Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
At BHA, we firmly believe that supporting pupils to enjoy positive mental health and well-being is a whole staff responsibility. Furthermore, we strive to educate our young people about mental health and emotional well-being, removing the stigma sometimes relating to mental illness. We offer a graduated response to need when supporting young people whose mental health and well-being requires some extra support.
If you have any concerns about your child/ward’s mental health or emotional well-being please do not hesitate to contact the Pastoral Team for your child’s year group for further discussions and support.
Led by our Mental Health Lead, the Pastoral Team consists of 13 First Aid Mental Health trained staff. When a student is identified as requiring mental health or emotional well-being support, a referral is made by the pastoral team to the Senior Mental Health Lead. Students are then discussed and appropriate support or intervention, following a graduated response to need, will be decided: most importantly, the decisions made will always involve pupil and parent/carer voice.
Examples of School-based interventions and support
- CAMHS validated resources for pupils to access at home and during the school day to promote well-being and develop anxiety controlling strategies
- ELSA programme of support
- School Nurse referral
Examples of Outside Agency Intervention and Support
If school-based strategies and interventions do not have the positive outcomes desired then we may refer, in consultation with home, students and parents to wider services: this may include:
- Signposting students, parents and carers to community based and voluntary organisations that can offer further support and advice
- NHS referral GP or CAMHS– following on from school nurse referral, discussion and advice
- Advice would be sought from any professionals involved as detailed above to ensure that school is keeping pupils safe and any strategies suggested can be supported and, wherever possible, employed within school.
Safeguarding and Mental Health
All staff, as per our whole-school safeguarding policy, will be aware that mental health problems can, in some cases, be an indicator that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect or exploitation. Only appropriately trained professionals can diagnose a mental health condition. Our staff however, are well placed to observe children day to day and identify those whose behaviour suggests they may be experiencing a mental health issue or be at risk of developing one.
If a pupil’s mental health is so fragile that they are sharing suicidal ideation then the Safeguarding Team would always recommend and support that parents/carers take the young person to A and E where their needs can be immediately assessed by the Emergency Mental Health Team.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent offer advice and support. If you would like to access this, please visit Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Mental Health information point:
- https://www.combined.nhs.uk/our-services/adult-community/staffordshire-stoke-wellbeing-service-2/
The NHS website is a great source of support for the mental health needs. Visit the site below for further information:
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
- https://youtu.be/cyEdZ23Cp1E
Young Minds offers support and Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals. Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Further helplines for conditions such as Stress, Anxiety and Depression can be found on the following links:
PAPYRUS is the UK Charity for the prevention of young suicide. For PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK call 0800 068 4141 (open 10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends and bank holidays).
Self-help apps
Here is a list of useful self-help apps.
Children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
BHA has a CAMHS professional linked to our school who offers ongoing support and guidance for vulnerable/high risk students, staff supervision, alongside staff training. At any time, school or parents can contact the CART (CAMHS Assessment and Response Team) for advice and guidance.
Online Safety
Internet Matters – this is the main online safety advice site for parents in the UK. Internet Matters has a wealth of information for parents including simple tutorials on how to set up the internet filter on your broadband, settings for all devices, advice and guidance, and much more, the link is below:
- www.internetmatters.org/
Common Sense Media – a huge site which allows you to search on a game or app to learn more about it. It also includes books and TV shows too
- www.commonsensemedia.org/
Think you know – This website is also a great source of support, which sends out tasks and activities that families can complete together to get adults and children addressing concerns around staying safe online.
- Think You Know.co.uk
- What is Live Streaming?
- What is the Internet of Things?
- Has your child shared a Nude Selfie?
- Home Activity Worksheets
NetAware – This website is brilliant in terms of understanding the apps kids are using:
- www.net-aware.org.uk/
AACOSS – The video below gives some useful, simple advice and guidance for parents and carers regarding children and their online activities
- Online Safety Support – Parents – AACOSS
- XBox 360
- Xbox Family
- Xbox One
- WiiU
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo 3DS
- PlayStation
- Apple
Safer Schools Partnership
BHA also works in alliance with Safer Schools and Young People Partnership Cheshire, and our Police Youth Engagement Officer. For more information visit https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/