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).
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/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.
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.
https://muminthemoment.com/breathing-exercises-techniques-…/
https://childmind.org/…/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavi…/
https://www.npr.org/…/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-n…
https://www.nytimes.com/…/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html
https://www.huffpost.com/…/coronavirus-how-to-talk-to-kids-…
https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/how-to-explain-the-coronav…/
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