Mental Health Awareness Week - Resources for Schools

The Department for Education, along with several partner organisations, has produced dedicated resources which those responsible for promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing of children and young people may find useful.

Mental health for children and young people - approaches and resources:

• The Mental Health Foundation has published resources, support and tips for schools to promote positive mental health and wellbeing amongst pupils. 
• HM Government, in association with the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, has produced Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing - guidance on the 8 principles of a whole school or college approach to promoting mental health and wellbeing. 
• Anna Freud’s Mentally Healthy Schools resource hub, created in partnership with the Department of Education, offers schools information, advice and practical resources to support pupil mental health and wellbeing, along with a guide and tool for providing effective targeted mental wellbeing support in schools.

Other resources for young people, parents and carers, and professionals include:

• Young minds offering a range of information, advice as well as resources including things like wellbeing activities, toolkits and webinars 
• The Education Hub produced by the DfE on the governments website provides links and sources of mental health support in their Mental health resources for children, students, parents, carers and school/college staff blog. 

Mental health for teachers and education staff - resources and helplines:

• Education Support has free telephone support and counselling from trained experts
  • Education Support provide a FREE helpline for teachers and education workers to talk through all kinds of concerns: 08000 562 561
  • Further information can be found online: Education Support helpline - free and confidential emotional support for teachers and education staff
  • Education Support also provide resources for staff: Mental health & wellbeing resources for teachers, education staff & schools (educationsupport.org.uk)
• The Mental Health Foundation has a selection of top tips for teachers for creating mentally healthy schools. It explains that creating mentally healthy schools will always be a task for the whole school community rather than one individual
• Mental Health at Work has a range of resources to support employers in creating workplaces which support mental health
  • Staff mental health in education – Mental Health At Work

Crisis Services:

• Samaritans: Call: 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/
• NHS: Help for suicidal thoughts - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 
• CALM: https://www.thecalmzone.net/
• Mind: Helplines and listening services - Mind

For Schools that subscribe to the EAP via BCC:

Discuss anything that is troubling you, whether it is personal difficulties or work-related issues. Whatever your situation, you can be sure of a supportive and constructive response. You are not alone.

• To access the EAP website, enter the User Name: schoolsbcc and Password: employee. Or call: 0808 168 2143 to speak to a helpline specialist.
• The EAP website also offers an online counselling facility available Mon-Fri, 8am- 10pm and weekends, 9am-5pm.
• If you are a manager, you can access dedicated support online, or via the helpline: 0808 168 2143.