Place2Be lead on Children's Mental Health Week and the theme for this year is
Express Yourself - My Voice Matters
From 5th -11th February 2024, schools, families and communities across the UK will take part in Children’s Mental Health Week.
This year’s theme is My Voice Matters, and Place2Be wants all children and young people, whoever they are, and wherever they are in the world, to be able to say – and believe - “My Voice Matters”
Express Yourself is about allowing children and young people to let their voices be heard and express how they feel in a way they want to. You can download the Pace2Be's free resource pack including a step-by-step guide to organising your own Express Yourself day.
Express Yourself resources - Children's Mental Health Week (childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk)
Families, parents and carers can get involved too! Download the Place2B resources so everyone can get involved at home too!
How do you encourage children and young people to express themselves and participate?
Throughout this bulletin we offer ideas for hearing the voice and views of children and young people and have included information and resources to support their participation.
You will also find here local and national services that offer emotional, mental health and wellbeing help and support.
The Somerset Wellbeing Framework
Our Somerset Wellbeing Framework: Developing a whole school or college approach to health & wellbeing, includes the principle of Pupil Participation.
This takes us beyond simply hearing the voice of pupils and encourages us to respond by seeking opportunities for participation.
Participation helps place young peoples views and ideas at the heart of all we do and equips them for confidently making decisions about issues that affect their lives.
Find out more about the Somerset Wellbeing Framework here - Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing : New Home (cypsomersethealth.org)
For Public Health children and young people Training, including Somerset Trauma Informed, please visit our Training Menu
Somerset Youth Parliament
We asked our Somerset Youth Parliament to share their thoughts and views about this years Children's Mental Health Week theme.
These slides share their voice, suggests ways adults and schools can show they have listened to young people, tells you more about the members campaigns and how your school or college can get involved with the Somerset Youth Parliament.
Take a look at what Somerset Youth Parliament told us - Youth Parliament Children's Mental Health Week 2024
Somerset Health and Wellbeing Survey
Somerset Council, in partnership with local schools and colleges is committed to ensuring that Somerset pupils and students have the opportunity to be seen, valued, and heard.
The Somerset Health and Wellbeing Survey is an opportunity for pupils and students to share their views and experiences in relation to their own health and wellbeing both in and out of school or college.
The Somerset Schools Health and Wellbeing Survey is the largest health and wellbeing survey of its kind in the county, capturing the voice of over 5,000 pupils aged 6-18 in more than 87 education settings across Somerset.
The survey allows us to hear a powerful voice, providing a valuable insight into the lives of Somerset school-age children and young people, their experiences, fears, and aspirations. The findings contribute to our understanding of the broad range of challenges and unmet need facing children and young people who attend schools in the county.
Schools can use the findings from their individual survey to help inform and develop their resources from a child and young persons perspective of their experiences.
You can view County wide key findings from this survey here - Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing : New Home (cypsomersethealth.org)
Children's Rights
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has 54 articles that cover all aspects of a child’s life and set out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children everywhere are entitled to. It also explains how adults and governments must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights.
Article 12 (respect for the views of the child)
Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.
Article 13 (freedom of expression)
Every child must be free to express their thoughts and opinions and to access all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.
The full summary of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) can be seen here - UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf (unicef.org.uk)
What do we mean by participation?
Making opportunities for children and young people and their families to be involved in processes for decision making on issues that affect them.
The Somerset Participation Toolkit offers a set of tools, guidance and resources for helping meaningful participation with children and young people.
How do you encourage children and young people to express themselves and participate?
Celebrating the Schools Wellbeing and Arts Project
This resource from the schools wellbeing and arts project captures and celebrates some of the work of organisations and schools across Somerset, bringing creativity and art to a whole school approach.
Providing fun and engaging opportunities for children and young people to express themselves opens a space for talking, listening and participating.
Opportunities such as physical activities, arts or creative approaches can help children and young people to confidently share their thoughts, views and ideas.
Schools Wellbeing and Arts Project Celebration E-zine
Somerset Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
Somerset MHST have kindly shared these resources to help children and young people have a voice in what matters to them -
MHST Childrens Mental Health Week Primary activity pack 2024.pdf
What matters to me Worksheet MHST.pdf
Somerset Youth Forum is inviting all young people in Somerset aged 10-18 years (or up to 25 years with SEND) to a special session to discuss what young people need to have a happy and healthy childhood in Somerset.
This event will be taking place on Wednesday 7th February, 5.30-7.00pm on Teams.
We will cover:
- What did 5,000 students in Somerset tell us?
- How can young people in Somerset vote for what’s important to them?
- You said, we did! Have adults responded to your priorities?
We’ll be looking at these questions and a whole lot more.
If you know a young person who’d like to sign up for this event, please visit http://tinyurl.com/YouthForumFeb24
The things that young people tell us will be shared with the Children, Young People and Families Board and will aid in the shaping of policies that will directly benefit young people in Somerset.
Every participant will receive a letter and a gift voucher, and this time can be registered towards volunteering hours where applicable.
If you’d like to get in contact with us or if you’d like to find out more about the event or Youth Forum send us an email at
Lifehacks
No 3 - Find someone to talk to about how you feel
There’s no right or wrong way to talk about our mental health. Sometimes different words, rather than no words can express mental health, but it is important that we all try and talk much more freely about it. Young people who have experienced mental health problems themselves say the most important thing they did in their recovery was talking to other people and sharing how they felt. It helped them to realise they weren’t alone, and that there are lots of sources of help out there.
LOCAL SUPPORT
Somerset School Nursing Service
School nurses can help to develop positive behaviours and understanding around a wide range of topics.
For more information on how school nursing can help you and how to access this service visit - Healthy Child Programme School Nursing
Young Somerset
Wellbeing is about how we feel and how we cope with everyday difficulties. We do not have to feel happy all of the time to have positive wellbeing.
However, if you are finding it difficult to cope with everyday life, this is where it might be helpful to work with one of our wellbeing practitioners.
Find out more here - What is Wellbeing Support? | Young Somerset
Tellmi
Tellmi is a safe, anonymous app where you can talk about absolutely anything. From anxiety to autism, dating to depression, or self-harm to self-esteem, sharing your experiences with our awesome community helps you to feel better.
Our moderators check everything to keep you safe and our in-house counsellors are always on hand if you need extra support.
Download the free Tellmi app from Tellmi: Google Play and Tellmi: apple.com
Kooth
Whatever you’re feeling, we’re here to help. Get free, safe and anonymous support
Your online mental wellbeing community Home - Kooth
Mental Health Toolkit
This area of the Somerset Children and Young People's Health & Wellbeing website provides information and support about mental health and emotional health & wellbeing including -
- Body Image, Eating Problems and Disorders (cypsomersethealth.org)
- Somerset Emotional And Mental Health Support (cypsomersethealth.org)
- Self Injury (cypsomersethealth.org)
- Suicide Prevention (cypsomersethealth.org)
- Lifehacks (cypsomersethealth.org) For looking after your mental health
- And more - Mental Health Toolkit
Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)
We all know that our body and mind is connected. Getting active not only helps our physical body, it also helps our mental health keep in shape too.
SASP provide a range of activities for all ages and all levels of fitness across the County. Their offer also includes the Happy, Healthy, Holidays programmes.
Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership - Active Children & Young People (sasp.co.uk)
Somerset Children’s and Young People’s Counselling Alliance is a partnership of six leading organisations that provide counselling, information, advice, and support to children and young people aged 5 to 17 across Somerset.
For further information on this service please visit www.scya.org.uk
Somerset 2bu
We're here to give you advice and support. If you're a young person living in Somerset, you may find that being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender, or questioning your sexuality or gender identity can be difficult.
This site is for you, have a wee look around. Welcome for LGBTQ+ young people (2bu-somerset.co.uk)
2BU Somerset - Our Stories
This document helps you gain a better understanding of what life is like for LGBT+ young people living in Somerset today - SCC training (canva.com)
Somerset Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) webpages. We offer a variety of teams and services for young people aged 0–18 years old who are struggling with their mental health.
Somerset CAMHS - CAMHS - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (somersetft.nhs.uk)
NATIONAL SUPPORT
Anna Freud - Talking mental health: animation & teacher toolkit
Talking Mental Health is an animation and accompanying teacher toolkit designed to help begin conversations about mental health in the classroom and beyond.
Talking mental health: animation & teacher toolkit | Anna Freud
Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation
Happening every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
Time to Talk Day 2024 will take place 1 February 2024. It’s run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and is being delivered in partnership with Co-op for the third year running.
Make space in your day for a conversation about mental health and visit the Time to Talk website for Resource, Tips and Ideas.
We know the more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone.
Talking about mental health isn’t always easy, but a conversation has the power to change lives.
Time To Talk Day - Time To Talk Day
Action for Happiness
Share the Action for Happiness calendar to help start conversations and move to action
Happier January | Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness brings people together and provides practical resources. We help each other learn evidence-based skills for happier living, feel a sense of belonging and commit to personal action to create more happiness, for ourselves and others.
Happier Kinder Together | Action for Happiness
CONNECTING WITH NATURE
Get Outside in Somerset is helping our community to get outdoors and move in more ways that suit you.
From spending time with family and having fun with friends in the garden, to enjoying the scenery and embracing the weather on our rolling hills, we’re all about simple ways to get outside in Somerset.
Take a look for tips, advice and guidance on how to keep or get active outdoors. Home Page - Get outside in Somerset
Somerset Nature Connections
Using the beautiful Somerset natural environments, helping people connect with others, nature and our natural world
Somerset Nature Connections | Somerset Wildlife Trust
TRAINING & CPD
For Practitioners
Public Health free training programmes for Somerset Schools, Colleges and Children & Young People Practitioners
Our training supports settings developing their whole school or college approach through the 8 key principles.
Looking after ourselves is essential for looking after others. Engaging with training and CPD can support our own and staff wellbeing as well as those we care for.
Take a look at our training menu for registration and further details: Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing Training Menu
Training offer includes -
-
-
Mental Health First Aid (Youth) 2 day face to face and 1/2 day virtual
-
Creativity & Play in Relationships
-
Somerset Wildlife Trust: Nature Connection in School Settings - and - Delivering Outdoor Sessions for All: First Steps
-
Senor Mental Health Leads Training ** 2024 bookings now live**
-
Senior Mental Health Leads Network: Free Termly Training and Supervision
-
LIFEbeat
-
Creative Practice Training
-
Grief Loss and Change: a whole school approach
-
Mental Health and Wellbeing: relationships with self others and the wider world
-
Relationships and sex education (session for primary and secondary settings)
-
For Trauma Informed Somerset Training, please visit - Trauma Informed Somerset
For Young People
Young People and Their Mental Health course has been created for young people aged over 14 wanting to know more about mental health.
This course is free to access and might also be of interest to parents, caregivers, teachers and medical professionals - www.futurelearn.com/courses/young-people-mental-health
For Parents, Carers and Families
Are you a parent or carer who is concerned about the mental health of your child or teenager?
Do you just want some hints and tips on parenting?
MindEd for Families has advice and information from trusted experts and will help you to understand what problems occur, what you can do to best support your family, and how to take care of yourself. MindEd for Families is written by a team of specialists and parents, working together. You do not need to register to use these resources.
