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. 

 Click here to find a helpful booklet created by NHS and the local council along with Community Action, signposting services as well as providing local 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

• Video 1: How To Make A Calming Jar
• Video 2: Jenby's 54321 Calming Tool

Supporting your child during the coronavirus pandemic.  Tips, advice and where to get support for your child's mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Coronavirus support activities for children.
	BBC Newsround: Keep up to date with the news on Covid 19.
Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark. How to talk to your children.	Chris and Xand have what you need to know about Coronavirus.

A few tips for understanding the effects of COVID-19 in a trauma informed way:

1. 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.
2. 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!”
3. 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.
4. 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?”
5. 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.
6. Outdoor play, baths, sensory play, etc. will be helpful activities. Walks, beach and forest trips or nature trails are suggested.
7. 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.
8. 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/