HUMAN: Connect - Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletter, Autumn 1 23

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 

“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, thank you to all the schools who have signed up so far.  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 and 6 or 8 and 10.  Please complete your registration by end of September 2023 

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.  

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  

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.    

Curriculum Support Resources, Upcoming Dates and Events for the School Calendar  

• Black History Month, October 2023 - This year’s Black History Month will focus on the theme of Celebrating our Sisters / Saluting our Sisters/ Matriarchs of Movements #WEMATTER - Black History Month 2023, highlighting the crucial role that black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, & building communities. For further details please see Historical Association – the UK national charity for history  

• World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2023 - The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.  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, for further details please see the World Health Organisation   

• International Stress Awareness Week - 2nd November - 6th November 2023 - International Stress Awareness Week focuses on stress management and campaigning against the stigma associated with stress and mental health issues. It was created in 2018 to raise awareness about stress and its harmful effects. For further details, click here for more information and access to stress reduction webinars   

• Anti-Bullying Week, 13th - 17th November 2023 - The theme is Make A Noise About Bullying. The Anti-Bullying Alliance provides free toolkits and resources, including lesson packs, Twinkl and ABA resources, and BBC and VotesforSchools Resources for anti-bullying.   

Back to School Wellbeing Resources  

• 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.  

• For Children and Young People returning to school, Good Thinking has created Five wellbeing tips for going back to school  

• 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   

• PSHE education and safeguarding — a ‘compelling case’, PSHE education’s role in keeping children safe and supporting them to seek help when necessary, access the briefing here.   

• 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.   

• 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