Mental Health and Wellbeing

Being mentally healthy does not just mean that you do not have a mental health problem. The Mental health foundation says that: If you are in good mental health, you can:

make the most of your potential.
cope with life
play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends.

Some people call mental health ‘emotional health’ or ‘well-being’ and it is just as important as good physical health.

Mental health is everyone’s business. We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass. But sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us.

Everyone is different. You may bounce back from a setback while someone else may feel weighed down by it for a long time. Your mental health does not always stay the same. It can change as circumstances change and as you move through different stages of your life.

There is a stigma attached to mental health problems. This means that people feel uncomfortable about them and do not talk about them much. Many people do not even

feel comfortable talking about their feelings. But it is healthy to know and say how you are feeling.

At Freshwaters Primary Academy would like to contribute to make pupils, parents, carers, teachers, and our community healthier. We are all here to support you and your child at school and if you wish to speak to one of us about mental health and wellbeing, please call our school office on 01279 454688 or contact us via email: adminfrw@bmatfreshwaters.org.uk

DURING THIS CURRENT TIME OF CHANGE AND UNCERTAINTY, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A BANK OF USEFUL RESOURCES AND ONLINE LINKS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILD:

Domestic abuse chat lines.

During the COVID-19 social isolation/social distancing period we know that there will be victims of domestic abuse living with the perpetrator who are not able to call others for support or help if needed. If this applies to you or someone you know, please consider the support below.

National Live chats and survivor forums.

Women’s Aid Survivors Forum: https://survivorsforum.womensaid.org.uk/

Women’s Aid Live Chat: https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/

Victim Support Live Chat: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/live-chat

Essex based.

Changing Pathways - https://changingpathways.org/

Next Chapter https://www.thenextchapter.org.uk/

Perpetrator – Respect phone line (for any one worried they may be harming someone else) - 0808 8021414.

Little Havens Bereavement support line.

Havens Hospice Bereavement Support Line which was set up this week to support anybody who is bereaved directly or indirectly because of Coronavirus and is available to anybody living in Essex. Access the support here: https://www.havenshospices.org.uk/coronavirus-crisis-bereavement-line/.

If your family have been affected in this way, please let us know so we can support your family.

Useful Websites and agencies

The following are links to websites and agencies parents may consider helping their children understand the Coronavirus and the current situation we all find ourselves in. Thank you to the Essex Local Offer team for sourcing most of these websites. We will add more as we come across them:

UNICEF gives six ways parents can support their children: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/6-ways-parents-can-support-their-kids-through-coronavirus-covid-19

Zero to Three includes at home activity guides: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3264-at-home-activity-guide

Zero to Three gives five tips to make the most of video chats: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2535-five-tips-to-make-the-most-of-video-chats

Young Minds gives advice for young people and parents on the impact of Coronavirus on mental health: https://youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/youngminds-publishes-advice-for-young-people-and-parents-on-mental-health-impact-of-coronavirus/

Cosmic Kids Yoga for yoga and mindfulness activities:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

MIND give advice on the Coronavirus and wellbeing: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

Anna Freud support young people during periods of disruption: https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/anna-freud-learning-network/coronavirus/

Home Start give ideas of activities for families during self-isolation: https://www.home-start.org.uk/news/activities-for-families-during-self-isolation

Relate is a parent helpline and offers online counselling: https://www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/talk-someone

The National College has released a free webinar ‘Self-Isolation and Mental Health: Practical Strategies for Managing and Supporting Staff and Pupil Wellbeing’: https://thenationalcollege.co.uk/webinars/self-isolation-and-mental-health-practical-strategies-for-managing-and-supporting-staff-and-pupil-wellbeing ü MindEd educational resources for adults about children and young people´s Mental Health, which is relevant for parents and carers as well as volunteers, teachers and other professionals working with children.

The EVERY MIND MATTERS platform which supports looking after your own and other’s mental health.

Here you will find guidance on looking after wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak.

Here you will find GUIDANCE ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH.

Mental Health at Work have created a website called Our Frontline. This is to support key workers during this difficult time. Access the support here.

YMCA Essex is a charitable organisation that has served the community of Essex for many years. As ever, we stand ready to support children, young people, and families across the county during these difficult times. Should you need support, you can complete our request form and we will put you in touch with the right person or team that can speak with you and help you with any query, support or advice you may need just now. Alternatively, our Family Support, Digital Youth Work, Early Years Online and Housing and Welfare Benefits webpages may also help answer some of your queries and give you and your household additional suggestions on how to keep busy, active and healthy during the coming weeks and months. Access the resources here: http://www.ymcaessex.org.uk/coronavirus-response/

Leader in Me.

Leader in Me is an evidence-based, comprehensive-school improvement model—developed in partnership with educators—that empowers pupils with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. This is something we at Magna Carta are looking to become involved in. It is based on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The owners, Franklin Covey have kindly made some resources free for parents and children to use at home while schools are closed. Click on the link to read more and to access the resources: https://www.leaderinme.org/family-resources/#section6

YCT - FREE counselling service for children and young people (ages 5 – 19) across West Essex. YCT are a well-established and locally respected mental health charity, has recently been commissioned by West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group to provide counselling support to children and young people throughout West Essex. The service will operate throughout West Essex, delivering from community sites in Harlow, Loughton, Waltham Abbey, Saffron Walden, Thaxted, Stansted.

Open Door Thurrock, Tel: 01375 389879, Mobile: 07964 420686
Community 360
Young Carers: Elizabeth Stead, Key Worker Young Carers (West), E: Elizabeth.stead@essex.gov.uk, M: 07827255975

DfE Wellbeing Resources. The DfE have published an extensive list of resources which are free of charge to support children's education at home. Here are the Wellbeing resources: Wellbeing

Medway local authority has created some excellent resources focusing on adult and children's mental health at this difficult time. Please find them in the Page Downloads below. Parents may wish to use the 'lesson plan' as a family.

CAFCASS Co-Parent Hub. A free online resource for separated families linking together expertise from across the family justice sector, has been launched. We have been working with colleagues at the Ministry of Justice to launch this website to help families maintain co-parenting arrangements during this uncertain and stressful time. The Co-Parent Hub can be accessed here.

Explaining to children about the coronavirus:

Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing

World Health Organisation book for children (available as a download) https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-04/My%20Hero%20is%20You%2C%20Storybook%20for%20Children%20on%20COVID-19.pdf

This book is available in other languages: https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-reference-group-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-emergency-settings/my-hero-you-storybook-children-covid-19

The story has been adapted and UNICEF have uploaded it to You Tube: