Mental Health & Wellbeing
Key Staff
Gemma Roberts – Designated Mental Health Lead gemma.roberts@westpark.derby.sch.uk
Deborah Sheffield – – Designated Safeguarding Lead deborah.sheffield@westpark.derby.sch.uk
Katy - School Counsellor
We have been lucky to have Katy working full time in school since September 2022. Katy is a professionally trained children’s counsellor and works with our pupils in numerous ways:
- Providing short term (6 week) 1:1 counselling sessions to pupils to work through a number of issues that may be having an impact on a pupil’s daily life. Referrals made through HOY/Pastoral team.
- Running weekly group session for pupils to access support for specific needs. Referrals made through HOY/Pastoral team/Form Teachers.
- Providing a space for any of our pupils to drop-in and access MH support for themselves on a Monday morning. Pupils just need to go to the Head Space room at the designated time.
Useful Links
Young Minds – YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Coping with low mood
Self Care Plan
Helpful resources for young people’s mental health
Helplines
Chat Health (a text messaging support service for pupils) -Text messaging advice service launched for Derby’s young people and parents :: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk)
Childline -Childline | Childline
Get Urgent Help -Get Urgent Help | Support If You're Struggling | YoungMinds
Self-referrals
Kooth -Free online counselling for pupils
Build Sound Minds - parents can refer their own children for some 1:1 support that can be provided from home or from school. Referrals can be made here - Make a referral | Action for Children
Chat Health - A text messaging support service for parents
Young Minds Parent Helpline - Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child | YoungMinds
Coping with low mood
School anxiety and refusal
Self Harm
Parent Workshops
We are delighted to be working with Bridge the Gap again this year. Bridge the Gap are a children’s mental health organisation based in Derby who are able to offer support to the parents of our pupils. We invite the parents of pupils in any year group to attend the workshops if they feel that it will help support them.
Parent Workshops take place in the school hall (5-6pm) and are delivered by Nikki Webster (a director at Bridge the Gap and the mental health lead) and a support colleague. You can find out more information about Bridge the Gap here: Child Mental Health Support |Bridge the Gap| Derby England | Emotional Literacy (jwbridgethegap.com)
The workshops offered to parents this year are:
- 3rd October 2023 – Supporting an anxious child
- 12th December 2023 – Low mood and depression
- 30th January 2024 – Self harm
- 12th March 2024 - Exam Stress & Anxiety - Signup for the workshop here
Please look out for information on the school website and letters to parents for details on how to sign up for the workshops.
Other Useful Links
Anna Freud Centre - Anna Freud
Useful MH tips and advice for parents - Mental health and wellbeing - Support for Parents from Action For Children
Young Minds - YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Action for Children - Confidential free 1:1 chat with a parenting coach 1:1 chat - Parent Talk (actionforchildren.org.uk)
Mentally Healthy Schools - Secondary : Mentally Healthy Schools
Students Against Depression - The Students Against Depression - Students Against Depression
Referrals
Build Sound Minds - parents can refer their own children for some 1:1 support that can be provided from home or from school. Referrals can be made here - Make a referral | Action for Children
Trent PTS - anyone over the age of 16 can self-refer to Trent PTS for MH support Trent PTS | Psychological Therapies Service
Talking Therapy for 18+ - Everyturn - Free Talking Therapies
Talking Mental Health Derbyshire - Talking Mental Health Derbyshire :: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk)