice to all ages on achieving positive mental health. It has a valuable section relating to Covid19 resources.
My Whole Self- tips for adults working from home to support your mental health and to feel connected with colleagues.
Mindful and relaxation exercises that parents can do with younger children to help with managing anxiety
Free educational resources from Health Education England on children and young people’s mental health.
This website has a range of information about Coronavirus. It also offers advice and practical tips to help us all look after our mental health and wellbeing.
If you are worried about a child or unsure what to do, you can speak to a trained counsellor for information and advice. Click the title above to be directed to their website.
Ollee has been created to help children think about how they are feeling and help parents support any anxiety concerns they may have around their child.
Meet Ollee, a virtual friend developed by Parent Zone and funded by BBC Children in Need’s A Million & Me.
Aimed at 8-11 year olds and their parents, Ollee helps families talk about difficult topics.
Guide to helping parents answer questions from their children and to support family wellbeing:
A free online resource offering anonymous support to adults around any issues that may be having a negative impact on their wellbeing and mental health.
A website created and produced by young people.
The Samaritans can be contacted free at any time on 116 123. They offer a wide range of support and resources.
Sleep
Resources to help children and young people who are struggling with anxiety including general anxiety (worry), social anxiety and fears/phobias.
This website has 6 posters to help parents to interact constructively with your child, staying positive, managing stress and avoiding bad behaviour.
A useful website offering resources to support children and young people’s mental health.
Emotional Well-being Tasks
Sometimes children don’t like to talk about their feelings and sometimes they don’t know how to express their feelings and thoughts. This activity will encourage your child to discuss how they are feeling and what they are thinking, as well as setting goals throughout the day.
Having a sense of gratitude helps us to feel happy and hopeful. This Scavenger Hunt is a great way for both children and adults to start finding little things around you to help you feel positive and thankful.
These worry dolls are really simple to make and really useful at anytime, especially now. They originate from Guatemala and are used for children to tell their worries to before they go to sleep. They then put the dolls under their pillow.
Find a jar that is no longer needed. On little pieces of paper write down all the things you and your children would like to do when the Covid-19 situation is over. Put on your favourite songs in the background and get excited about all the things you have to look forward too. If you need more instructions of how to make a Happiness Jar, click the picture below.
Mindfulness Colouring In
Colouring in can be a relaxing and calming activity which can also encourage children to explore their creativity and improve their fine motor skills. It is also very enjoyable for adults too! You can find lots of examples on the internet that can be downloaded and printed http://www.momentsaday.com/how-to-explain-mindful-colouring-to-kids/
Click document to access colouring page or link above
My Home Book of Feelings and Thoughts
Download and print the book to work through. It will explore your child’s emotions through different activities.
The posters below list practical ways to support your own and your child’s mental health. https://believeperform.com
Abuse & Neglect
The Children’s Hub
If you think any child is at risk of abuse and neglect or at risk of serious harm, please contact The Children’s Hub.
Stockton-on-Tees & Hartlepool: 01642 130080
Out of Office Hours: 01642 524552
If it is an emergency, contact the Police on 999.
Please click the image to be taken to the Stockton Council website for more information.
NSPCC
If you are worried about a child or unsure what to do, you can speak to a trained counsellor for information and advice. Click the title above to be directed to their website.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
- “Invisible string made of love” that connects loved ones when they are not able to be close to them.
- e.g when children are at school, and they miss parents, the parent can feel it even when they are not close. String reaches everywhere, never goes away, “you are never alone”.
- Helps with anxieties of not being able to see loved ones due to separation, loss/grief etc.
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings
- Helps children express emotions.
- Explains how certain emotions may make them feel.
While We Can’t Hug
- Support for children struggling with COVID measures such as not being able to hug loved ones
- Gives alternatives to being in contact with others
- May provide coping strategies for children struggling to connect with others during restrictions/feeling upset or worried about it.
Be the Pond
- Video for children with different “Zen Den” techniques to promote mindfulness in children when they are anxious/nervous.
- Talks through how to sit/breathe. Helps children to visualise their feelings, using fish, and helps them accept their feelings as okay and promote positive wellbeing. Helps take a step back from their strong feelings.
Learn to Belly Breathe with Rosita - Sesame Street
- Talks through the “Belly Breathing” technique to help children calm their emotions.
- Encourages them to breathe through both their big and small emotions such as sadness, frustration, anxiety.