Mental Health, Well Being Support and useful links for Parents
We are a Mental Health Support Team School. This means we are committed to building a mentally healthy school environment helping all members of the school community to feel confident, resilient and independent around their mental wellbeing.
MHSTs were established nationally to improve children and young people’s early access to mental health and wellbeing services by providing support in schools. They work with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
Within Somerset the MHST is a jointly delivered service between Young Somerset and Somerset Foundation Trust CAMHS. It is also supported by Public Health England and the Education Psychology service. MHST staff work in collaboration with the Mental Health Lead at our School (Mrs Lizzie Reynolds).
The three core functions of the MHST are:
- To provide evidence-based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LICBT) interventions for mild to moderate mental health and wellbeing needs to children and young people.
- To support the Mental Health Lead in each MHST school to introduce or develop a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
- To give timely advice and signposting to schools, and to liaise with external agencies, ensuring that children and young people and their families receive the right support at the right time.
LICBT support may be face-to-face or virtual, may involve working with parents or in a group, and will typically involve an assessment and 6-8 weekly sessions. These interventions are highly structured and delivered by mental health practitioners, who receive regular supervision with clinical supervisors.
If you would like to find out more, please speak to the Health Lead (MHL) in school, Mrs Lizzie Reynolds.
For more information about the MHST please visit: www.youngsomerset.org.uk/mhst or www.somersetft.nhs.uk/camhs/mental-health-support-in-schools-mhst/
The MHST (Mental Health Support Team) are offering a series of FREE helpful webinars over Spring 2025.
- Supporting your neurodivergent child
- Supporting exam and test wellbeing
- Helping your child to thrive: Boosting self-esteem & resilience
- Understanding and supporting anxiety and low mood
- Supporting your child’s big feelings
Find out more & register here: https://bit.ly/mhstwebinarsspring2025
Following the children’s and parent workshops on developing understanding of emotions and emotion coaching we have access to the teams padlet with countless useful resources around emotion coaching, supporting your child’s well being, sleep etc. Take a look on the links below:
Parent & Carer Wellbeing Toolkit (padlet.com)
Emotion Coaching & Family Support (padlet.com)
Links to websites and helpline phone numbers
Somerset Big Tent – This website ‘Empowers children and young people to find the right wellbeing support at the right time’ – It has links to many services and support from well being for children and young people.
Mental Health Support Team – Young Somerset
This service is available for children and young people aged 5-16, providing low intensity CBT interventions and support to schools to adopt a Whole Schools Approach to mental health and wellbeing. If you feel your child needs this support please contact the Senior Mental Health Lead, Mrs Lizzie Reynolds, via the school office.
MHST information for School Website
Sleep Advice
Sleep Advice website A Sleep Guide Sleep-cards
Emotion Coaching
We believe that emotion coaching is a very effective way to support your child. At times we run Tuning In To Kids course in school for parents. Our next course starts 23rd September 2022. To book in contact the school office.
Below are some links to information about emotion coaching.
Emotion coaching – Sarah Temple
In school we support the children by teaching them breathing techniques. Here are some links to videos ones we use:
Supporting your child with anxiety
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/mental-health-conditions/anxiety/
Parent Family Support Advisor (PFSA)
The school have access to a Parent Family Support Advisor, Victoria Gould, who can be accessed via the school completing a request for support form. If you feel you need this support contact the office.
Our previous PFSA has a useful website. This covers things such as sleep hygiene, dealing with challenging behaviour, explaining anxiety to children, negativity in children. https://suzywedley.wixsite.com/parentingmind
Other advice and helplines
MINDLINE mental health support. Emotional support helpline 01823 276 892
SHOUT
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.
Text: 85258
SANEline, offer telephone support, 0300 number which you may get charged for but should come under your telephone contract inclusive minutes
SILVERLINE helpline for older people: 0800 4 70 80 90.
https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/
Samaritans
Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call)
Email: [email protected]
Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide.
Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line
Telephone: 0300 5000 927 (9.30am – 4pm Monday to Friday)
Email: online contact form
http://www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice
Provides expert advice and information to people with mental health problems and those who care for them, as well as giving help to health professionals, employers and staff. Rethink also runs Rethink services and groups across England.
The Mix
Telephone: 0808 808 4994 (11am-11pm, free to call)
Email: Helpline email form
Crisis Support: Text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258.Website: www.themix.org.uk/get-support The Mix provides judgement-free information and support to young people aged 13-25 on a range of issues including mental health problems. Young people can access the The Mix’s support via phone, email, webchat, peer to peer and counselling services.
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/