Welcome to the Bromley Mental Health and Wellbeing Toolkit

This toolkit has been developed with our local education settings in mind and aims to be a 'one stop shop' for mental health and wellbeing resources and information to our education leaders, teams and staff. This 'live' toolkit will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Please email School.MentalHealthSupport@bromley.gov.uk if you have ideas or feedback to improve the toolkit.

Introduction to the Single Point of Access (SPA) & SEMH pathways in Bromley

Bromley Y - An Introduction to the Service

"Our vision is one in which children can enjoy life growing up in their community."

Gill Allen, Director of Bromley Y

Bromley CAMHS - An Introduction to the Service

Emergency & Crisis Support

SUICIDAL IDEATION - WHAT TO DO IF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR SETTING PRESENTS WITH SUICIDAL SIGNS AND/OR IS SELF-HARMING

• If a child or young person has expressed to you that they are experiencing suicidal thoughts or self harm, listen and respond in a calm and supportive manner.
• Allowing children and young people time to “tell their story” gives them a chance to feel listened to and heard.
• Try to gain as much information as you can about the young person’s experience as this will help to guide decision making about what action needs to be taken and what support needs to be put in place.
• It is important that you follow the school’s local safeguarding procedures.
• It is important that you discuss the limits of confidentiality at the start of the conversation. Ultimately, your main purpose is to ensure they are safe and supported and this might mean sharing information with others close to them or others involved in their care.
• CAMHS Duty Worker - 0208 315 4430 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
• Oxleas Mental Health Urgent Advice Line - 0800 330 8590 (24 hours service)

A child or young person should always go immediately to A&E if:

• Injury could be life-threatening or is serious and needs medical attention
• Self-poisoning (e.g. overdose) or use of a ligature (e.g. cord) is witnessed, suspected or disclosed
• Child is suicidal, has made clear suicidal plans or has attempted to take their own life

The Child’s parent/carer should be informed prior to attending A&E. If the parent/carer cannot be contacted, the professional should take the child or young person to A&E or call an ambulance.

If there is not an an immediate risk but you remain concerned about the level of risk and distress then you could support the child /young person and their family (if appropriate) to access the SLP CAMHS crisis line. This is available to all young people attending Bromley schools.

• SLP CAMHS Crisis Line: 0203 228 5980 (Monday to Friday 5pm-10pm, Weekends/Bank Holidays 9am-10pm)
• You may also need to consider whether a referral into the Single Point of Access (SPA) is required to access Bromley Y or CAMHS.
• It is also important to consider what on going support could be provided within the school setting and within other professional networks currently working with the child or young person.

For cases open to CAMHS or currently on the waiting list for CAMHS you can also contact:

• CAMHS Duty Team - 020 8315 4430 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
• CAMHS Duty Team - 020 8315 4430 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
• Their GP
• Oxleas Mental Health Urgent Advice Line - 0800 330 8590 (24 hours service)

PAPYRUS

PAPYRUS is a suicide prevention charity with a wealth of resources on how to support young people that are not coping with their lives.

PAPYRUS has developed a guide to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention in schools and colleges, aimed specifically at teachers as well as wider school or college staff. It aims to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge necessary to support students who may be having suicidal thoughts. PAPYRUS' guide uses a ‘community-model’ – supporting the belief that suicide is everyone’s business and that the community must be equipped and supported to prevent young suicide – as well as urging children and young people to speak up or ask for help. This underpins our work here at PAPYRUS.

Contact email for PAPYRUS enquiries below:

englandsouth@papyrus-uk.org

FREE SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING

More than 12 people a week take their own life in London alone. If someone was in crisis, would you know what to say? Thrive LDN is leading a campaign to get 100,000 Londoners to take the FREE online suicide prevention training. Thrive LDN and Zero Suicide Alliance have created a training program to help people to be able to identify warning signs and to feel comfortable having conversations about suicide. It only takes 20 minutes. But it could make all the difference to someone in need.

SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS

The Education Safeguarding Officer is able to provide the school with support around safeguarding policy and procedures, advising around general safeguarding, support schools around threshold and also signpost school to support services for their children.

