Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
We understand that now is a challenging time for our children and families and that some of the children may be finding the changes that they are experiencing difficult to understand and process.
They might be feeling a range of difficult emotions and we would always recommend that you talk about what is happening with your child and listen to any concerns that they might have. If you feel that you would like further help with how to support your family during this time, we have put together a list of websites and contacts for you that might be useful.
You can talk to the following people if you feel overwhelmed by things:
- Form Tutor / Class Teacher
- Head of Year / Phase Leader / Senior Leader
- Parents
- Friends
- A person you trust
- Your GP
Mental Health Week:
Primary Pupils are marking Mental Health Awareness Week on Tuesday 11th May with Green Day.
Primary Pupils are encouraged to wear the colour green instead of school uniform. We are requesting a £1 donation.
All monies raised will be donated to the charity Mental Health Foundation. The theme is connecting with nature.
Please visit the school website to find further information about why nature is good for mental health and top tips.
For More information about Mental Health Week please visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
Connect With Nature – A guide for parents:
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Contact
You can contact the school if you need support or advice at:
Primary
starbank_primarywellbeing@starbank.staracademies.org
Students and parents can contact directly via this email address. This will be monitored by Mr Riaz, Ms Rifat and Mrs Malhi during school working hours. Please allow 24 hours for a reply.
Secondary
sharp@starbank.staracademies.org
Students and parents can contact directly via this email address. This will be monitored by Mr Tonks, Ms Eccles and the pastoral team during school working hours. Please allow 24 hours for a reply.
Where to get urgent help for mental health
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, you should get immediate expert advice and assessment. It’s important to know that support is available, even if services seem busy at the moment because of coronavirus.
NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages.
You can call for:
- 24-hour advice and support – for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for
- help to speak to a mental health professional
- an assessment to help decide on the best course of care
The SHARP System
The SHARP System (Student Help Advice Reporting Page System)
Our SHARP allows our secondary students to report any incidents which occur within the school and local community anonymously and without fear.
There are many reasons why young people decide not to talk about incidents, whether that is due to not wanting to talk face to face, lack of confidence, scared, peer pressure or scared in case someone sees them talking to or seen in the school’s office but to name just a few. Our SHARP system is a web-based tool that will allow you to contact our Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing leads and Safeguarding leads within Starbank through a simple interface and can remain anonymous if required.
To access head to: https://starbank.thesharpsystem.com/
Wellbeing Letters
Mental Health Awareness Week
Dear Parent/Carer This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, we have loads of lovely resource for you to view on our Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing page. Primary Pupils are marking Mental Health Awareness Week on Tuesday 11th May with Green Day. Pupils are...
Helping your child manage their feelings during lockdown
The announcement of the current lockdown and move to remote learning is particularly tough on young children. Being deprived of face-to-face contact with their friends, the loss of familiar routines and trying to navigate online learning, whilst being in the family...
Support available for both parents and children (Primary)
Dear Parent/Carer, As we enter the second week of the national lockdown, we are aware that many of our pupils and families are facing additional stresses and challenges. Each of us are experiencing a range of losses as the normality of life is once again so altered –...
Safeguarding Letter – 04-05-2020
Dear parents/carers During this current climate we are aware that things are extremely challenging and knowing where to go to get information and advice might not be readily available. This letter brings together some of the support available for both parents and...
Supporting your child during Coronavirus:
There are different services and organisations available to give you the support you need.
Please select the following links to find support and advice:
Young Minds
The Young Minds website. This website is a fabulous source of information relating to child mental health.
They have set up some guidance specifically relating to the Coronavirus pandemic, with helpful tips about how to manage your family’s wellbeing and mental health during this time.
10 handy tips from Young Minds on talking to your child about Coronavirus and how to help them:
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families also have a lot of general information relating to children and young adult’s mental health and wellbeing.
They have issued some guidance for children, young adults, their families and their teachers on how to support wellbeing and mental health during this time.
Anna Freud have put together a comprehensive list of ideas, activities and recommendations for support for children, young adults and their families.
NSPCC
Advice, guidance and support
Helpful hints on how to talk with your child about talking to your children about Coronavirus, how to deal with tantrums and behaviour that might be out of the ordinary, staying safe online, tips on how to manage your day if you are working from home whilst caring for your children and what to do if you are worried about the safety of a child that you may know.
Barnardos
See, Hear, Respond
Rapid support for children and young people affected by the coronavirus crisis
Mindfulness and relaxation activities for children
Here is a list of videos relating to mindfulness and guided meditation that could be useful:
Square breathing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFdZXwE6fRE
Rainbow breaths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O29e4rRMrV4
Mindfulness Meditation for Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk_qU7l-fcU
Guided Meditation Activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf5K3pP2IUQ
Guided Mediation – Bring It Down – Flow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRkILioT_NA
Guided Meditation – On and Off – Flow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZP-TMr984s
Mindfulness Calendar
This resource from Anna Freud is a two-week calendar of five-minute activities that encourage children to focus on what’s around them to find a sense of calm. These can be done immediately after playtime, lunch but should be done once a day so pupils learn these techniques.
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Supporting your own wellbeing:
Whilst prioritising the wellbeing of their children, parents often forget to prioritise themselves. It is important that you make sure that you still look after your own physical and mental wellbeing at this time too, so we have also put together a few contacts that might be useful if you feel that you would like some further support with your mental health or wellbeing too.
Mind is a leading mental health charity. They can offer you support with mental health.
Helpful hints on how to talk with your child about talking to your children about Coronavirus, how to deal with tantrums and behaviour that might be out of the ordinary, staying safe online, tips on how to manage your day if you are working from home whilst caring for your children and what to do if you are worried about the safety of a child that you may know.
Reporting Domestic Abuse
West Midlands Police have created a simple online form to enable people to report domestic abuse directly to them and as an alternative to speaking on the phone.
The information people provide on the form will be dealt with in the same way as any other report of domestic abuse.
Link: https://west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/domestic-abuse
Exam Results
The Samaritans – 116 123 –
https://www.samaritans.org/news/wellbeing-come-first-exam-results-day-alevels-gcse-2019/
Childline – 0800 1111 –
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/exam-stress/
National Careers Service – 0800 100 900 –
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/contact-us
Birmingham Careers Service – WhatsApp or text – 07864 926 905 and an advisor will call you back –
https://www.birminghamcareersservice.co.uk/
Useful Links:
Mind
The Mental Health Charity
Young Minds
The Young Minds website. This website is a fabulous source of information relating to child mental health.
Kooth
Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
The Samaritans
Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you.
NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.
MYH - Muslim Youth Helpline
Offer support to young Muslims in distress. Email support, helpline and online internet counselling.
Anna Freud
Anna Freud transforms mental health by working with infants, children, young people and their families, their communities and professionals to deliver timely evidence-based support for all.
See, Hear, Respond
The See, Hear, Respond partnership between Barnardo’s and the DfE will quickly identify and support children, young people and families who are struggling to cope with the impacts of coronavirus.
Alumina
Online Self-Harm Support for 14-19’s
Place2Be
Improving children’s mental health
Papyrus
Papyrus is the UK Charity for the prevention of young suicide
Cruse
The Cruse Bereavement Care Freephone National Helpline is staffed by trained bereavement volunteers, who offer emotional support to anyone affected by bereavement.
NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover.
Childline: 0800 1111
Advice, support and online counselling
TWR: The Waiting Room
Birmingham and Solihull Health & Wellbeing services at your fingertips.