A selection of resources that can be used and accessed at home to support your child with some mental health issues, including sleep, low mood, anxiety, emotional literacy and online safety.

https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/253/parents_and_carers_mental_health_support

We also work with the Bedfordshire CAMHS Mental Health Support Team who are offering further direct support to schools. 

Parentline
Parentline is a secure and confidential text service for parents and carers of those aged 0-19.

ANXIETY

‘Huge Bag of Worries’ by Virginia Ironside

‘Helping your child with Fears and Worries 2nd Edition: A self help guide for parents’ by Cathy Creswell and Lucy Willetts

‘Starving the Anxiety Gremlin’ by Kate Collins-Donnelly

‘What to do when you worry too much’ by Dawn Huebner

When my worries get too big - by Kari Dunn Buron

Don't worry be happy by Poppy O'Neill

Managing Stress - BBC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpQrMqDoqE

Fight, Flight Freeze Response - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEHwB1PG_-Q

CALM Technique by Jennifer Kolari - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q28IrZq14hk

Young Minds - https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/

Anna Freud Self Care Materials - https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/

ANGER

‘Starving the Anger Gremlin’ by Kate Collins-Donnelly

Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions? - https://www.youtube.com/watchv=3bKuoH8CkFc&feature=youtu.be

‘The Incredible Years’ by Carolyn Webster-Stratton

Upside of Anger TED Talk with Dr Ryan Martin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcQaXG_Qhs

• ELSA Support
  Elsa Support is a website which provides downloadable resources that support the teaching of emotional literacy or emotional intelligence by ELSA’s. A lot of the resources on this website are perfectly suitable for all teaching professionals to use and there is also a parent section with resources suitable for parents to use.

• Social Stories
  Social stories can be used to develop self-care skills (eg how to clean teeth, wash hands or get dressed), social skills (eg sharing, asking for help, saying thank you, interrupting), to cope with changes to routine and unexpected or distressing events (eg absence of teacher, moving house, thunderstorms), as a behavioural strategy (eg what to do when angry, how to cope with obsessions).

• Chums     https://chums.uk.com/bedfordshire-services/

• CAMHS
  Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services

• Central Bedfordshire Local Offer
  SEND, Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Private Therapists

If you have any recommendations from local private therapists please do let the school know so that we can add to this page. 

• Play and Creative Arts Therapy

Tips on staying well

• Preparing for winter: MIND has some useful tips on how to adapt your routine.
• Connect with others: Stay connected via email, social media, video calling and telephone. If you haven’t got  anyone to talk to or you are struggling, you can call emotional support lines like the NHS volunteer service who provide a ‘check in and chat’ service call 0808 196 3646 or one of the helplines below.
• Be active: Our physical health affects how we feel. Visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise for information and advice.
• Take notice and focus on the present: Find out more about being mindful on the NHS website.
• Stick to the facts and limit your news intake. Do not stay glued to the news. And when you do check, use trustworthy sources such as GOV.UK or NHS.
• Have a routine. Wake up and go to bed at healthy times, get enough sleep. Include time to relax. For tips on sleep visit Every Mind Matters.
• Do something you enjoy and keep your mind active. Find something of value in your day and do something for yourself (watch a favourite programme, do crosswords, art and crafts, cooking, gardening, reading a book)
• Work and finance, You might be worried about money, have lost your job or are concerned you might become unemployed – these issues can have a big impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Visit the Every Mind Matters website for tips and advice on coping with money worries and job uncertainty during COVID-19.
• Looking after a child or young person. The past few months have been hard on everyone, including our kids. Find tips on supporting children or young people at Every Mind Matters. 

• Government advice to parents on supporting children and young peoples mental health and well-being

• Coronavirus Wellbeing support
  Anna Freud- National Centre for Children and Families provides links to positive mental health resources, self soothe strategies and online courses on staying mentally well during Covid 19.

• Wellbeing support
  A link to the mentally healthy schools site which has a huge resource library supporting emotional wellbeing

• Every Mind Matters - NHS
  Looking after your mental health Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. We have expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

• Government Advice Well-Being Support
  The government publication on mental health and well-being also provides some excellent information including links to NHS helplines, the Every Mind Matters sleep page for tips on sleep and anxiety. There is also a link to the NHS mindfulness page

• Mind - Health and Well-Being Support
  The Mind website can give you information on local support. It also provides information on wellbeing, young people, anxiety, loneliness and grief. There are some breathing exercises, games and puzzles in the relaxation section.

• Young Minds
  The UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health.

• NSPCC
  Coronavirus (COVID-19) and parents working from home Tips and advice to help you find balance and create structure if you're new to working from home with your family.

• MindEd
  MindEd is a free educational resource on children and young people's mental health for all adults

• Place 2 be
  Place2Be is a children’s mental health charity with over 25 years’ experience working with pupils, families and staff in UK schools.

If you need to speak to someone, you can text or call:

• SANEline: visit sane.org.uk, leave a message on 07984 967 708 giving your first name and a contact number or email support@sane.org.uk
• Samaritans: visit www.samaritans.org or call 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org
• Shout Crisis Text line: text Shout to 85258
• CALM: visit thecalmzone.net. Calm is for men in the UK who need to talk or find information and support. They are open 5pm - midnight, 365 days a year. Call 0800 58 58 58
• Young Minds: visit www.youngminds.org.uk or call the parents helpline 0808 802 5544

• Age UK: visit www.ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 678 1602 (8am-7pm)

• Every Mind Matters: visit www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters

• Heads Up for men's mental health: visit www.thisisheads-up.uk

• Five ways to wellbeing: visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/5waysmk

• MIND: visit www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing

• Our Frontline – support for frontline workers. Visit www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ourfrontline or text: FRONTLINE to 85258 or call 116 123 for a conversation with a trained volunteer 

• National Debt Line – free and independent advice. Call 0808 808 4000 9am - 8pm Monday - Friday or visit www.nationaldebtline.org