Mental Health and Wellbeing

At the Crescent Primary School we think it is important to us that children, families and staff are all supported with their mental health and overall wellbeing. 

Take a look at our Supporting Families Padlet which provides guidance across a range of areas linked to mental health and wellbeing.

At our school we want all children to:

• Feel confident in themselves
• Be able to express a range of emotions appropriately
• Be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others
• Cope with the stresses of every day life
• Manage times of stress and be able to deal with change
• Learn and achieve.

Our Designated Senior Mental Health Lead is Mrs Preston. Our pastoral lead is Mrs Howard and our two pastoral support workers are Mrs Eldridge and Mrs Gigg who are trained in ELSA, TALA, Family Links and Nurture. Please visit our Pastoral page for more information on what we offer.

                Mrs Gigg                                    Mrs Eldridge

                Mrs Preston                               Mrs Howard

In school, children can use the classroom worry boxes to speak to the teacher, the corridor worry boxes to speak to the pastoral team. The pastoral team offer targeted support for pupils either on a 1:1 basis or through small group work.

Mrs Howard and Mrs Eldridge have both completed the Mental Health First Aid course.

We are not mental health professionals but we can support your child in school and signpost to additional agencies where that may be appropriate. If you are concerned about your child's mental health and wellbeing, in addition to the support we can provide in school, there are a number of outside agencies that may be able to support and guide you.

The following websites may be useful depending on your child's needs.

Our theme for Children's Mental Health Week 23 was 'let's connect'. 

Online support and guidance: 

SLEEP 

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/sleep/ 

https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/children/ 

https://cerebra.org.uk/get-advice-support/sleep-advice-service/ 

https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and-treatments/sleep-hygiene-children/ 

If you need support around establishing sleep routines at home, we can make a referral to the School Nurse Team. 

Where lack of sleep is impacting on a child’s physical and mental wellbeing, your GP may be able to refer to a sleep clinic . 

ANXIETY 

https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/issue/anxiety-2/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/anxiety-in-children/ 

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/anxiety/ 

https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/ 

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/anxious_child.pdf 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfnhxbk?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=anxiety 

If despite your best efforts, your child continues to show signs of anxiety, we are able to make a referral to the Mental health Support Team (MHST). Any support they offer will be work with parent / group work. 

Hampshire Youth Access – self referral 

In extreme cases, where anxiety is causing significant impact on a child’s life, a referral can be made to CAMHS. To do this, there is an expectation from CAMHS that other pathways have been explored initially (please see CAMHS website) 

FOOD / EATING DISORDERS 

https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/early-years-development/health-and-development/coping-with-fussy-eaters 

https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/resources/ot-activityinformation-sheets/fussy-eaters/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/fussy-eaters/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/eating-disorders/advice-for-parents/ 

https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/help/parents-carers/eating-difficulties-professionals/ 

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/eating-problems/ 

If you need support around establishing healthy eating at home, we can make a referral to the school nurse team. 

If you are concerned that your child may have an eating disorder, you need to see your GP. 

MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR / ANGER MANAGEMENT 

https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/help/parents-carers/managing-challenging-behaviour/ 

The CAMHS website has links to many resources that can be used to support parents and carers in managing challenging behaviour. 

While referrals can be made to CAMHS, they will only become involved where there is a clear link to a mental health issue. 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/caring-for-children-and-young-people/how-to-deal-with-challenging-behaviour-in-children/ 

https://www.familylives.org.uk/ 

https://whosincharge.co.uk/Offer a course to parents experiencing child to parent violence and abuse 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/help-your-child-with-anger-issues/ 

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/young-people/well-being/resources/anger 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_FMxPo4xDM 

https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/child-adolescents/emotional-and-behavioural-support-for-children-and-teenagers/help-with-teenager-with-anger-aggression-and-violence 

You can self – refer or school can refer you to complete a parenting course. These are a great way of meeting other parents and problem-solving particular issues you may be having. 

You can be request to join the next parenting course being run in school – Family Lives. 

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/services/hampshire-specialist-parenting-support-service 

https://youthoptions.org.uk/what-we-do/parent-carer-support/non-violent-resistance 

Where behaviour is challenging both at home and in school, a referral can be made to Primary Behaviour Service (PBS) 

Where behaviour is in the home, you can ask your GP to refer to the Wellbeing Support Service at PBS. School are unable to make this referral, it has to come from a health professional. 

SELF ESTEEM / BODY IMAGE 

https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/help/parents-carers/body-image-self-esteem/ 

https://www.themix.org.uk/mental-health/body-image-and-self-esteem 

https://mediasmart.uk.com/parents/ 

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/self-esteem/ 

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/mental-health-wellbeing/self-esteem/body-image-children-teenagers/ 

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/body-image/ 

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/risks-and-protective-factors/lifestyle-factors/body-image/ 

https://www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-help-young-children-avoid-body-image-issues-4114718 

LOW MOOD (DEPRESSION) 

https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/help/parents-carers/depression-professionals/ 

The CAMHS website has a wealth of materials and suggestions for supporting children/young people with low mood. 

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/depression-and-low-mood/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/children-depressed-signs/ 

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/young-people/well-being/resources/depression 

School can make referrals to the Child Wellbeing Practitioners who often parent and group support for children under 12. 

BEREAVEMENT 

 https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/children-and-bereavement/ 

https://www.childbereavementuk.org/supporting-bereaved-children-and-young-people 

https://www.winstonswish.org/supporting-you/supporting-a-bereaved-child/ 

https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/grief-experiences/children-young-people/ 

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/grief-and-loss/ 

https://sudden.org/help-for-children/ 

https://www.simonsays.org.uk/ 

GENERAL HEALTH & MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT & GUIDANCE 

Hampshire Healthy Families 

https://www.hampshirehealthyfamilies.org.uk/default.aspx  

Southern Health NHS 

https://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-list-of-services/child-health-services 

My Family Coach  

https://www.myfamilycoach.com/ 

Child & Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/ 

Young Minds Support for children and young people including advice for carers. https://youngminds.org.uk/  

Shout Crisis Text Line Text SHOUT to 85258 to text with a trained crisis volunteer 24/7 https://www.giveusashout.org/ 

Wessex Healthier Together https://what0-18.nhs.uk/ 

Every mind matters https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/ 

Mental Health Foundation  https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health 

Hampshire Youth Access https://hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk/ 

Samaritans 24 hrs a day on 116 123 or email support on jo@samaritans.org (response within24 hrs) 

APPS TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING 

Some are young child appropriate, some older child/teen, others more adult. 

Please look at an app and it’s content before sharing with your child. We do not recommend any specific apps and cannot take responsibility for any app you may share with your child. 

Thrive 

Chill Panda 

Clear fear 

Headspace 

Calm 

Worry Tree 

Mindshift 

Catch it 

My Possible Self 

Combined Minds 

Mindshift 

Moodpath 

Smiling mind 

Breathe, think, do with Sesame 

Mindful powers 

Think Ninja 

WRAP Wellness Recovery Plan 

Cove 

Pzizz 

Healthier Together 

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS:

 Hampshire Children’s Services 0300 555 1384

Childline 0800 1111

Police non-emergency 101

NHS Direct 111

MIND (Mental Health Support) 0300 123 3393

Shelter (Homeless Charity) 0808 800 4444

Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 9177 650

Refuge (Domestic Abuse) 0808 2000 247

FRANK (drug advice) 0300 123 6600 or Text 82111

Citizens Advice 03444 111 306