HUMAN: Connect - Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletter - Autumn 1 2024

HUMAN: Connect, Southwark's Schools Mental Health Newsletter - Autumn 1 2024

We hope you're settling in to the first term of the year and found some time to relax and unwind over the summer break. 

The Digest focuses on supporting staff with teaching themes and topics on “key changes and transition”, school belonging, promoting equalities and tackling racism and discrimination, as well as resources to support Empathy Week and learning more about the City of Sanctuary and Unicef’s Rights Respecting Schools awards. 

Schools play an instrumental role in supporting young people to feel belonging in their school, community and country. 

As we reach the end of National Inclusion Week (23rd – 29th September 2024), we have the opportunity to consider inclusivity and belonging across our teams. 

The theme for National Inclusion Week 2024 is ‘Impact Matters’, a call-to-action to everyone in your organisation, from leaders, to inclusion professionals through to teams and individuals. Research demonstrates that  many people find connection, community, and belonging in their workplace, 94% of respondents (American Psychological Association, 2023) reported that it’s somewhat or very important to them that their workplace be somewhere they feel they belong. In other words, “If I feel like I belong and am understood, then I feel happier and my mental health is positively impacted.”

Please see the below resources providing support and information for building an education setting fostering a sense of belonging for all pupils and staff. 

Learning Resources for promotong belonging in schools

Mentally Healthy Schools - Mental health lead resource hub for a whole-school or college approach 

This resource hub has been created in partnership with and funded by the Department for Education, with new resources added regularly. Access the resource hub here

Recent resources include: Discussing race and racism in the classroom, Discussing contemporary Islamophobia in the classroom, and Parents guide: how to navigate social media safely with your kids

Anna Freud Centre Anti-racism and mental health in schools - Podcasts, e-learning and resources about racism, its impact on young people’s mental health, and what schools can do to address it.Anti-racism and mental health in schools | Anna Freud, including Talking racism and mental health in schools - Talking racism and mental health in schools podcast : Mentally Healthy Schools, see also Anti-racism policy template

Place 2Be - Return to school resources - Place2Be has put together a series of resources focused on community recovery, to help headteachers and school staff start to bring their schools back together following recent challenging times. Including, Assembly ideas and group activities for primary and secondary-aged children. Access here

Kathryn Riley, UCL: Compassionate Leadership for School Belonging - Resources have been developed to respond to the following questions:  

• Is 'this' school a place where children, young people, and adults feel they belong?
• If not, what are we going to do about?

Access resources here

Publications: 

When the Going Gets Tough … Is Compassionate Leadership the Way Forward?? ^{(pdf, 1.7mb)}

Revised Discussion Paper ^{(pdf, 705kb)}

Compassionate Leadership for School Belonging ^{(pdf, 13.9mb)}

Anti-bullying Alliance - Top tips to help schools begin to formulate a whole-school strategy to preventing and responding to race and faith targeted bullying. Racist and faith targeted bullying: Top tips for schools (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk) Help support encouraging bystanders to become defenders or 'upstanders' in bullying situations. Bystanders (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)

NSPCC - Advice to help you understand how to talk to children about race and racism, and what you can do to support a child who is experiencing racist bullting Talking to children about racism | NSPCC

Young Minds - Responding to Black young people reaching out for mental health support. Young Minds collaborated with Poetic Unity to facilitate a workshop with Black young people that explored how adults can respond well to them talking about their mental health. Find out more and watch the poems that were made as a result. Access here.

Stop Hate UK -  Young People's Online Hate Resource Hub for young people, their carers and teachers to learn about issues surrounding online Hate Crime, its impact and how to challenge and report it: Young People's Resource Hub - Stop Hate UK

Stop Hate UK's Response to Incidents August 2024 - Stop Hate UK 

City of Sanctuary - City of Sanctuary works with schools to challenge misconceptions about people seeking sanctuary and raise awareness of their experiences with school pupils, staff, governors, parent/carers and wider communities to build empathy; A selection of resources by City of Sanctuary UK to support schools in their sanctuary efforts and their achievement of the Schools of Sanctuary award. Access resources here 

NCB Blog on bullying -  Blog post for schools and youth organisations to support them in distinguishing between banter and bullying. The blog covers: recognising when banter is appropriate, supporting young people to set boundaries and implementing a school-wide approach.

Read the blog here

Advice for parents and carers from the Anna Freud Centre 

Talking mental health with primary school children

Talking mental health with young people at secondary school 

World Mental Health Day 2024: Mental health at work

This year’s theme set by the World Federation of Mental Health is workplace mental health. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities. 

There are many things that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace, from providing staff training on mental health to tackling discrimination and bullying. Importantly, a mentally healthy workplace supports open conversations about mental health and fosters a sense of belonging.  Access resources here 

Mental Health Foundation - How to support mental health at work 

Everyone deserves a mentally friendly workplace where they can thrive. Both employers and employees have a role in in creating this. We can all take steps to improve our own mental health, and build our resilience – our ability to cope with adversity. Self-care is a skill that needs to be practised. It isn’t easy especially if we feel anxious, depressed or low in self-esteem. 

