HUMAN: Connect - Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletter - Summer 2 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 

Upcoming CPD Opportunities and Events  

• IMHARS Celebratory Event - 23rd February - Please Sign-up Here  

• Become a Youth Mental Health First Aider - 5th & 6th October - Please Sign-up Here  

Spotlight on Southwark Schools   

Beormund becomes Southwark’s first Trauma Informed School – Congratulations to Beormund who have achieved their Trauma Informed School Award through their work with IMHARS. Find out more about Beormund’s journey to becoming a Trauma Informed School here and see how your school can become involved here.   

Updates from Mental Health First Aid England  

• Help shape the Youth Mental Health First Aid Course - If you have completed MHFA England's Youth Mental Health First Aid Course, please take a moment to provide some feedback here.  

• Mental Health First Aid International is working on a new study seeking to develop expert consensus on how to provide mental health first aid to children. The study will also look at how adults who live or work with children can support a child, or their caregiving adult, after a traumatic experience. To get involved, please click here.  

New Mental Health Reports and Research for schools  

• The Behaviour and Mental Health in Schools - A new report was released this month and is based on a year-long inquiry conducted by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition into mental health and behaviour in schools, Find out more about the key messages from the inquiry 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.  

• PSHE Association – Lesson Packs and Resources - NEW: Family Life KS2, 3 & 4 resources and Embracing change and new challenges KS1 & 2 lesson pack. Safeguarding & PSHE Ed briefing and free registration. Membership to the PSHE Association can be accessed via Southwark Council, please get in touch for further details. For further resources, click here 

Dates for the School Calendar Next Term  

• October 2023 - Black History Month – 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  

• October 10th 2023 – World Mental Health Day – Theme TBC, 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, 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    

• November 13th – 17th 2023 - Anti-Bullying Week – this year’s theme is ‘Make a noise about Bullying’, For further information and resources, Find out more here 

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