Mental Health
Senior Mental Health Lead
At Haselworth Primary School we have a Senior Mental Health Lead. Their role is to develop and oversee the whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing, including support for pupils, staff and the wider community. They seek to understand the needs of all stakeholders and implement evidence-based strategies to address these needs. The Senior Health Lead will upskill staff so that they are able to support pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. Another aspect of the role is to understand and build links with local mental health services and other external agencies.
Mrs Howard is our Senior Health Lead and she will champion the school’s commitment to delivering excellent outcomes in whole-school mental health and wellbeing. We work closely with the Mental Health School Team (MHST) and run workshops for children in Upper Key Stage 2. Children's Mental Health Week ran from 5-11th February and aims to empower and give a voice to all children. We ran a whole school assembly to raise awareness an remind our children that our emotions are normal and there is always someone they can talk to. We explored many different ways in which to help us cope with our big emotions and worries of all sizes.
Below are some useful websites and resource ideas to support children and families at home:
www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk
'Everybody Worries' by Jon Burgerman
If you have any other resources you have seen or used that you feel may benefit others please let us know.
What is ELSA Intervention?
An ELSA in a school is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. ELSAs are specialists with a wealth of experience of working with children and young people. The ELSA at Haselworth Primary School is Mrs McD.
Through a 6-8 week programme of individually-tailored sessions, an ELSA will help the child or young person to explore their emotions, understand their feelings and support them to find their own solutions to a specific challenge they are facing. Relationships are key in helping children and young people to feel safe and nurtured. ELSA is about creating a reflective space for the child or young person. ELSAs support with:
- Loss and bereavement
- Emotional Literacy
- Self-esteem
- Social Skills
- Friendship issues
- Relationships
- Managing strong feelings
- Anxiety and worries
- Bullying
- Conflict
- Emotional Regulation
- Growth Mindset
- Social and therapeutic stories
- Problem solving
School Counselling Service
The school also provides counselling to children who have been identified as someone who would benefit from talk therapy. The DHT/Inclusion Leader/SENDCo leads on this service in conjunctions with staff and parents. This provision is available 3 mornings a week and can be accessed through discussion with Mrs Howard and a referral. The sessions often run for just 6 week blocks but when needed can continue for longer periods of time.