Mental Health

Nutfield Church Primary School is proud of its excellent pastoral care. Our pupils’ mental health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to us. We aim to create a nurturing environment where our children are not only encouraged to flourish academically but are also supported throughout all of the challenges they might experience. Our aim is for all pupils in our care to feel happy, supported and fulfilled so they can thrive and flourish.

“Promise me you’ll always remember you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Christopher Robin

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What is Mental Health?

The following information has been taken from the Anna Freud Mentally Healthy Schools website:

We all have mental health. Your mental health affects how you feel, think and act. It refers to your emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. Your mental health can change on a daily basis and over time, and can be affected by a range of factors.

It’s important to look after your mental health, as you would look after your physical health. Your state of wellbeing affects how you cope with stress, relate to others and make choices. It also plays a part in your relationships with your family, community, colleagues and friends.

Good mental health among children and young people

When children and young people have good levels of wellbeing it helps them to:

  • learn and explore the world
  • feel, express and manage positive and negative emotions
  • form and maintain good relationships with others
  • cope with, and manage, change, setbacks and uncertainty
  • develop and thrive.

When children and young people look after their mental health and develop their coping skills it can help them to boost their resilience, self-esteem and confidence. It can also help them learn to manage their emotions, feel calm, and engage positively with their education – which can, in turn, improve their academic attainment.

What affects children and young people’s mental health?

A child or young person’s mental health will be influenced by many things over time and, because they all have different personalities, they will react and cope with challenging situations in different ways.

How many children and young people have a mental health condition?

The rate of poor mental health in children differs across the UK. Research for England suggests that one in 10 primary school children has an identifiable mental health condition, which rises to one in seven secondary school students. In both primary and secondary schools, this is equivalent to three children in every class.

The research shows that children are more likely to experience a mental health condition as they get older. The figure rises to one in six 17 to 19-year-olds who have a mental health condition.

How schools can support children and young people’s mental health?

Schools are the ideal environment to promote and support pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.

Most children and young people spend a significant amount of time in school and with their teachers, which means that school staff are in a good position to identify a child who may be struggling, and help refer them to get the support they need.

Schools can also help children develop social and emotional skills, providing them with the coping skills and tools they need to understand and manage their thoughts, feelings, behaviour, goals and relationships.

Schools can do this through teaching health and wellbeing education (RSHE – Relationship, Sex and Health Education) and weaving these topics and skills throughout the broader curriculum and school life. Health and wellbeing shouldn’t be taught in isolation but reinforced throughout the curriculum and the time that the child or young person is in school.

Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) – photo of David?

Through a DfE Government funded scheme, schools were invited to identify a member of school staff who could lead on supporting the mental wellbeing of the pupils, staff and wider school community.  We are pleased that Mr. Bowen is our recently trained member of staff.  Training was provided through the Anna Freud Foundation.

Senior mental health leads in schools are not expected to be mental health professionals; it is not the role of teachers and school leaders to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. However, with appropriate training, SMHLs can take the lead on implementing a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing Ambassadors 

Wellbeing Ambassadors is a programme funded by Surrey’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Alliance, designed to amplify pupil voice on whole school wellbeing. The programme empowers young leaders to promote and support wellbeing within their school community through education, activities, events and whole school communication.

We are pleased that our current Year 5’s have received Wellbeing Ambassadors training.

Designed around the evidence-based framework of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, the training focuses on three areas:

  1. Introducing the framework of the Five Ways to Wellbeing to help pupils explore what wellbeing is, why it’s important and how to improve it
  2. Clarifying the role of a Wellbeing Ambassador and understanding what support is available, both in and out of school
  3. Providing an opportunity to hear pupil voices about wellbeing priorities in their school and using this to develop ideas for making improvements

With support from a designated member of staff, the programme aim is to develop Wellbeing Ambassadors who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to initiate and lead activities, campaigns and events that ultimately create a positive, supportive and resilient environment at school.

Our Wellbeing Ambassadors will also be able to provide support to pupils during playtimes and lunchtimes.

Supporting mental health:

https://www.wwf.org.uk/5-ways-connect-nature-help-our-wellbeing

Useful Links and Resources

The following organisations offer support and advice. Please click on the icons for contact details and further information.

a free and confidential support service for children online, on the phone, anytime.

Chat Health operates Monday to Friday 9am – 5.00pm (excluding bank holidays). Out of these opening times, anyone who texts Chat Health will receive an automated message with advice on where to get help if their question is urgent. The Chat Health text number is: 07507 329 951

Cyp Haven is running a virtual service for young people to access support by phone. This service is available every day of the week including bank holidays Call: 01483519436 Monday to Friday, 4pm-8.30pm. Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-6pm

Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously knowns as Parentline) for emotional support, information, advice, and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity.

free, safe and anonymous online support for young people:

provides 24 hour emotional support.

Mental Health Crisis Helpline 0800 915 4644 – 24 hour support

Eikon is an award-winning charity that has been working in local Surrey communities for over two decades.

EDSPY

is run by educational psychologists, has created a short blog post that gathers together some selected resources into one place, freely accessible and easy to navigate.

Prevention of young suicide

NHS latest Covid 19 Information

Teen Mental Health – A Guide for Parents

Mental Health and Self Care for Young People

Family Learning SAL offering a variety of free online courses of how to support children/teenagers including residence, self-esteem, positive behaviour, anxiety, helping to understand neurodivergence and masking.

Mole Valley Family Centre can now offer a six week counselling service to students over the age of 12 years and above.

Contact them at familycentre@dorking.Surrey.sch.uk
or by phone on 01306 740095 for more detailed information.

The New Life Church are running a Youth Club on a Friday evening from 7:00pm to 8:30pm for 11 to 14 year olds at Chart Downs Social Club. There is an entry fee of £2.

Helping you find addiction rehab – Your recovery begins today Selecting effective addiction treatment options could not be easier. From residential rehab to outpatient therapy, we are able to connect you with a third party treatment provider who is able to offer a treatment package to suit your needs

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