Contact for all schools: Libby Kember (libby.kember@bromley.gov.uk)/ 0208 313 4665

Children and Families Hub - when and how to refer

Our new 'front door' for safeguarding/child protection covers referrals and referrals for Tier 2 Early Help services for Bromley Children's Project and Family Support).

If you think that a child or young person under the age of 18 years old, who lives in the borough, is being abused or neglected, contact the MASH Team using the contact details below. Outside of office hours and at weekends and public holidays contact the 'out of hours contact' service on 030 0303 8671. If you are seriously concerned about a child's immediate safety, dial 999. If you are unsure whether referral to MASH is the right thing to do for the child, please call the team for advice.

Telephone: 020 8461 7373 / 7379 / 7026 - mash@bromley.gov.uk

Safer Schools App - for parent/carers

We know everyone is spending more time at home and using social media to ensure that physical distancing does not become social isolation. The positive power of technology will help keep our community digitally connected but we also know that more time spent online and in isolation by our children can lead to greater levels of risk.

Immediate Advice and Support Available to Your Education Setting

The Team Around Every School Framework is available through the link below, please download the attachment and find the relevant information to your education setting. For particular Mental Health concerns, please refer to your CWS contact (Bromley Community Wellbeing Service)

The Range Of Mental Health Problems Explained

The above link explains the wide range of mental health problems and sets out how it affects your mental health, including how you can help yourself, what treatments are available and how to overcome barriers to getting the right support. The site also includes tips for people who want to support someone who has gone through trauma.

How To Support A Colleague Or Staff Member With Their Mental Health

With one in four adults experiencing mental ill-health in any given year, it is very likely that you will come across a colleague with a mental health difficulty. Knowing how to recognise that they are struggling and feeling confident about helping and supporting them is key; especially as taking early action can prevent problems escalating and help individuals to recover more quickly. The above link sets out some useful tips in how to tactfully approach a colleague about their mental health.

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Useful Resources for all Education Settings In Bromley - A Whole School Approach

The '5 Steps To Mental Health And Wellbeing' framework was introduced at the Mental Health and Well-being Lead networking event in November 2021 as our recommended action planning tool to implement a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. The framework includes a wealth of resources and information for each section and actions and we continue to refer back to the whole school approach and the 5 step framework in our networking events. The framework and website is free to sign up to with a school email address.

If you haven't already identified your Mental Health and Wellbeing lead for your school or college, or if you have any questions about the Mental Health and Wellbeing work in Bromley, please email School.MentalHealthSupport@bromley.gov.uk

The action planning tool is interactive, simple and it's free. It will help you to support staff, lead change, and engage with parents, carers and the community so that you can meet your pupils' and students' needs. By registering, you can move through the steps, in any order, at your own pace and update a personalised action planning tool that can be regularly reviewed. We will continue to support our leads throughout their journey towards a whole school approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing in our network meetings and drop-in sessions.

Free Youth Mental Health Training Available

Youth Mental Health First Aid are open for schools to register their interest in receiving free training, please email: youthmhfa@thriveldn.co.uk

The Signpost - Text Service for 11-18 Year Olds in Bromley

When children are struggling with something, it can be difficult to know where to turn for support. The Signpost offers emotional health support and will help the child or young person to think about what options are available to them. TEXT: 07840 635 025 (monitored Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, excluding Bank Holidays).

School Based Anxiety and Avoidance

Creative Education provides a wealth of practical, engaging online video courses empowering professionals who works with or cares for children to develop their skills at a time that is convenient to them.

During this free one-hour webinar accessed through the link below, Emma Pinnock will share ideas for school staff or families supporting children who are anxious about the return to school. She’ll think about some universal approaches we can take to ensure a successful return for all children as well as thinking about how to identify and support those children for whom the return may be more of a struggle.

All Bromley Mental Health & Wellbeing Leads are provided with access and membership to the Creative Education platform. Contact Sara (sara.groenli@bromley.gov.uk) for more information.

Kooth

Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community with free, safe and anonymous support for children and young people. Please watch their introductory video explaining the offer below.

There are some things that should be done alone, but dealing with our mental wellbeing isn't one of them. Kooth​ is there to support children and young people with whatever they are going through - no matter how big or small it feels. Kooth have created a repository of different resources to help you approach the subject of mental health with young people.