Access the Mental Health Foundations Guide to supporting both your mental health and your colleagues’ at work here 

The role of Mental Health Champions in schools

As a trained Mental Health First Aider, your ole as a Youth MHFA Champion in school comes with a variety of responsibilities to support the mental health of pupils and the wider staff body. 

For guidance on how you could shape this role, access the guide from MFHA England here

National Inclusion Week

As we reach the end of National Inclusion Week (23rd – 29th September 2024), we have the opportunity to consider inclusivity and belonging across our teams. 

The theme for National Inclusion Week 2024 is ‘Impact Matters’, a call-to-action to everyone in your organisation, from leaders, to inclusion professionals through to teams and individuals.

Inclusive Employers are providing 

Upcoming Training and CPD opportunities for Southwark Schools

Apply for Department for Education's Senior Mental Health Lead Training 

Apply for a £1,200 DfE senior mental health lead training grant and join the 7 in 10 schools and colleges, including over 8 in 10 secondaries that have already benefitted. The training will develop the knowledge, confidence and practical skills of your school or college mental health lead, with 89% undertaking the training, saying it enabled them to plan or improve their whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

If you previously claimed a grant and your trained lead has left your school or college, you can also now apply for a 2nd grant. 

Further information here

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2 Day Course, 21st - 22nd November 2024, The Park College

The free two day in-depth youth MHFA course is open to education staff in primary, secondary, special educational needs schools, sixth form, and further education colleges, as well as Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision staff in state funded Southwark schools.

Register here 

Place2Be - Free 5-week Mental Health Champions Course

Our CPD-certified Mental Health Champions - Foundation programme is an award-winning online free mental health training course developed from our work in schools. The programme aims to:

• enhance understanding of children and young people’s mental health in school staff, trainee teachers and youth groups

• introduce approaches that support positive wellbeing in schools, colleges and communities.

The course is suitable for people working with children and young people of any age.

Further details here

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Upcoming Dates for the School Calendar - Access full awareness days calendar here 

• National Inclusion Week 2024, 23rd-29th September: The theme for National Inclusion Week UK 2024 is “Cultural Intelligence: Inclusion Across Cultures.” This theme focuses on enhancing understanding and appreciation of different cultures, encouraging individuals and organisations to develop cultural intelligence to foster more inclusive and harmonious environments. Further details here
• Black History Month 2024, October 2024 - This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Reclaiming Narratives,” and marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.This theme underscores a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage. It’s about taking control of stories and honouring our heroes while challenging the narratives that have often overlooked the contributions and achievements of Black individuals both in the UK and globally. #ReclaimingNarratives. Further details here, Resources for schools. Black History Month resources : Mentally Healthy Schools,
• World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2024 -  this year's theme, is "It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace" The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. Further details here
• International Stress Awareness Week, Novemer 5th to November 9th 2024 - International Stress Awareness Week 2024 is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about stress, its impact on mental and physical health, and the importance of stress management. This week-long campaign seeks to educate individuals and organizations about stress-related issues and provide resources and strategies for coping with stress in healthy ways. Further details here 
• Anti-bullying Week, 11th November 2024 - 15th November 2024 - Anti-Bullying Week 2024 will take place from Monday 11th - Friday 15th November, with the theme: Choose Respect. Odd Socks Day is taking place on Tuesday 12th November, with adults and children being encouraged to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique. Further details here
• Empathy Week 2025, 10th - 14th March - an annual festival of films, storytelling and events that develop the skill of empathy in students aged 5-18 years old. Join us 10-14th March 2025 to celebrate the theme ‘What is your spark?’.  Further details here

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Further Resources for Schools

• APPG for children meeting film - National Children's Bureau on behalf of the APPG for Children convened a meeting in Westminster with leading charities, youth sector organisations, the Children's Commissioner for England and young people. The aim was for you people to voice their priorities directly to major political parties and they have created a short film about the event.
  Watch the film here
• Mobile phone bans in schools: LSE Blog - We looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools – this is what we found. Access here
• NCB Blog on bullying - schools and youth organisations to support them in distinguishing between banter and bullying. The blog covers: recognising when banter is appropriate, supporting young people to set boundaries and implementing a school-wide approach. Read the blog here
• APPG for children meeting film - National Children's Bureau on behalf of the APPG for Children convened a meeting in Westminster with leading charities, youth sector organisations, the Children's Commissioner for England and young people. The aim was for you people to voice their priorities directly to major political parties and they have created a short film about the event. Watch the film here
• Resources from Mental Health First Aid England -New research reveals the need for suicide awareness and prevention training in the workplace, access further details and resources here. For MHFA England’s response to Government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy, please see here. For Mental Health Awareness week Mental Health First Aid England has developed resources for 'Empower half hour', see here for details 
• Childhood trauma, migration & asylum: a free toolkit for providers of supported accommodation, Anna Freud Centre - The UK Trauma Council has published a toolkit for staff working in supported accommodation for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Drawing on the evidence-base and voices of separated young people, this resource has been developed to increase the confidence of supported accommodation staff in recognising and responding to trauma of the children in their care. Access for free here

Organisations providing Mental Health Resources and Support for Children and Young People