Mental Health First Aider 

Mrs Anna Kerr, Pastoral Support Manager

What does a Mental Health First Aider do?

• watch for the early signs of a mental health problem 
• guide and encourage someone towards the right support
• help someone recover faster
• provide help on a first aid basis

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Hello everyone.  These are strange times and we are all finding that we are reacting to this new situation in different ways - children and adults.  Here are some resources which you might find useful at this time.  Obviously, the World Wide Web has lots of guidance and advice where you can, hopefully, find something that suits your needs and those of your family.

We always encourage our pupils to talk about how they are feeling and one way in which they do this is by taking part in their class check-in and check-out every day; ask your children about it.  They give themselves a number on a scale of 0-10 (10 being amazing) and this is any easy way of opening a discussion on how they are feeling, i.e., 'I am a 2 because ................................... I feel worried about the Corona Virus/the new routines at school, etc.  

I hope you find the following links/resources useful and I will add more as time goes on.  In the meantime, please stay safe and well.

See bottom of the page for more links to support pages.

Mind Fitness

(Source:  westkentmind.org.uk)
 

Evidence suggests that incidents of mental health problems are increasing in children, with 1 in 10 children aged 5-16 experiencing a mental health problem. This is equivalent to about 3 children in every class.  In response to these statistics West Kent Mind have created MH4 Schools.  The project trains staff in Mental Health First Aid and the Mind Fitness programme, along with other training.

Key outcomes from the Mind Fitness programme are:

• Our Mind Fitness trained staff will have an understanding of the 6 ways to wellbeing and, using the session plans provided by West Kent Mind and MH4 Schools, will support pupils in learning and speaking about mental health and wellbeing
• Mind Fitness sessions will help to reduce stigma and discrimination within our school
• Staff/Pupils will have a greater understanding of their own and others mental health
• Staff/Pupils will feel more comfortable talking about mental health
• Pupils will know who to talk to in our school i.e. class teachers, teaching assistants, the Mental Health First Aider, if they are worried about themselves or their friends
• Create a sustainable culture change and ensure our whole school has increased mental health resilience and literacy

Ask your children about the Mind Fitness classes at St.Teresa's