HUMAN: Connect, Southwark's Schools Mental Health Newsletter - Autumn 2 2024
HUMAN: Connect, Southwark's Schools Mental Health Newsletter - Autumn 2 2024
We hope you're now fully settled into the new term and ready for the year ahead.
This Mental Health Newsletter for Mental Health Leads, Mental Health First Aiders and SLT across Southwark focuses on anti-bullying week, stress awareness and .
This Mental Health Newsletter for Mental Health Leads, Mental Health First Aiders and SLT across Southwark focuses on anti-bullying week and wider resources for schools supporting a whole school inclusive approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Anti-bullying week resources for schools
As we reach the end of Anti-bullying week 2024, with the theme: Choose Respect. Please find resources below focused on empowering children and young people to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.
Please see here for a Primary Resource Pack from The Anna Freud Centre including guidance and activities based on this theme. The pack includes: an assembly plan, a lesson plan, cross-curricular activities and other activity suggestions.
Teaching about online bullying - resources for schools from the Anti-bullying Alliance
Teaching about online bullying
Including teaching about online bullying, the views of young people.
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)
NCB Blog on bullying - 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
NSPCC - a selection of NSPCC resources to help professionals recognise, respond to and prevent bullying and cyberbullying within their organisations. Access here
VotesforSchools - VotesforSchools have developed free resources to support Primary and Secondary in having discussions about how to 'Choose Respect' this Anti-Bullying Week. Schools will also have the unique opportunity to participate in a national vote, using VotesforSchools' platform. Register here
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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.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2 Day Course, 16th - 17th January 2025, 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:
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Enhance understanding of children and young people’s mental health in school staff, trainee teachers and youth groups
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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
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. Celebrate this years theme of ‘What is your spark?’. Further details here
Neurodiversity Celebration Week, 17 - 23 March 2025 - Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations. Find details for how your school can get involved here.
Stress Awareness Month, April 2025 - Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992 to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. For resources to support teachers and pupils in managing stress, please see Mentally Healthy Schools Stress Awareness Month Toolkit, The Samaritans Pack on managing stress, and Mentally Healthy Schools Resources for teachers.
Gypsy, Roma & Traveller History Month, May 2025 - Every June since 2008, people from across the UK have celebrated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month helps to tackle prejudice, challenge myths and to amplify the voices of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in wider society. For more information, see here.
Pride Month, June 2025 - Pride Month takes place every year in June and is a celebration designed to recognise the influence of the LGBTQ+ community. Celebrating diversity and people's right to live how they choose without discrimination, Pride Month promotes positivity and equal rights for all. for resources for schools, please see resources from Stonewall and Twinkl.
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Further Resources for Schools
Kooth - As part of the Kooth offer in Southwark, your local engagement lead is able to deliver free assemblies to students, both virtually and in-person, which discuss the topic of mental health, and give insight into how the Kooth service can be accessed and utilised. Topic-specific sessions are also available upon request.
In addition, Kooth is able to offer virtual staff training sessions to education professionals - which can also be topic-specific if preferred, and can be accompanied by both printed and digital resources to distribute. For further information regarding how Kooth can support your school, please contact Cleo Oji, coji@kooth.com
Access Kooth's digital resource hub here
Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. For Education and Training Opportunities, please click here
For Help and Advice Resources, please click 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
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
The Nest - Free & confidential mental wellbeing advice and support for young people aged 11 – 25 in Southwark. For information and opportunities for schools click here.
To find out more and to access resources for schools, parents/carers and young people, Click Here
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
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Young Minds Advice, tips and resources from Young Minds to keep your school mentally healthy. Including, Activities, resources and lesson plans for theclassroom to support your pupils in the lead up to their exams and help them look after their mental health, as well as tips for school staff to look after their own wellbeing. |
Kooth Free Mental Health Support and Guidance for young people. Please click here resources for you to share to raise awareness of the free, safe, and anonymous support available to your students and young people. You can find more resources, including digital assets to share on your social media pages at promote.kooth.com Any Kooth sessions for your staff or students: Eleanor Cammegh - ecammegh@kooth.com |
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MindEd MindEd is a free educational resource on children, young people, adults and older people's mental health. MindEd provides access to over 400 free sessions provided by NHS England, including Top Tips for Staff in Education Settings and Wellbeing for Education Return. To access these resources, please register here. |
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families The Anna Freud Centre produces evidence-based training, resources and programmes, helping schools and colleges make the mental health of their pupils and staff a priority. New learning modules include, Anti-Racism and Mental Health e-learning module and A Practical Guide on Helping Children and Young People to Manage Anxiety
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The Mix Connect The Mix Connect offers emotional support and personalised signposting 24 hours a day, empowering your students to take their mental wellbeing into their own hands. It includes: Over 2,000 pages of advice and information on everything from bullying and depression to self-harm and exam stress. A directory of 16,000 sources of online and local support services. Access to The Mix’s moderated peer support community. 24-hour crisis support via text from trained volunteers. To find out more, please click here
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The Nest Free & confidential mental wellbeing advice and support for young people aged 11 – 25 in Southwark Referrals have recently been reopened for young people in Southwark. For information and opportunities for schools click here To find out more and to access resources for schools, parents/carers and young people, Click Here |
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Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. For Education and Training Opportunities, please click here For Help and Advice Resources, please click here
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Suicide Prevention: support, help and information: · National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK - open from 6pm to midnight everyday on 0800 689 5652. Anybody is welcome to call us if you need to talk. · Treatment and Support from Mind for suicidal feelings - Explains what suicidal feelings are, and what you can do if you feel suicidal right now. Also covers the causes, treatments and support options for suicidal feelings, including ways to help yourself in the long term. · Samaritans Support - Call now for free on 116 123 · Mental Health Foundation - Suicide Prevention, talking about Suicide and guidance on finding professional support. |