Anna Freud Centre - Introduction to Key Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources

What's On Your Mind? Talking About Mental Health

One of the most important things you can do as a teacher is to talk to your class about mental health in a non-stigmatising way, explaining that it affects us all and is not black and white but a spectrum. The What’s on your Mind? resources by See Me (link and video below) provide some helpful guidance on how to do this.

Childhood Trauma & the Brain

The above video from the Anna Freud Centre provides a general introduction to what happens in the brain after children face traumatic experiences in childhood, like abuse and neglect.

Good Thinking - Self-Care for All

Good Thinking promotes self-care for the four most common mental health conditions: anxiety, sleep problems, low mood and stress. It provides free, 24/7, digital support to Londoners seeking mental health and well-being advice and help.

Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) & Youth Mental Health First Aid

A SEMH e-Digest is distributed to Bromley SENCOs with a special interest in SEMH, each week, term-time. If you would like to receive or contribute to this, please contact Jacob Pereira, Lead SEN Advisory Teacher (ISAT): jacob.pereira@bromley.gov.uk

Home and Hospital Tuition Service - Available Advice and Support

Bromley Home and Hospital Tuition Service provides tuition either in a one-to-one or small group setting, in a library or our Tuition centres. Case Workers facilitate and promote a multi agency collaboration around the child and family whilst proactively supporting the students reintegration back into mainstream school or an alternative setting.

Serena.Brooks@bromley.gov.uk – Home and Hospital Lead Teacher

Nicola.Murtagh@bromley.gov.uk – Home and Hospital Counsellor

Educational Psychology Service

Bromley EP Service is a specialist service that supports Bromley children and young people who have SEND. The service promotes early intervention and preventative evidence based psychology.

Dominic.watson@bromley.gov.uk (Principal Educational Psychologist)

Starting school - Health Information and Contacts

Six Films to Help Children Understand Death and Grief

The Marie Curie 'TalkAbout' magazine have set out six helpful films that can be used for reflection on a child or young person's first experience of bereavement. Whether they are dealing with the loss of a parent, grandparent or even a beloved pet, it can be a confusing and scary time. Watching these films and reflecting on the emotions and responses of the characters could help prepare them for death and understand their grief a bit better.

METRO Snap is a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, queer and questioning young people in Bromley. It's a safe space to meet other LGBTIQ+ young people, get support and have fun. During lockdown, the group is meeting virtually through Zoom and remain in contact with each other.

This group can be contacted on youth@metrocharity.org.uk or 020 8305 5004.

A whole school approach to anti-bullying is cohesive, collective and collaborative action in and by a school community that has been strategically constructed with school leadership to reduce bullying and respond to it appropriately.

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Calming Strategies

The below video teaches children about Calming Strategies with engaging visuals and music. Calming strategies can help a child to work through strong emotions. When calming strategies are practiced regularly throughout the day, the possibility for use at times of anxiety is increased.

Early Years Activities Identifying Feelings and Emotions

This video from Partnership for Children provides an introduction to the early years activity cards available in the link below and includes some top tips and tricks for successfully implementing the activity cards in your setting.

Common Difficulties in Early Years

The below link from the Anna Freud Centre set out common difficulties that you may come across in your Early Years setting. The page explains what the norm is, strategies that you can use, how to support parents and carers and potential impact of the difficulties described.

The Little Book of Wins

Below is a downloadable PDF of The Little Book of Wins (Wellbeing in Novel Situations). It is based on the Five Ways of Wellbeing, an evidence-based approach for boosting wellbeing and resilience in the everyday.

Calm Zone Toolbox

Child Line has developed a Calm Zone toolbox with a range of resources, activities, breathing exercises, games and ways to cope videos.

Learning Network for Early Years Workers

Early Years in Mind was launched by the Anna Freud Centre in June 2020, learning network will offer early years workers guidance and information to help them improve the mental health and development of the babies and children in their care. You will be able to access the full archives of the Anna Freud Centre, aiming to share its learning more widely, and turn its expertise and key research findings into practice. It will also provide opportunities for the Centre to collect insights from those working at a grass roots level.

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Useful Resources for Primary Schools

Headspace For Kids

Headspace for Kids was created to help children be healthy and happy, not just now but for the rest of their lives. And teaching them about meditation early gives them the skills they need to do just that.

