Category: Healthy Schools

CAMHS Covid Support Booklet for teenagers

A useful resource pack for teenagers to help manage difficult feelings about coronavirus.

The Mind of my Own app helps children express their feelings and get in touch with their wellbeing.

Mind Of My Own | Making it easier for children and young people to communicate

Following the successful pilot at Lea Valley Primary School, we want to gauge if other schools are interested in using the Mind of My Own app.

The tool encourages children to log their feelings and views, giving teachers the opportunity to tailor classes and the curriculum to their needs.

The lockdown has proved challenging for many children and the pilot allowed teachers to understand how the school and partners can protect and invest in their mental health and wellbeing.

The app was initially created for children in care to express their day’s activities and feelings safely and discreetly, so that their care workers could respond in a timely manner, however it is been clear that the potential can stretch much further.

Children benefit from being able to say how they feel and talking to people about their problems. This builds self-awareness, helps them recognise their emotions and increases their emotional vocabulary. It has helped us identify potential safeguarding concerns and make early interventions.

The app logs statements input by the children on an iPad and documents their feelings and views – then shared with a trusted professional like a teacher.

The findings from the pilot indicated that the initiative is having a positive impact by giving another avenue to access vulnerable children and allowing schools to intervene at an early stage. If a young person says they feel unsafe unwell or unhappy, this will show up in the service portal that the school have access to and flags the negative feeling.

The app enables pupils to celebrate things that are positive in their lives at home and at school. This can also be shared with the class. In addition, teachers can pick up on children’s aspirations for hobbies and sports they may like to try out. This further helps the school explore community resources for the child to broaden their horizons into.

One huge win is that children are understanding that ‘it’s s ok not to be ok’. Talking about these feelings helps them to access their emotions and find ways to deal with daily challenges.

Case Study – pupil

A pupil had made a statement about being afraid of where she lived. The class teacher made some time to explore this with the pupil and was able to find out where this fear had stemmed from. It turned out that the pupil’s house had been robbed a few months ago and the fear had stemmed from this.

The school was able to act by enabling the pupil to receive some counselling from their school counsellor. The sessions were also made available to the parents.

Case Study – teacher

One teacher noticed that there were many statements which highlighted friendship issues. She then decided to plan a half term unit in the PSHRE session on friendships. This strategy will help deal with this issue becoming a class focus which can interfere with learning.

If your school is interested in seeing how the app could be used to benefit your students wellbeing and inform your teachers understanding, please register your interest with Beverley Hendricks, Assistant Director, Safeguarding and Social Care, Children’s Services, Haringey Council. Beverley.Hendricks@haringey.gov.uk

Mind Of My Own | Making it easier for children and young people to communicate

There is a range of services available to children and young people in Haringey to support them with their mental, social and emotional health and wellbeing.

Haringey Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust

Ground Floor, H Block, St Anne’s Hospital, St Anne’s
E-mail address: beh-tr.camhsreferral@nhs.net

Referral form here.

For advice and queries on referrals – Haringey CAMHS ACCESS 020 8702 3400/3401

Provide one-off advice and signposting, if not appropriate for CAMHS. Referrals to CHOICES and the Tavistock can be made via CAMHS ACCESS

Choices – Offers support to children, young people up to the age of 17 and families in Haringey who are worried about their emotional wellbeing. Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.Telephone: 020 8702 3405. https://www.haringeychoices.org/

Mental Health Support Team | The Mental Health Support Team is available via telephone 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday to all Haringey schools. Tel: 020 8702 6035 Email: Beh-tr.camhstrailblazerinbox@nhs.net

Social, emotional mental health support | A range of social, emotional mental health support is available to schools, parents, carers, professionals, children and young people. More info here: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/children-and-families/local-offer/health-services/thrive-framework

NCL Crisis Line – Open only to professionals – teachers, GPs and social workers. 9am-5pm  020 8702 3400  Haringey CAMHS Team 5pm – 12 midnight 020 3758 2056.

Coming soon a 24-hour crisis helpline open to all.

Crisis to Recovery Multi Agency group – bespoke support, speakers for assemblies, parent events and webinars Contact: Educational Psychology Service Telephone: 020 8489 3004. Email: educationalpsychology@haringey.gov.uk

OPEN Door – Tottenham and Crouch End

Open Door is a charity that offers free confidential counselling and psychotherapy to young people aged 12 up to age 21 living in Haringey. The Parenting Teenagers Project supports parents of young people aged 12-21.

Self-referrals are accepted.  Professionals can refer young people, parents of young people aged 12-21 directly by phone on 020 8348 5947 or by requesting a call back by e-mailing appointments@opendooronline.org.

Kooth offers free confidential online support for 11 to 18 year olds and up to 25 years with additional needs.  12pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and 6am to 10pm Saturday/Sunday and Bank Holidays. https://www.kooth.com/

Key training for staff well-being and student well-being

The Emotional Wellbeing Forum

Dates: 13 01 2021 – 9am-10:30am. This forum will focus on ‘Bereavement and Loss’.

Simple Steps to Well-being 24 March 2021 – 9am-10:30am. RSVP: anchor@haringey.gov.uk .

‘Simple Steps to Wellbeing in Education’ – Training delivered by Annette Manley (Deputy Head – Risley Avenue) on 10 December 2020, covers national and local information.

Please find the link to the recording of the session

Youth Mental Health First Aid  Training – RSVP: anchor@haringey.gov.uk

Mind in Haringey MHFA Mental Health First Aid Training Adult  

Note: Anchor Approach is no longer a traded service and offers a range of free training to schools. 

Resources for School Staff

‘Education with Resilience and Wellbeing in Mind’ – Training & Resource link.

Education Psychology Service – Resources and webinars

Please advertise the following resources for parents and children on schools’ websites or in schools’ newsletters:

Mental Health Support Team  phone line open 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday to all Haringey schools. Tel: 020 8702 6035 Email: Beh-tr.camhstrailblazerinbox@nhs.net

Choices – Offers support to children, young people up to the age of 17 and families in Haringey who are worried about their emotional wellbeing. Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm. Telephone: 020 8702 3405. Website: Haringey CHOICES

Kooth offers free confidential online support for 11 to 18 year olds and up to 25 years with additional needs.  12pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and 6am to 10pm Saturday/Sunday and Bank Holidays. Website: Home – Kooth

Education Psychology Service – Resources and webinars

Social, emotional mental health support | A range of social, emotional mental health support is available to schools, parents, carers, professionals, children and young people e.g. ChildLine, Young Minds, Parenting Helpline. More info here: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/children-and-families/local-offer/health-services/thrive-framework

Student Space is here to make it easier for students to find the support that they need during the coronavirus pandemic. There are three ways that Student Space is here to help during the pandemic:

• Access to dedicated support services for students, by phone or text
• Information and tools to help you through the challenges of coronavirus
• Helping you find what support is available at your university

The support provided by Student Space is safe, confidential and developed with students and experts in student wellbeing and mental health.

Home | Student Space

Choices Offers support to children, young people up to the age of 17 and families in Haringey who are worried about their emotional wellbeing.

Kooth Kooth Free confidential online support for  11 to 18 year olds and up to 25 years with additional needs.  12pm to 10 pm Monday to Friday and 6am to 10pm Saturday/Sunday and Bank Holidays.

MHST MHST phone line open 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday to all Haringey schools. Tel: 020 8702 6035 Email: Beh-tr.camhstrailblazerinbox@nhs.net

SEMH Support  A range of Social, Emotional Mental Health support available to schools, parents, carers, professionals, children and young people.