Mental Health First Aiders: Mrs Birrell, Mrs Gibson-Crone & Miss Harrison
Well-Being Lead: Miss Harrison wellbeing@stjosephsnorton.bhcet.org.uk
We are committed to the emotional needs of our children and recognise that there may be certain times in their lives when they require additional support to help to improve their emotional and mental health, or may need professional counselling support.
At St. Joseph’s we are able to offer families the ‘Rainbows’ programme. This programme is to support children who have had some form of loss in their lives; this could be through parent separation, a death of a family member or a family member who has had to leave the family home for any other reason. The programme is specifically designed to support children in working through their feelings of loss, to put their feelings into words and to begin to accept what has taken place in the family.
The short weekly sessions are run by Miss Harrison who is ‘Rainbows’ trained. We also offer the ‘SunBeams‘ programme, which is designed for children from three years of age. Using teddy bears, puppets and play activities, children are helped to express their feelings, whilst feeling supported in a safe environment.
To find out more information, or if you think your child would benefit from these sessions, please see contact Miss Harrison at wellbeing@stjosephsnorton.bhcet.org.uk
Alliance
St. Joseph’s is thrilled to work in partnership with Alliance Mental Health Support Team. Click on the images below to read their newsletter which outlines some of the opportunities available to us as a school, and how this may benefit your child.
Mental Health Awareness Week
The children at St. Joseph’s were busy ‘connecting with nature’ for Mental Health Awareness Week. We had many activities which allowed the children to continue their learning outdoors. Children planted radish, lettuce and spring onion seeds in our school vegetable patch, enjoyed reading in our sensory garden and completed landscape drawings of our beautiful outdoor areas. See our pictures below.
Below are some resources and websites that may provide you and your children with help and support. Alternatively, you can contact us via the school telephone number or our well-being email address: wellbeing@stjosephsacademy.org.uk
Support For Our Children
Childline
Childline is a great website with lots of different resources to help children with any worries or concerns that they may have.
Anna Freud
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has a useful website for both children and adults. It has parenting groups where you can get assistance with managing and understanding your child’s emotions as well as other information and advice.
MindEd
Free educational resources for children’s and young people’s mental health.
Forestry England
Lots of practical activities that can be done outside to keep your children busy and active!
Brain Break Breathing
These breathing activities are calming and relaxing which can help us re-focus during stressful and anxious times. They are great for both children and adults. Click the title to view these child-friendly breathing activities.
Kooth
A free online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for young people in our area. It is designed for children aged 11 to 18 years old as well as adults.
CAHMS
Different resources that may help with tackling children’s and families anxiety and concerns.
Support for Parents, Carers & Staff
Mental Health
A broad range of links to mental health resources on the internet.
Mentally Healthy Schools
They have created good resources for children, parents and any other adults who need some support and advice.
Young Minds
Young Minds has listed some advice if you or your child are experiences feelings of anxiety.
Mental Health Foundation
This resource provides advice about how to talk to your children about scary world news.
Government
This is the Government’s guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and well-being.
Action for Children – Advice for Parents
This website allows you to talk to a Parenting Coach online, read their tips for family well-being and home schooling and ideas to have some fun.
NHS – Every Mind Matters
The NHS website has wealth of information about Coronavirus. This link will take you to the Every Mind Matters page which has advice and practical tips to help you and your child’s mental health, as well as ideas on how to tackle working from home and how to discuss the virus.
Qwell
Qwell is a provider of online mental health services for adults. Qwell, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of need.
WHO – Healthy Parenting
This link will take you to the WHO website where they have created 6 posters to help you interact constructively with your child, staying positive, managing stress and avoiding bad behaviour.
Take a look at this guide as it describes ways to beat anxiety, manage your personal stress buckets, support children and much more
Samaritans
Visit the website if you are worried about your mental health where you will find a collection of resources. Alternatively, you can call them for free at any time on 116 123.
CAHMS Self Help Guide
A library of self-help guides that may be useful. There are a range of guides that are aimed at children, adults and families.
Alliance – Mindfulness for Kits
Mindfulness for Kits presents a series of five short stories and audio recordings which introduce children, in a fun way, to the very rewarding skills of mindfulness.
Emotional Well-Being Tasks
Sometimes children don’t like to talk about their feelings and sometimes they don’t know how to express their feelings and thoughts. This activity will encourage your child to discuss how they are feeling and what they are thinking, as well as setting goals throughout the day.
Having a sense of gratitude helps us to feel happy and hopeful. This Scavenger Hunt is a great way for both children and adults to start finding little things around you to help you feel positive and thankful.
Worry Dolls
These worry dolls are really simple to make and really useful at anytime, especially now. They originate from Guatemala and are used for children to tell their worries to before they go to sleep. They then put the dolls under their pillow.
Find a jar that is no longer needed. On little pieces of paper write down all the things you and your children would like to do when the Covid-19 situation is over. Put on your favourite songs in the background and get excited about all the things you have to look forward too. If you need more instructions of how to make a Happiness Jar, click the picture below.
Download and print the book to work through. It will explore your child’s emotions through different activities.
Practical Ways to Support you and your Child’s Mental Health
The posters below list practical ways to support your own and your child’s mental health. https://believeperform.com
Abuse & Neglect
The Children’s Hub
If you think any child is at risk of abuse and neglect or at risk of serious harm, please contact The Children’s Hub.
Stockton-on-Tees & Hartlepool: 01642 130080
Out of Office Hours: 01642 524552
If it is an emergency, contact the Police on 999.
Please click the image to be taken to the Stockton Council website for more information.
NSPCC
If you are worried about a child or unsure what to do, you can speak to a trained counsellor for information and advice. Click the title above to be directed to their website.