Exploring Diversity - Assembly and Lesson Plans

Explore the concept of diversity and how our differences make us special with this assembly, written to be delivered around World Mental Health Day. The link includes lesson plans for ages 4-5, 5-8, 9-11, in addition to activity ideas for the classroom.

How to Start the Conversation About Mental Health

Talking Mental Health from the Anna Freud Centre is an animation designed to help begin conversations about mental health in the classroom and beyond.

Social Media and Healthy Boundaries

Pupils explore the topic of social media and learn actions a person can take to look after their wellbeing online and offline. Please note: This lesson is not suitable for pupils younger than Year 6. It is also important to note that legally, nearly all forms of social media require users to be at least 13 years of age.

Connection and Loneliness - Building Healthy Relationships

Pupils explore the meaning of loneliness and connection. Developed with teachers, this lesson supports pupils to understand that it's normal to feel lonely, but there are strategies they can use to safely build connections with family, friends and their community. Pupils also think about how they can look out for others who might be feeling lonely.

Feelings of Worry and Concern

Help pupils to identify worry and actions they can take if they feel worried. Developed with teachers, this lesson supports pupils to identify the different signs of worry, such as thoughts, feelings, physical signs and actions.

Transition to Secondary School - Dealing with Change

Pupils explore the transition to secondary school and identify strategies to deal with change. Developed with teachers, this PowerPoint and accompanying video help you explore with your class the challenges that can arise with the transition from primary to secondary school, and help pupils identify strategies for managing the change.

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Useful Resources for Secondary Schools

Looking for Peace and Quiet?

You've already got it. In this animation, Headspace's co-founder, Andy Puddicombe, describes the stillness that's present in all our minds so long as we know how to find it. Learning to meditate means getting in touch with that sense of underlying calm. And once we've experienced it, it's always with us, just like the blue sky is there, no matter how stormy the clouds start to look.

Sharing Nudes and Semi-Nudes: How to Respond to an Incident

The sending or posting of nude or semi-nude images, videos or live streams online by young people under the age of 18 could be via social media, gaming platforms, chat apps or forums. It could also involve sharing between devices via services like Apple’s AirDrop which works offline. Alternative terms used by children and young people may include ‘dick pics’ or ‘pics’. All such incidents should be immediately reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or equivalent and managed in line with your setting’s child protection policies. The motivations for taking and sharing nude and semi-nude images, videos and live streams are not always sexually or criminally motivated. This advice does not apply to adults sharing nudes or semi-nudes of under 18-year olds. This is a form of child sexual abuse and must be referred to the police as a matter of urgency.

We All Have Mental Health

The below video animation is aimed at Key stage 3 secondary school pupils (Years 7-9) and created by the Anna Freud Centre. It was developed in collaboration with young people, teachers and mental health experts. The animation aims to give young people of this age a consistent and accessible language to talk about mental health and to know to ask for support when it is needed:

Sleep and Mental Health

Explore the benefits of good quality sleep and learn strategies for better quality sleep. Students will learn the importance of sufficient good quality sleep for good health and how a lack of sleep can affect weight, mood, mental health and ability to learn.

strategies to cope with change and relationships

Explore the nature of change and identify some strategies to help deal with changing situations and relationships. Developed with teachers, this lesson plan, PowerPoint and accompanying videos help you explore with your class the expected and unexpected changes people may face in their lives, and help students identify strategies for managing change.

Coping with Stress

It can be hard to know what to do when you're feeling stressed. In the below video, Childline counsellor Raz talks us through 3 techniques of Mindfulness to try. Everyone's different, so it could be good to work out what feels right for you. Let us know your tips and advice in the comments below.

Dealing with Puberty and Physical Changes

Explore the physical changes that occur during puberty and the effect these can have on an individual's emotions, identity and sexuality. Use this lesson plan, PowerPoint and accompanying videos to explore with your class the physical changes that occur during puberty and the effect these can have on an individual's emotions, identity and sexuality. Using peer-to-peer discussion, scenarios and videos, students will be encouraged to examine the impact of puberty and find ways in which they can seek support if they are finding puberty challenging.

