Wellbeing in Mind school support service for children and young people in North Yorkshire (Information for parents and carers)

Email: [email protected]

Service opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

Who we are

We are a team of NHS staff working in your child’s school or college.  We offer support to students experiencing difficulties with their emotional and mental wellbeing, including low mood and anxiety. We also help those whose behaviours are causing them problems and work with other services to make sure everyone can access the most appropriate help and support.

What we do

We provide advice, support and training to school and college staff on wellbeing issues; forming a link between the school and other services supporting your child.

We also provide direct support for young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties within the school or college environment. This may include offering things like:

• Classroom-based education sessions with school/college pastoral team to improve knowledge and understanding about wellbeing
• individual sessions based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• group sessions
• supporting people to use online resources and develop skills.

Where needed, we can support people to access other services for additional help.

Why we do it

Poor emotional and psychological well-being can have a negative impact on many areas of a young person’s life including the relationships they form, their academic achievement and their home life.

Having the right support available in schools and colleges helps to make sure problems are picked up at the earliest opportunity and young people are able to receive the right help, more quickly; lessening the impact mental wellbeing difficulties can have both now and in the future.

It also helps teachers and other staff to better support children in school/college and supports a healthy environment where young people are encouraged to consider their emotional wellbeing and that of others.

Who’s who

The wellbeing in mind team is made up of NHS professionals including senior clinicians, higher-level therapists and education mental health practitioner trainees (EMHPs). A set team of staff will work within your child’s school/college as members of the faculty, helping to ensure continuity of care.

Getting help

Young people are able to access help from the team via school/college staff.

If you are concerned about your child’s mental wellbeing we would encourage you to speak to your child’s school/college which will be able to arrange any necessary referral with us.

Next steps

Initially the team will provide advice to school and college staff. However, sometimes we may feel direct support is needed. In this instance we will meet with the young person to carry out an assessment. Consent will usually be requested from parents or carers of those under the age of 14.

Parental consent

If we feel that a young person is capable of providing informed consent, then we may become involved without you knowing. This would generally apply to students over the age of 14.

Online support for young people

Online mental health support is also available for young people from the following platforms.

Give us a shout

24/7 online emotional health support and crisis counselling. https://www.giveusashout.org/

Recovery College Online

Online course and wellbeing resources for children and young people.
https://www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk/young-people/

Young Minds

Information for young people about emotional and mental health issues. www.youngminds.org.uk

Choosing what’s best for you

Information about different treatments. www.annafreud.org.ebpu