Love to Learn, Together with the Lord
We all go through periods in our life when we feel sad, anxious or stressed. When these feelings start to get in the way of our daily life or impact upon our relationships with the people around we may need some extra support. This can mean we needs some support with our mental health. Knowing how or who to ask for help can be hard, but it’s important that we don’t keep these feeling to ourselves.
What's the meaning of mental health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood
Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems.
Short term stress and worry is a normal part of life and many issues can be experienced as mild or transitory challenges for some children and their families. Others will experience more serious and longer lasting effects. The same experience can have different effects on different children depending on other factors in their life. For example, it is normal for children to feel nervous or under stress around exam times, but other factors can make such stress part of an enduring and persistent mental health problem for some children. When a problem is particularly severe or persistent over time, or when a number of these difficulties are experienced at the same time, children are often described as experiencing mental health problems.
I am an Adult
We all go through periods in our life when we feel sad, anxious or stressed. When these feelings start to get in the way of our daily life or impact upon our relationships with the people around we may need some extra support. This can mean we needs some support with our mental health. Knowing how or who to ask for help can be hard, but it’s important that we don’t keep these feeling to ourselves.
What is mental health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood
A mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour. It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. Mental disorders may also be referred to as mental health conditions. There are many different types of mental disorders such as, anxiety disorders, depression, post-natal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
What can affect good mental health?
The important things is how you manage your thoughts and feelings during these times.
The Mental health Foundation
The Mental health foundation is a great source of information, follow the link below to find out more information about how you are feeling, what might be causing you to feel this way and how to get support. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics
Who can I talk to or where can I go if I am worried about my mental health?
Mindsmatter
Are a well-being service offering a range of free psychological therapies to people aged 16 and over in Lancashire. The Mindsmatter team is made up of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP), Cognitive Behavioural Therapists (CBT), Counsellors, and our supportive admin staff.
They give people the right information and help to develop skills and gain tools to overcome stress, anxiety and depression is at the heart of what we do. Anyone can make a self-referral by calling 01772 643168 https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/services/psychological-therapies/mindsmatter
The Crisis Team
If you need urgent help as you are in mental health distress, then there is always someone you can call. The Mental Health Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 0800 953 0110. It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services. Ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment or support. https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/services/service-finder-z/crisis-line
Annafreud
Annafreude National Centre for Children and Families is a great source of information, follow the link below to find out more information about how you and your family can get help and support.
https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/afc-crisis-messenger/
Domestic abuse support
If you need any advice or to find out where to contact if you need support follow the link below. If you or somebody you know is in immediate danger then please call 999.
If you hear an incident and think that a neighbour is in danger, or any children they may have, then we would suggest contacting the police. The police have a responsibility to respond and to undertake a risk assessment where there is domestic abuse taking place.
https://chorley.gov.uk/article/1577/Domestic-abuse-support
How can I continue to have good mental health?
I am a child
How can I help myself have good mental health?
Who can I talk to or where can I go if I am worried about my mental health?
You can use our school 'Worry Button' and some will listen and know you need some help.
https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/afc-crisis-messenger/
https://www.lancashiremind.org.uk/pages/154-support-for-children-young-people
https://www.healthyyoungmindslsc.co.uk/information/children-and-young-people
How can I continue to have good mental health?
Things that can help keep children and young people mentally well include:
Other factors are also important, including feeling loved, trusted, understood and safe. Children who are optimistic, resilient, have some control over their lives and feel like they belong are more likely to have good mental wellbeing.
What affects a child's mental health?
The balance between the risk and protective factors are most likely to be disrupted when difficult events happen in pupils’ lives. These include:
When a children experience a range of emotional and behavioural problems that are outside the normal range for their age, they might be described as experiencing mental health problems or disorders. Mental health professionals have classified these as:
How important is child mental health?
Good mental health helps them develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults. Things that can help keep children and young people mentally well include: being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.
Why is it important to talk about children's mental health?
Honest communication. Talking to your child honestly about your mental health can reduce any fear or confusion they may be feeling, and help them understand your actions and behaviour.
How do you know if your child has/ I have mental health issues?
Warning signs that your child may have a mental health disorder include:
What is good mental health?
Good mental health is the ability to learn, the ability to feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions, the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others.
Please be aware that these are not resources provided by All Saints C of E Primary School. These are external resources from a wide range of agencies so please be mindful when accessing them.
How can I help my child have good mental health?
https://www.annafreud.org/coronavirus-support/support-for-parents-and-carers/
Who can I talk to or go to for help if I feel my child’s mental health is low?
I need help now!
The AFC Crisis Messenger text service is a free, confidential, 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope. The service is staffed by trained volunteers who will work with you to take your next steps towards feeling better. We can help with issues such as anxiety, worry, panic attacks, bullying and depression and are here to talk at any time of day or night.
https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/afc-crisis-messenger/
https://www.lancashiremind.org.uk/pages/153-support-for-parents-carers-of-young-people
https://www.healthyyoungmindslsc.co.uk/information/family-and-carers
Help your child to continue to have good mental health
Ways to feel better
Mindfulness Walk https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/PDFs/Resilience%20Activities/Mindful%20walk.pdff
Coping Toolbox https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/PDFs/Resilience%20Activities/Coping%20Toolbox.pdff
Worry Jar
https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/Files/PDFs/Resilience%20Activities/Worry%20Jar.pdf
Distraction Activities
Relaxation activities
https://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/uploads/images/What%20we%20do/Relaxation%20Activities.pdf
Random acts of kindness
Various topics of activities
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/activities/
Mental health support resources in Lancashire and South Cumbria
11 plus support
The Butterfly and Phoenix Project - This team of trained counsellors support young people aged 11 to 18 years old to resolve emotional difficulties through the delivery of counselling and group workshops.
https://www.butterflyandphoenix.org/
Tel : 03450 138208