Mental Health and Wellbeing
Maintaining your family's health and wellbeing
Looking after you and your family's mental health and well-being is paramount whilst the effects of Covid 19 in the community continue. Take a look at our blog for more information.
Children's Mental Health Week 2021 
Click on the logo to go to the official website.
We are fortunate to work in partnership with Jenby's and to access specialist support from clinical psychologist, Natalie Jewitt. Natalie has created a bank of fabulous resources to support children in our Mental Health focus week.
Let's Talk about Mental Health Leaflets
- Let's Talk about Mental Health: young person's leaflet (11+)
- Let's Talk about Mental Health: parents
Free Home Activities
- Self Care Dice Challenge
- Jenby's Mindful Colouring Dog
- Jenby's Mindful Colouring Cat
- Jenby's Mindful Colouring Chameleon
- Jenby's Mindful Colouring Unicorn
- Jenby's Mindful Colouring Panda
- Jenby's Calming Jar Activity Sheet
- Jenby's 54321 Calming tool
- Jenby's My Feelings Scale Activity 1-5
- Jenby's Feelings Bingo Game
Free Videos
A few tips for understanding the effects of COVID-19 in a trauma informed way:
- Don’t ignore what’s happening, because your children - especially those with histories of trauma - will pick up on the fact that things are unexpectedly different in their worlds. Be calm and clear in any explanations.
- A good message is to talk about the virus and how “we’re working together to keep more people from getting sick by reducing some activities…and people are working to help one another out!”
- Focus on what WILL stay the same…little things, that you’ll still get up and eat breakfast, you’ll still have lunch, you’ll still sleep in your bed, etc. Give a nice long list.
- If you sense a child is becoming anxious about it, call it out casually: “I noticed you might be a bit anxious about something…I’m wondering if it has anything to do with XYZ?”
- Provide visual structure for your children. Make a visual plan for the day, introduce it in the morning, and work your way through it during the day. This is containing for the child. It will take extra effort on your part but will help them to manage their anxiety.
- Outdoor play, baths, sensory play, etc. will be helpful activities. Walks, beach and forest trips or nature trails are suggested.
- Remember that unexpected change, loss of routine and structure, and increased stress in the world will be HUGE triggers for many of your kids. Focus on co-regulation; keep expectations appropriate.
- Be kind and considerate when you can. Not just practical tasks but understanding that in unpredictable times of change we can all feel anxious too.
Advice from Childline for children and young people:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/worries-about-the-world/