Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Latest
DfE Guidance on temporary changes: attendance recording for educational settings whilst closed due to the coronavirus
We have put together key information and resources for schools to help maintain provision during the COVID-19 situation.
The resources on this page were collected between March and July 2020 to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of staff, parents and children and young people.
** New Return to School resources have also been developed**
Transition to return to school
A series of resources has been produced to support the challenge of school return following the pandemic and are highly recommended by Principal Educational Psychologists nationally.
An essential toolkit to disseminate widely and form the basis of well-being and pastoral recovery plans:
The Anna Freud Centre has created a Managing transitions guide, containing helpful resources to prepare children for change.
Schools/colleges may like to adapt these suggested questions as appropriate to gauge staff support needs upon returning to work.
The National Children's Bureau have developed a new guide to support the return to school with a focus on the Whole School Approach to MHEW:
The National Children's Bureau host the Schools' Wellbeing Partnership, and are developing a similar resource, in consultation with the Department for Education, for secondary schools. If you're interested in sharing your plans for inclusion in this publication, please contact: Saskia Jenkins at the Schools' Wellbeing Partnership: sjenkins@ncb.org.uk
** More Return to School resources **
Supporting children and young people
General
A list of tips and useful links to support MHEW from the East Sussex Educational Psychology Service
Digital resources to support mental health from East Sussex County Council
Primary / young children
Nottinghamshire Educational Psychology Service has shared 2 stories to help primary schools promote positive thinking for children during school recovery:
Calming activities from Childline for school staff to support children and young people
Coronavirus: a book for children illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Secondary / older children
The trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) from the East Sussex Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) have made some videos to support young people with their mental health during COVID 19:
- An introduction EMHPs and what COVID 19 is
- Managing my anxiety during lockdown
- Maintain my mood during lockdown
- Healthy Lifestyle and Routine during lockdown
Advice from Young Minds for older children feeling anxiety about coronavirus
e-motion are offering free online counselling
Rise Above for young people, which includes RSHE lesson plans for schools
MindEd - free educational resource on children and young people's mental health
Online course supporting young people with low mood or depression during the pandemic
Creative education are offering Free Access accounts to a number of their online courses at the moment:
- Make a Success of Remote Teaching - principles for effective remote learning
- Be the Adult a Child Needs During Lockdown - Simple steps to support children
- Stay Mentally Well During COVID19 - strategies for promoting your wellbeing
- Use Simple Self-Soothe Strategies a range of practical strategies for adults or children
Anna Freud Centre have many useful resources to support CYP including:
- Helping children and young people to manage anxiety: A practical guide
- 7 ways to support children and young people who are worried
- Good days in unusual times
- Kindness calendar
Post 16 / young adults
5 steps to mental wellbeing from the NHS
Every Mind Matters advice and tips to look after your mental health from the NHS
Advice on anxiety and panic attacks from Mind.org
Children with SEN
Some useful info from Special Needs Jungle to support children with SEN
Find more SEND resources
Supporting school staff
Looking after yourself and your team from Mind.org
COVID Online Resource Pack from the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACoA)