Mental health and Wellbeing Services and Support
What is mental health?
“A state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, to realise their abilities, to learn well and work well, and to contribute to their communities.”
(World Health Organisation 2022)
At Purwell, we are committed to supporting pupils to maintain their mental well-being as well as assisting those who may be experiencing mental health difficulties. We are proud to have a dedicated pastoral worker who, having completed the Foundation in Mental Health course, is equipped with a range of tools designed to support children’s well-being. It is recommended that all schools will, by 2025, have a senior mental health lead (SMHL) working within the school. The role of the SMHL is to work closely with school leaders, staff, pupils, parents and governors to establish a whole school approach to supporting the mental health and well-being of pupils. Mrs Mullan is the school’s SMHL who is working to audit our current support and identify next steps.
Please speak to your child’s teacher if you have concerns. It is important to note, however, that we are not mental health professionals and therefore, we would always recommend that you speak to your child’s GP. In addition to this, below you will find details of organisations who you may wish to contact for further advice.
The Mix
… offers essential support for the under 25s. Their work includes running support groups, signposting to helpful apps as well as offering free counselling.
The Sandbox
…provides award winning digital support for mental health.
NessieinEd
… offers resources and therapy that parents can access including a range of free workshops.
School Nursing team
… offers anxiety programmes designed to support children and their parents to manage worries and develop resilience and regulation skills.
www.hct.nhs.uk/service-details/service/school-nursing-56
Luminova
… is a free online app which is conditionally recommended by the NICE guidance. This is for 7-12 year olds and is free. It uses a CBT approach to help children set goals and manage worries.
Young Minds
… offer a range of free programmes for children to support their mental health.
NHS
… provides guidance and support for parents of children with mental health difficulties
www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/supporting-others/childrens-mental-health
Neurodiversity Hub
… is designed to support parents of children who are neurodiverse and may be experiencing anxiety or distressed behaviours.