HUMAN: Connect - Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletter, Spring 1 24
HUMAN: Connect, Southwark's schools Mental health Newsletter. A space for knowledge exchange and collaboration across the borough. Promoting local action and programmes, training opportunities, resources and national guidance.
For further information or queries, please email learningandachievement@southwark.gov.uk
Upcoming Events:
IMHARS Celebration Event - 23rd February 2024
We’d like to formally invite you our Wellbeing First IMHARS Celebration event. The event will focus on sharing best practice between colleagues across schools and localities in Southwark. Including workshops and guest speakers discussing themes related to PD, PSHE and Wellbeing Education, Wellbeing in Schools, SMSC and new curriculum developments.
For Headteachers, SLT, PSHE and Wellbeing Education subject leaders, Healthy Schools Leads, SMSC & Mental Health Leads and more.
Please provide your details to register to attend the end of year celebration for the IMHARS programme taking place on the Friday 23rd February from 12:30 - 15:30 at the Millwall Football Stadium in Bermondsey.
PSHE Subject Network Session, 30th January, 15:45 - 17:00, virtual
Opportunity for colleagues to network, share good practice and collaborate with other school leaders, key experts and providers, as well as develop an understanding of current issues and practice. For PSHE Subject Leads.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 2 Day Course, 14th - 15th March , 9:15 – 16:45, 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 London schools.
“Wellbeing First: Improving Mental Health and Resilience in Schools (IMHARS) and Healthy Schools” Children & Young People’s Survey 2023 – free SHEU Survey
We are excited to confirm that the schools survey will be rolled out this autumn term. We very much that hope that your school will be able to take part. This attached letter tells you more about the survey and how to get involved.Southwark Council are to conduct an “IMHARS and Healthy Schools” survey of pupils in years 4 and 6 in primary and years 8 and 10 in secondary schools this term. This is undertaken for us by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU) in Exeter, and is free to schools.
How to confirm your engagement
To confirm your school’s involvement in this year’s survey please register at http://sheu.org.uk/register. When asked for year groups to survey please indicate years 4, 6, 8 or 12. Please register your school if you have not done so already.
For schools that have registered, please complete the survey with your selected pupil group as soon as possible.
Please do not hesitate to ask any questions either emailing Angela at SHEU angela.balding@sheu.org.uk or georgia.moss@southwark.gov.uk in our SELA team.
Free PSHE Association Membership for Southwark Schools
Free Membership to the PSHE Association can be accessed via Southwark Schools, please see HERE for the status of your membership and access for membership HERE.
New PSHE Association Content for January 24
Parent/carer copies of all our member resources
The best PSHE education is a partnership between parents/carers and schools — and this includes clear communication about curriculum content and materials. Therefore, The PSHE Association has made parent/carer copies of all member-only RSE resources available for schools to share via email.
Members can download the latest versions of the relevant resources to see the parent/carer copies and you can read more about the terms of use here. The PSHE Association are also running our new Engaging with parents online CPD course this term for primary (17 Jan, 6 Mar) and secondary (16 Jan, 7 Mar).
New content this term includes, KS1 Lesson Pack 'Ground rules, rules' on the importance of ground rules in creating a safe and supportive climate for learning, and KS3-4 Lesson Pack 'Gangs: Managing risks and staying safe' Developed on behalf of Medway Public Health Directorate and available exclusively to members, these updated lessons for year 9-10 students will support teachers to address the topic of gangs — including exploration of the reasons why a person might join a gang, the implications of carrying weapons, and ways to get support with gang-related issues.
Department for Education’s Senior Mental Health Lead Grant
Eligible schools and colleges may now apply for a 2nd senior mental health lead training grant if they previously claimed a grant and their trained senior mental health lead has left the post. This is in recognition that the previous lead may not have had the opportunity to implement their learning and embed a whole school/college approach (WSCA) to mental health and wellbeing.
Full details of the grant and how to apply can be found here.
Mental Health First Aid Survey
If you have previously completed your Youth Mental Health First Aid Training – Please complete our short survey into how you have implemented the skills, you gained from the training and developed your practice within your setting.
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey as this will aid us in developing the Youth Mental Health First Aid provision and opportunities across Southwark. Complete Survey Here
Spotlight on Support Resources for Young People
- Diversity Role Models - A charitable organisation working with schools to end LGBTQ+ bullying, by harnessing the power of storytelling to build empathy and celebrate difference. Free resources from Diversity Role Models includes Anti-bullying Staff Training for Schools, and Education Services including Primary and Secondary Workshops.
- Good Thinking's toolkits collates resources for students, parents and carers and education sector staff ahead of the new academic year, with a range of Good Thinking, Thrive LDN and TPHC resources as well as signposting to services such as The Student Room and YoungMinds.
- Child Bereavement Network - In light of the escalating conflicts across the world, pupils in our schools may have family or loved one's impacted by conflict and violence. The Child Bereavement Network signposts support and advice for young people impacted and resources to enable teaching staff to talk to young people about war and conflict, please see here, including resources from Place2be on talking to young people about war and conflict. For further resources to support with trauma and bereavemene in young people, please see the UK Trauma Council.
- PSHE Association Resources - New and updated ‘Committed relationships and family life’ lesson packs from The PSHE Association are now available to download – Building on the success of the popular ‘Family life’ lesson pack on relationships, marriage and parenting for key stage 4, we are delighted to offer brand new lessons on these topics for key stages 2 and 3 — available exclusively to members of the Association. The existing key stage 4 pack has also been incorporated into this new suite, and enhanced with a new design. Download Here.
- Free Membership to the PSHE Association can be accessed via Southwark Schools, please see HERE for the status of your membership
- Sexual Health Support for Young People in Southwark - Sexual Health London provides Home STI testing, regular and emergency contraception and Free NHS sexual health services online.
- Mentally Healthy Schools and Anna Freud Centre Resource Hub - This resource hub is for classroom and wellbeing support. The support and resources available includes their new Winter Wellbeing Toolkit and Mental health and wellbeing calendar, For further details, please see here.
Community and Cost of Living Support available to parents and families in Southwark
Southwark Council have created a guide to the various forms of support available to individuals who are encountering financial difficulties. This is available through Community Southwark, for more information please click here.
Cost of living support and information available from Southwark Council here.
Upcoming Dates for the Calendar
- Holocaust Awareness Day, 27th January 2024 - The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides. International Holocaust Remembrance Day - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org) Resources for Schools.
- Children's Mental Health Week, 5th - 11th February - This year's theme is 'My Voice Matters'. My Voice Matters is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves. During Children’s Mental Health Week we want all children and young people, whoever they are, and wherever they are in the world, to be able to say – and believe - “My Voice Matters”. Resources from Place2Be, Primary Toolkit from Mentally Healthy Schools, 'Let's Connect'.
- LGBTQIA+ History Month, February 2024 - The UK 2024 #LGBTplusHM theme is: Medicine – #UnderTheScope. LGBT+ people have contributed to the field of medicine and healthcare; both historically and today. But the LGBT+ community’s experience of receiving healthcare has historically been extremely complicated and LGBT+ people still face health inequalities. For further information and resources, please see LGBT+ History Month 2024 - LGBT+ History Month (lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk)
- Eating Disorder Awareness Week, 28th February - 5th March 2024 - Eating Disorders Awareness Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders, promoting understanding, and providing support to individuals affected by these conditions. For more information and resources for young people, please see Beat Eating Disorders and resourcs on what schools can do from Mentally Healthy Schools.
- International Womens Day, March 8th 2024 - The theme for 2024 is "Invest in women: Accelerate progress", focusing on the key challenge of key challenge of the $360 billion annual deficit in gender-equality measures by 2030. For more information please see The United Nations and for resources for schools, including Puffin's Literary resources, please see here.
- International Day of Happiness, 20th March 2024 - Recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. It also recognized the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples. Please see more information from the United Nations, including UNESCO's Happy Schools Project.
- World Health Day, 7th April 2024 -
School Wellbeing Resources
- 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. This includes information of how MHFA England can help your organisation embed suicide prevention into your mental health and wellbeing strategy,
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Key research findings in children and young people’s mental health highlighted in latest report - The Evidence Based Practice Unit, a collaboration between Anna Freud and UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, has released its Key Findings Report for 2023. Access Report Here
- Improving attendance: Good Practice Webinars for Schools and Multi-academy Trusts - Please see below for a selection of webinars from the DfE with Schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) sharing their different techniques for improving attendance rates in their settings. For access to the webinars, please see here
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Speaking to parents about attendance – Toolkit for Schools - Different factors are now influencing decision making for some parents, carers and pupils around whether a child or young person attends school. Starting to influence pupil, parent and carer behaviours is one part of tackling this issue. The DfE produced a toolkit which provides examples to help you communicate with parents and carers about school attendance and ensure high standards. Access the Toolkit here
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School Absenteeism resource from the Anna Freud Centre - New resources to support pupils and staff to identify and manage stress and new videos Addressing emotionally-based school avoidance | Anna Freud
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PSHE education and safeguarding briefing -a ‘compelling case’, PSHE education’s role in keeping children safe and supporting them to seek help when necessary, PSHE education addresses some of the most vital issues in children and young people’s lives, giving them knowledge, skills and attributes that support their safety, mental and physical health and economic wellbeing. PSHE education is a critical component of safeguarding in schools. The evidence is clear regarding its role in keeping children safe and supporting them to seek help when necessary. Please see here
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Free Guide to tackling Student Anxiety in Primary and Secondary Schools - Educational psychology experts at the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools have developed a guide for teachers to address student anxiety. Inside How to tackle student anxiety you will discover how to identify anxiety and give your students coping techniques – with action plans for three specific areas: Low level anxiety, Social anxiety around friendship groups and Emotionally Based School Avoidance. To download the resource, please click here
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The Black Students Mental Health Project - Good Thinking has partnered with the Black Students Mental Health Project (BSMHP) to host a range of mental wellbeing resources, including blogs, podcasts and videos, which have been created by the black community within London South Bank University (LSBU), for further details please click here.
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BBC Moodboosters - BBC Moodboosters has teamed up with BBC Children in Need for this ambitious new initiative to inspire primary school age children around the UK to get moving and learning about their mental health and wellbeing. Find out more 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. ·
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