Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

The mental health and wellbeing of children, staff and parents is fundamental to our inclusive and nurturing environment at St Helen’s Primary School. We believe that positive mental health can have an impact on behaviour, attendance and attainment, as well as having a positive impact on a child’s later life. We believe that it is our responsibility to work holistically and as a team to develop the child, and this is underpinned in our tag line:

“Together we make a difference”

It is our intent to support the mental health of not only our pupils, but of their families and of our staff, being a beacon of our local community and enabling all shareholders to achieve. This is reflected in our core vision:

“To create a school that enables all pupils (no matter what background or starting point) to achieve their full potential and promote the school as a beacon within the community, where aspirations are achieved and dreams are a reality for all pupils, staff and families.”

The World Health Organisation defines mental health as:

‘a state of mind in which an individual is able to realise his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.’

(The World Health Organisation 2010)

With this definition in mind, we aim to:

• Promote a positive image and a better understanding of mental health and wellbeing amongst staff, children and their families so that they feel comfortable to express their feelings, become more emotionally resilient and are more self-confident, and in turn, increase their capacity to learn.
• Help develop protective factors which build resilience and off-set the risk factors associated with mental health and wellbeing, so that children are able to cope with the stresses they may face in school, at home and beyond.
• Ensure that all children and staff continue to feel valued and have a sense of belonging and security, so that they feel empowered to make a positive contribution to the school and its wider community, now and in the future.

We believe that in fulfilling these aims, we will improve the mental health and well-being of our community, leading to a happier, healthier environment, an improvement in academic achievement and success and satisfaction in later life. 

If you Need Help with Child Mental Health

Local Help

Your GP - They will be able to provide help and advice. Your GP can also provide access to appropriate specialist services and local organisations.

Call 111 - You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service - (CAMHS) - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides assessment and appropriate treatment or intervention for children and young people up to their 18th birthday who are experiencing mental health problems, with the aim of positive mental health promotion. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across Teesside has a single point of access for referrals and self-referrals to CAMHS services – telephone 0300 013 2000.

National Help

 Childline - Free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday.

0800 1111   https://www.childline.org.uk

Mind –Info line offers advice and support to service users; has a network of local associations in England and Wales to which people can turn for help.

0300 123 3393, text number: 86463     http://www.mind.org.uk

SANE - Provides practical help, emotional support and specialist information for people aged 16 and over with mental health problems, their family, friends and carers.

0300 304 7000    www.sane.org.uk

Supportline - Confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue.

01708 765200   www.supportline.org.uk

 The Samaritans - The Samaritans provide a confidential service for people in despair and who feel suicidal.

116 123   www.samaritans.org.uk

 NSPCC -  Provides helplines and information on child abuse, child protection and safeguarding children.

0808 800 5000  https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

 Young Minds  - Young Minds has a Parent Helpline that offers free confidential telephone and email support to any adult worried about the wellbeing of a child or young person.

0808 802 5544  http://www.youngminds.org.uk/for_parents

 Youth Wellbeing Directory - Helps you find support for mental health and wellbeing of young people up to age 25 across the UK.

https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/youth-wellbeing/

 HaveIGotAProblem.com - Free resource about mental health and addiction issues. It has advice and documents on issues including depression, anxiety, self-harm, bipolar, eating disorders and coping.

http://www.haveigotaproblem.com/

Click here to access our A to Z of advice