The following is designed as a go-to resource for mental health and well-being both for pupils and adults. It has links to different websites offering help and advice. 

If you are concerned about mental health issues please do not hesitate to contact school, or your GP. If you are concerned about a child’s welfare you can call MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 0300 500 80 80. If you require an urgent response outside of work hours (8.30am to 5pm) contact the emergency duty team on 0300 456 4546. In an emergency, call 999.

Online resources and go-to websites:

Nottingham Help Yourself

You can find links to services for all kinds of needs here

https://www.nottshelpyourself.org.uk/kb5/nottinghamshire/directory/home.page

Child Line

This is a free service with access for children to speak to someone about their concerns

https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/update-from-childline/

Child Line also has information around how children can manage their feelings using strategies such as breathing exercises, how to express themselves and has practical ideas such as yoga and games.

https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/

Anna Freud Centre

This is a national centre supporting young peoples’ mental health. There are lots of ideas for self-care. Although it’s aimed at older children, it will help with ideas and to support positivity.

https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/

You will also find a series of podcasts from experts on this website to help parents understand and manage child and family mental health problems.

https://www.annafreud.org/childinmind/

Kooth

This provides an on-line councelling service for older children (KS2 and above).

https://kooth.com/

Young Minds

This site has information for families and older children with mental health difficulties.

The parent helpline is on 0808 802 5544 – open Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm and free from mobiles and landlines.

headspace

This is an app used for meditation and has free support useful to children and adults.

https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

Samaritans

This is for parents rather than children and can provide general help ad support and someone to tall to

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Mind

This is a UK mental health charity that has an online mutual support community for adults

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/side-by-side-our-online-community/

Family action

This FamilyLine service supports people who are dealing with family pressures in a new and innovative way by using a network of volunteers from across the country to support family members over the age of 18

https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/familyline/

Phone 0808 802 6666

Text 07537 404 282

Family Lives (previously Parentline)

They offer a confidential and free helpline service for families for emotional supp information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. The helpline is open 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm over the weekend.

Call 0808 800 2222

https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/

The following is a list of websites to support with mental health and other aspects of being at home and supporting families during the time of Covid-19. The links come via a Facebook page so it will ask you to go via Facebook:

Coronavirus (taken from Mum in the Moment Facebook Page)

Some of our children are extremely anxious. For those of you who have children who are a little extra sensitive, anxious or OCD, it can make their struggles so much worse.

At times like these, we need to be positive role models for our children. We need to be careful of what we say in front of their little ears.

Be mindful not to make jokes about coronavirus in front of your children. A joke that seems funny to you (or your children) can be very real for others. Please remind your children to be kind with their words too.

• Kindness is contagious... but something worth spreading. Pass the kindness on at this time of unease and uncertainty.

To help calm the chaos, the following is a set of links and videos to help you to explain Coronavirus to children, teens and young adults.

Before talking to your child about the coronavirus outbreak please try and reduce your own fear and anxiety around it. They need to see and hear your calm.

• 7 Breathing exercises to help children feel calm

https://muminthemoment.com/breathing-exercises-techniques-…/

• Child Mind: Talking to kids about coronavirus

https://childmind.org/…/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavi…/

• Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus

https://www.npr.org/…/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-n…

• 5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus

https://www.nytimes.com/…/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html

• Experts offers parents advice for talking to their children about the COVID-19 outbreak.

https://www.huffpost.com/…/coronavirus-how-to-talk-to-kids-…

• How to Explain the Coronavirus to Kids with Anxiety or OCD

https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/how-to-explain-the-coronav…/

• For the grown ups

https://www.mind.org.uk/in…/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/…

Let's all try to respond in the calmest, wisest and kindest way we can