Mental Health & Wellbeing
As a values-based school, we acknowledge the importance of good mental health and aim to promote positive mental health and well-being for our whole school community; pupils, staff, parents and carers, and recognise how important mental health and emotional well-being is to our lives in just the same way as physical health. We recognise that in order to have a good sense of wellbeing in school all members of our school community need to feel a sense of belonging by being accepted, included, valued and encouraged by others. Research has demonstrated that a sense of belonging is positively associated with motivation and academic success. Pupils who have a sense of belonging are also more likely to experience positive emotions and feelings of self-worth.
Where can I go for Mental Health support for my child?
If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, we recommend that you speak to the school and your child’s GP. College Road Primary School has a school counsellor whom is at school for 1 and a half days a week. We also have two Teaching Assistants trained as Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs).
Mental Health Charities
- Counselling: The Mix Counselling service is suitable for you if you are looking for short-term help with your mental health and emotional wellbeing. https://www.themix.org.uk/
- Bereavement: www.petesdragons.org.uk and https://jeremiahsjourney.org.uk
- Anxiety: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): www.ocduk.org
- Depression: www.depressoinalliance.org
- Eating Disorders: www.b-eat.co.uk and www.inourhands.com
- Self-harm: www.nshn.co.uk and www.selfharm.co.uk
- Suicidal thoughts: Prevention of young suicide UK – PAPYRUS: www.papyrus-uk.org
For general information and support
- www.youngminds.org.uk champions young people’s mental health and wellbeing
- www.mind.org.uk advice and support on mental health problems
- www.minded.org.uk (e-learning) www.time-to-change.org.uk tackles the stigma of mental health www.rethink.org challenges attitudes towards mental health
- Childline - https://www.childline.org.uk
- www.annafreud.org - Advice for parents and carers of primary school pupils
- Barnados.org.uk - Barnados is a children's charity that protects and supports children and young people in the UK who need them.
Adult counselling service
For adults experiencing mental health difficulties, the first port of call should be your GP. If you feel you would benefit from counselling, you can self-refer to Plymouth Options, which is a free counselling service.
Plymouth Options | Livewell Southwest
Parenting Support
Incredible Years Parenting Programme is a 12-week course, run during the day. To self-refer to the course, following the link below.
Incredible Years Basic - Plymouth Information Advice and Support for SEND. (plymouthias.org.uk)
Plymouth Information Advice and Support for SEND also offer workshops such as ‘How to understand my child’s communication’. To find out which courses are running and when, follow the link below:
Parenting Programmes - Plymouth Information Advice and Support for SEND. (plymouthias.org.uk)
Family Support Worker - bespoke family support - Referral via Mrs Harvey or Mrs Blom
For families experiencing parental mental health
Kidstime is a group for families experiencing parental mental illness. Kidstime focuses on supporting children to understand their parent’s mental health issues and the adults in developing understandable explanations of their illness for their children. The group is a safe space in which the parents and children can process and discuss these issues with each other and develop the strategies to move forward.
If you would like to be referred to the Kidstime group, please see Mrs Blom or Mrs Harvey who will complete a referral on your behalf.