The Impact of Bullying and How to Respond

Examine with your class the meaning and impact of bullying, and discover ways of responding to this type of behaviour. Use this lesson plan, PowerPoint and accompanying video to encourage students to explore the meaning and impact of bullying and cyberbullying. The materials will also enable them to explore appropriate ways of responding to discriminating, hurtful or intimidating behaviour.

Examine with your students the nature of friendships, identify some of the challenges that can arise and think about how to provide effective peer support. Use this lesson plan, PowerPoint and accompanying video to explore with your class the nature of friendship. It'll help you guide students in identifying some of the challenges that can arise in social relationships, as well as thinking about how to provide effective peer support.

The Impact of Alcohol on Young Minds

Help your pupils identify the reasons why some young people choose to drink alcohol and the impact it can have on them. Use this lesson plan, PowerPoint and accompanying videos to explore with your class the reasons why some young people choose to drink alcohol, and the impact this can have on their health, wellbeing and overall lifestyle. Using peer-to-peer discussion, scenarios and videos, students will be encouraged to identify and assess the risks associated with underage or irresponsible drinking, and how to deal with pressure from peers.

Sexual Health Service

The UK has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teenage pregnancies in Europe. A condom is the only form of contraception that protects against both STIs and an unplanned pregnancy.

By getting your students to join the London C-Card scheme you can be sure that they are getting help and support from people who are experienced in talking about sex, relationships and condoms – they won’t be embarrassed so your students don’t need to be either.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is child abuse, with those children and young people who become involved facing significant risks to their physical, emotional and psychological health and wellbeing. CSE is a hidden issue taking place out of public view. Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where the young person (or third person/s) receive ‘something’ (e.g., food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities.

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Useful Resources for College

Leading Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Further Education Sector

The Education and Training Foundation worked with Stuart Rimmer, CEO of East Coast College Group, to curate a group of leaders from across the sector to explore in a conversation key aspect of wellbeing and the challenges this brings in leadership.

The STOPP App

The STOPP skill is a perfect example of CBT in action - an effective way to achieve a better outcome. The STOPP app, The Decider phone app version of the skill, gives users an accessible strategy 24/7 to help manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

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Specialist and Complex Needs Resources

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried about sitting an exam, or having a medical test. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal. But some people find it hard to control their worries and their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives. Research suggests that some anxiety disorders are very common in autistic people. It is unclear exactly how many autistic people have significant levels of anxiety.

Brain in Hand gives easy access to personalised support from an app on your phone. It’s packed with features to help you remember activities, reduce anxiety and feel supported. You can buy Brain in Hand directly from the Brain in Hand website, or download a demonstration of the app from the Google Play or Apple Store first. Alternatively it is available through schemes including Access to Work for those starting work. University students can fund Brain in Hand through their Disabled Students Allowance, while schools can support students to fund Brain in Hand via Education Health and Care Plans, or it can be included in your personal budget support plan.

Molehill Mountain is a free app available through the Google Play and Apple store, designed specifically for individuals on the autistic spectrum to support them in understanding and self-managing their anxiety.

Understanding Autism

MindEd has provided a recorded a free webinar for all education settings to better understand Autism. The webinar is available here (press play, then continue to view the slideshow - you can also download it as a PDF).

Bromley Communication Champions & Autism Champions Padlet

Hannah Little and Amy Rajah, ISAT's Senior Advisory Teachers, recently launched ‘Padlet’ across the Autism Champions and Communication Champions (SLCN) networks. There are several hundred professionals actively engaging with the networks, through all of Bromley’s schools, plus participating local partners.

SEND - Mentally Healthy Schools

SEND is a broad concept that is defined as children who have a significant difficulty with their learning and need additional support from the school. The below link provides an overview of the legal duties, responsibilities and what schools can do to support these children and young people.

The Bromley SEN Service works in partnership with families, education settings, providers and professionals across education, health and care.

The Local Offer in Bromley

The Bromley Local Offer provide information about local services, support and activities available to families, children and young people aged 0 - 25 years with special educational needs or disabilities.

Bromley SENCO Hub

Bromley’s SENCO Hub aims to provide Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) with the most up-to-date and relevant information and resources to support the development of outstanding provision for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

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Useful Resources for Parents

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The external links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. The London Borough of Bromley bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.