Mental Health and Wellbeing

During these unusual times looking after our mental health and well being is more important than ever. The effects of Covid-19 and lockdown on the mental health and wellbeing of our children may still yet to be seen. We have created this page to provide your children with the tools for self care that they may need upon return to school. You will also find support here for looking after you own mental health and wellbeing. 

Get Active!    

It has been proven that exercise is important for maintaining positive health and wellbeing. Why not have a go at different  PE activities as a family and lift your mood and keep active.

We love using GoNoodle at school, you could access this at home too! Getting outside and making the most of the sunshine, exploring and going on walks, is also good for wellbeing.

Useful Information 

Helping my child return to school after Coronavirus

As we return to school and are still in the midst of the Coranvirus pandemic, it is a good opportunity to consider how your child is feeling and how we can prepare them emotionally and psychologically for the ever changing situation. We have been through unusual and unsettling times. This booklet anticipates some of the difficulties and anxieties that our children may be feeling. Advice for successful transitions reminds us to focus on relationships as well as recognising the growth, development and learning that has occurred while our children have not been in the school over recent months. We should also remember that transition is not just an experience for the individual child but for everyone around the child.

Child Friendly Information

Here is a child friendly book:

What is Coronavirus?

These additional social stories may useful in light of potential school opening for some children & to prepare children for the changes they may see around them - such as, getting a haircut / going to the doctors/ greeting people / visiting shops and families. 

What is social distancing?

Coming back to school in a bubble

Returning to school during Covid 19

Going back to school

Masks and Face Shields

Seeing other people wearing masks

Doctor visits during Covid 19

Haircuts during Covid 19

 Wellbeing ideas and activities 

Take a look at the range of resources below that you can use with your child to support positive mental health and wellbeing. 

• Here is a document that has been provided for schools. It has a range of ideas for promoting the mental health and wellbeing of children upon returning to school. It is designed for teacher use however there are some lovely actiities that can be done at home if you wish. Activities to prepare for returning to school. 

• 7 ways to support children and young people who are worried; clinicians at the Anna Freud Centre have developed seven ways that they consider to be best practice in responding to children and young people’s fears.

• Mindfulness calendar; daily five-minute activities with suggested short mindfulness activities for each day

• 7 days of kindness calendar which encourages primary aged children to do two kind things each day – one for someone else, and one for themselves. 

• Self Care Summer  Self-care is all about what you can do to help yourself feel better or to keep yourself feeling good. It’s a way that we can look after our own mental health and wellbeing. It can help your body and mind to relax, drift away, or be more energised. These activities are designed to help improve mood. 

• Follow this link for a range of mindfulness ideas https://www.firstdiscoverers.co.uk/mindfulness-activities-kids/

Practising these skills of mindfulness and focusing can be hugely beneficial to children in several ways:

• It helps to increase their attention span
• It helps them to understand and regulate their emotions
• It helps with stress management and general wellbeing
• It helps them become more aware of their bodies and their senses
• It helps to build a connection with the natural world
• It helps them to develop empathy and compassion for others

Online Safety

At this time, there may be an increased use of screens and the internet and Online Safety is therefore more important than ever. If you click on our Online Safety page on the website, https://www.britanniaprimary.co.uk/page/online-safety/53953, there are lots of useful guides and tips on there also. The Online Safety page can be found under the purple ‘Parents’ tab on the homepage of our school website. There are a wealth of websites, guides etc on here which are useful to support your child with keeping themselves safe online, not just during this time, but always when they are using the internet. 

Positive mental health and wellbeing for all the family 

If you or someone you know needs support with mental health please speak to us at school and we will do all we can to help. Alternatively, you can also find support through websites below; 

 For support on specific mental health needs:

 Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk

OCD UK www.ocduk.org

Depression Alliance www.depressoinalliance.org

Eating Disorders www.b-eat.co.uk and www.inourhands.com

National Self-Harm Network www.nshn.co.uk  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