Mental Health

And Wellbeing

| Information | 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

For further information, please read our Pupil Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Policy

Mindfulness and relaxation activities for children

Mindfulness and relaxation activities can be really good for helping children to feel calmer, teaching them to relax and building resilience to deal with difficult emotions.

Here is a list of videos relating to mindfulness and guided meditation that could be useful:

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 – Mind is a leading mental health charity. They can offer you support with mental health.

NSPCC – 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.

Exam results

If you are feeling anxious about exam results, the following organisations provide excellent free professional advice:

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 – 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. They also have 10 handy tips on talking to your child about Coronavirus and how to help them.

Anna Freud – 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. They have also put together a comprehensive list of ideas, activities and recommendations for support for children, young adults and their families.

NSPCC – 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 – Rapid support for children and young people affected by the coronavirus crisis. Click here to learn more.

Useful Links

  • Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation – Remove online images.
  • Mind – The mental health charity.
  • Young Minds – This website is a fabulous source of information relating to child mental health.
  • Kooth – Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.
  • 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.
  • Alumnia – 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 – Advice, support and online counselling
  • TWR: The Waiting Room – Birmingham and Solihull Health & Wellbeing services at your fingertips
  • MyTutor – Useful tips and advice for parents to help their teens overcome body image issues, academic anxiety, peer pressure, and cyberbullying, including links to other important teen mental health resources – all of which can be helpful in these uncertain times.