Children and Young People's Wellbeing

Resources and training for educational settings to support the wellbeing of the Children and Young People they work with.

people heart logo

Pictures above show a cartoon of two people with a heart and the Service logo 

This section contains resources and training aimed for educational settings to support children and young people and their emotional wellbeing.

To see all our latest mental health news go to our homepage.

 

Recognising the collective trauma and heightened anxiety following the dreadful situation in Ukraine, we have gathered the following resources to help support children and young people.

This YouTube video 'Supporting our children in traumatic times', presented by Dr Tina Rae, talks about 11 things we can look out for and do right now to help support children and young people worried about the worsening situation in Ukraine. Also see her blog page for more useful advice.

 

 

Useful webinars:

Talking about War and Conflict with Children - a webinar course.

How to Talk with Children and Young People About War - Understanding and Supporting our Refugee Children - hosted by Dr Tina Rae.

How to talk to young people about the war in Ukraine - This free online workshop aims to highlight the importance of communication around the war in Ukraine and to consider the way in which we do this to help young people make sense of what is happening. It will provide practical guidance for having these sensitive conversations.
Dates:
Wednesday 6th April 6pm to 7pm

Monday 25th April 6pm to 7pm

Podcast: Talking to your children about the Ukraine War

As parents and families we are likely to have been shocked about the devastating situation in Ukraine. Our children will be having conversations with us and others and trying to make sense of what is happening. So how do we talk to our children, who may be different ages and temperaments about this war; in a manner which helps them make sense of what is happening whilst not disproportionately increasing anxieties?

In this podcast episode Dr Beth Mosley (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) both mother and mental health professional, talks with Dr Kelsey Odgers (Clinical Psychologist) and Kelly (mother of two) about these dilemmas and some of the mistakes they might have made as parents during this time.
In their discussion they cover: Right place, right time, right pace to talk. What does this actually look like? How we manage the exposure and time spent on news stories? And, how do we turn feelings into helpful actions.
This recording was made for our Mental Health and You podcast series. Listen to 'Talking to children about Ukraine War' Podcast 
Listen to the free Mental Health and You podcast series Or search for ‘Mental Health and You’ on Apple Podcasts.

Ukrainian refugee resources for settings:

Ukraine Refugees Support Plan

Ukraine Talking About War Plan

'Welcome to our school Ukraine translated notices for refugees'

 

 

Useful websites and articles:

The British Psychology Society - Supporting children to manage anxiety over war and conflict

The Education Hub - help for teachers and families to talk to pupils about the Russian invasion

Newsround - advice if you're upset by the news

Childline - worries about the world

Supporting refugees | Suffolk County Council

Refugees, war and conflict | Suffolk County Council 

 

The UK Trauma Council website has a range of information and resources to help you support refugee and asylum-seeking children who have experienced trauma.

More information can be found on Suffolk County Council | Refugees, war and conflict.

 

 

 

Supporting Suffolk Schools with Mental Health 

From the 1st and 2nd September 2022, there will be a number of 60 minute workshops available for school staff to book onto for up-to-date training and guidance on supporting children and young people's emotional wellbeing. For further details and to book your place on to these workshops, download the September PD Workshops Poster.

 

 

Five Tips for people with Anxiety

Watch the below YouTube video titled 'Keep Cool', where Young people share and explore how they keep cool when experiencing anxiety:

Training

Anxiety Support Services

Suffolk Mental Health Support Teams have developed a  poster, to support all children and young people, who may be experiencing anxiety related symptoms during the pandemic.

The poster is aimed at supporting children at Key Stage 2, we advise that these resources are supported by staff. 

Download the 'Feeling worried about Covid 19 Poster'.

 

Resources

Covid19 Low Mood in Young People (PDF)

Websites 

Please find below available self-harm resources

Useful information and advice pages for parents and carers:

Self-harm in children and young people advice page

The Source website Self-harm advice for young people

Self-harm leaflets:

I feel like hurting myself - A Self-harm z card for young people with advice and support information.

Self-harm - A guide for parents and carers leaflet - This leaflet has been designed with parents to provide helpful information and suggestions at a time when parents and carers may feel confused, powerless or uncertain about how to make sense of their child’s self-harming. 

Self-harm resources for professionals and educational settings:

Self-harm Toolkit - This is the online condensed version of the Self-harm toolkit guidance which educational settings can find the full version available to download from the Schools Information Portal. (If your setting needs access to the Schools Information Portal, please email jane.stannard@suffolk.gov.uk)

 

For information and advice around helping children and young people sleep better, go to this Sleep Advice page

Services and organisations that can help with loss and bereavement:

Cruse Bereavement Care booklets - Child Bereavement Care has a number of booklets for helping children understand about loss on their website. They also have a support line for families (0808 808 1677), and offer training webinars to professionals.

Children and Bereavement - This is an advice page is aimed at parents and professionals from the Emotional Wellbeing Gateway website.

Bereavement and Young People - This advice page is also from the Emotional Wellbeing Gateway website, and is aimed at helping parents and professionals to support a young person who is experiencing loss and grief.

When someone dies - This is a bereavement advice page aimed at young people from The Source website.

Traumatic bereavement resources 

The UK Trauma Council, and Anna Freud Centre traumatic bereavement resources - for those supporting pupils and students in schools and FE colleges and those working in clinical settings. 

Anna Freud have produced a booklet to help those working with young children and families who have been bereaved.

Watch the below animation titled 'Traumatic Bereavement: Helping children and young people who are struggling in schools & colleges', by the UK Trauma Council.

Wheelchair user

Picture of a cartoon character in a wheel chair, happy with arms up in the air

Find booklets, webinars and resources to help support children and young people with SEND.

UCL (Amelia Roberts) webinar

Supporting our most vulnerable students webinar

Supporting Children and Young People with Autism During Uncertain Times (pdf. 710KB)

Websites:

 

Having an ELSA in your school will mean you are able to offer interventions and planned programmes of support to children experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

To find out more information visit Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) Training and Supervision and Elsanetwork.org

ELSA We have a vaccine Covid Powerpoint for kids

(Picture above reads 'We have a vaccine!' and shows a cartoon of a superhero fighting the bad virus character)

ELSA - We have a vaccine - PowerPoint presentation about COVID vaccine for children.

Screenshot school avoidance

Picture above is of a landscape and reads 'Emotionally Based School Avoidance'.

The Psychology and Therapeutic Service has lots of resources available to support children and young people anxious about going to school.

Go to their EBSA Emotionally Based School Avoidance page.

Also see Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) Emotional Based School Avoidance YouTube Webinar

Resources and support to help children and young people cope with exams

These family leaflets were co-produced with Suffolk Parent Carer Network SPCN

Five Tips for going back to school

Also see:

 

Five Tips for people with Autism

Also see these useful websites:

 

Five Tips for coping with Self-Harm 

Also see:

 

Five Tips for people with Challenging Behaviour

 

Positive Self-Talk Rainbows

 

Five Ways to Wellbeing

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