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Chepping View

 

 

Mental Health

Welcome to Chepping View Academy’s mental health page.  This page has been developed in collaboration with Everlief Child Psychology and provides a wide range of support for you and your child.

 

Support within school

SENCo and Senior Mental Health Lead – Miss Greenacre

Designated Safeguarding Leads – Victoria Morris, Tanya Tadgell, Parmie Grewell and Kirsty Elliot

Learning Mentor and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants – Tanya Tadgell and Paula Brown

 

1.    What Is Mental Health?

 Mental health encompasses social, physiological, and emotional wellbeing, involving the ability to function and cope with daily life. Contrary to popular belief, mental health is relevant to everyone, not just those with mental health problems. Mental health can fluctuate over time, similar to physical health.

 

The term ‘mental health’ is used to describe various conditions that cause changes in feelings or behaviours. Examples include anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and psychosis. This list is not exhaustive.

 

It is worth noting that one in ten children will experience mental health issues, and more than 50% of these issues begin before the age of 14. For further statistics on mental health, you can find information here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/children-young-people-statistics

 

Children and young people undergo various behavioural changes as part of their growth process. While some changes are typical for young people, in certain cases, they may indicate the development of mental health conditions. Action for children has devised an easy way to help adults recognise common signs that can be useful in identifying concerns about a child or young person’s mental health. They can be remembered using the acronym ‘MASK’.

 

M – Mood. Look out for argumentative behaviour, aggression, negative emotions, self-criticism, and withdrawal in children and young people.

A – Actions. Changes in eating or sleeping patterns, signs of bullying, substance misuse, or self-harm (such as cutting, burning, or hair pulling) can indicate mental health issues.

S – Social. Losing touch with friends, changing friendship groups, appearing lonely or withdrawn, and losing interest in school or hobbies can be signs of mental health illnesses.

K – Keep talking. Children and young people may not readily express their feelings. Don’t give up, keep asking how they are feeling, let them know you care, and that you’ll be there for them.

 

 

2.Tips for listening to a child

Discussing mental health can be challenging. Children and young people may worry about being labelled or stigmatised, upsetting others, or the potential consequences. Parents and carers may have concerns about saying the wrong thing, exacerbating the situation, or treatment options.

 

Creating a safe and loving environment is crucial for children with mental illness. Maintain a supportive and low-stress atmosphere at home. Structure can be helpful in reducing stress. Parents and carers can try making a contract with their child, ensuring they feel comfortable talking or finding alternative ways to communicate when they’re struggling e.g., a  journal. This gives children a safe outlet to express their feelings.

 

A safe environment also entails open communication and dialogue. Encourage your child to understand their own mental health by regularly checking up on their wellbeing. Help them understand how to manage their emotions, identity feelings, and recognise their influence on behaviour. The ‘Triangle of Feelings’ can be useful in this regard. This allows young people to understand how we think, feel, and behave, and how each influences each other.

 

 

You are not alone. There are numerous resources available to assist you and your child. The provided links connect to organisations and charities dedicated to supporting children, young people, and their parents through episodes of mental health.

 

If you have concerns about your child, you can also reach out to your GP, school nurse, or school’s safeguarding team for support and guidance.

 

3. Resources for Common Issues

 Anxiety:

 Behavioural Issues:

Bullying and friendship issues:

 Depression:

 Low Self-Esteem

OCD:

 Self-Harm:

 

 

4. General Resources

National Helplines for Adults and Children:

  •  Childline – A supportive platform where children and young people can discuss their worries with someone. They can access this service online at: http://www.childline.org.uk or through the phone at: 08001111
  • NSPCC – A charity dedicated to combatting child abuse. They have a helpline staffed by trained professionals who can offer expert advice and support to anyone concerned about a child, parents or carers seeking guidance, or professionals in need of information. The helpline number is 08088005000. In addition to this, the NSPCC has established a helpline specifically for children, young people and worried adults and professionals dealing with abuse at school. This dedicated helpline can be reached at: 0800136663. Further information can be found on www.nspcc.org.uk
  • The Samaritans – Offer a confidential helpline that provides support and advice to individuals experiencing emotional distress. They can be reached on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.
  • Young Minds Parentline – Offers information and advice for anyone concerned about a child or young person under the age of 25. The helpline can be reached on 08088025544 or visit https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat

 

General Mental Health Advice and Support:

 

Eating Disorders:

 

LGBTQ+:

 

Supporting Children and Young People with Their Gender Identity:

  

For more parenting and wellbeing support for parents of school aged children please visit https://www.theyarethefuture.co.uk . Brought to you by a clinical psychologist, you can also access parent workshops, online courses, and articles to help your family thrive.

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