Mental Health and Well-being
At Binbrook Church of England Primary School we aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community (children, staff, parents and carers), and recognise how important mental health and emotional wellbeing is to our lives in just the same way as physical health. We recognise that children’s mental health is a crucial factor in their overall wellbeing and can affect their learning and achievement. All children go through ups and downs during their school career and some face significant life events.
Our role in school is to ensure that children are able to manage times of change and stress, and that they are supported to unlock their full potential or access help when they need it – “to be the best they can be”.
We also have a role to ensure that children learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what affects their mental health, how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and where they can go if they need help and support.
Two of our staff members are ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) Trained (by educational psychologists, to support the emotional development of children and young people in school). Numerous children have benefited from their support and guidance and many more will do so. The ELSA's attend half-termly supervision sessions with an Educational Psychologist.
Personal, Social and Heath Education
We teach children PSHE through the Jigsaw scheme. The areas we cover in PSHE include:
- Being Me
- Celebrating Differences
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
We use the Jigsaw resources to teach children high quality PSHE which will support their wellbeing.
To find out more about Jigsaw click here
Our aim is to help develop the protective factors which build resilience to mental health problems and to be a school where:
- All children are valued.
- Children have a sense of belonging and feel safe.
- Children feel able to talk openly with trusted adults about their problems without feeling any stigma.
- Positive mental health is promoted and valued.
- Bullying is not tolerated.
Just as people's bodies can become unwell, people's minds can become unwell too. Mental health problems are more common than you think - three children in every classroom have a mental health problem (Young Minds).
Mental health difficulties can be extremely hard to talk about but there is a lot of support available. Below are some links to key organisations offering professional and confidential help:
A leading mental health charity with information about where to access support, legal advice and confidential help lines.
An NHS website with suggestions about living well and links to national support organisations for adults and young people.
A website for young people and also their carers. This website includes advice on how to look after yourself as well as lots of helpful and friendly information.
If you are worried about you or your child's mental health you can talk about this with your GP or in confidence to a member of school staff. We can make a referral to CAHMS (Children and Adults Mental Health Services).
Alternatively, you can contact the Community CAHMS Consultation Service who offer a consultation service to parents, carers and professionals. They give you the opportunity to discuss your concerns about a young person's emotional well-being before a referral is made. Experience shows that an early consultation can often address concerns and save the need for a referral. If they are not the right service for you, they can signpost you to an alternative one.
Ms Hall is our mental well-being lead for the school. (Please contact her, via the school office, for support).
Mental Health/Wellbeing Signposting and Resources – Binbrook Church of England Primary School
Useful websites:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/
https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-services/parents-and-carers/supporting-your-child-s-mental-health/
https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
Support lines:
Publications:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-mental-health-services-for-young-people
Eating disorders:
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Bereavement:
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/supporting-bereaved-children-and-young-people
Anxiety/depression:
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/your-family/wellbeing/dealing-with-anxiety-in-young-children
Parental Separation:
https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/information/separating/support-for-your-child/
Low self-esteem:
Healthy Minds Lincolnshire Online Workshops
Healthy Minds Lincolnshire have developed a range of online workshops to support children/young people and families learn new strategies to manage a variety of emotional wellbeing concerns.
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Healthy Minds Workshops |