Resources
Support for Children & Young People – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Anna Freud Centre has produced comprehensive guidance for children & young people, parents/carers and professionals to support young people’s mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.
For further support, please visit the COVID-19 section on the website.
Local Resources
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) has produced a Managing Self-Harm Resource Sheet for non-health professionals (e.g. education staff, parents/carers and others) to support children who self-harm.
For all children under 18 years who present with self-harm behaviour in the community, the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton (HIPS) Self-Harm Pathway should be followed to ensure that appropriate support is provided.
The Hampshire County Council Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Strategy
The Hampshire County Council Physical Activity Strategy
The Hampshire Health in Education website is for education staff of all Key Stages to find high-quality and evidence-based information, advice and guidance on a range of health-related categories, including emotional wellbeing and mental health. Information is organised by age group and health topic. This website is frequently updated to ensure the most up-to-date resources are provided. Email contact: healtheducation@hants.gov.uk
School Nurses have a vital role to play in supporting early intervention in the management of emotional health and wellbeing, and may be the first health professional a child or young person discloses low mood or self-harming behaviour to. School nurses follow a defined pathway of care to ensure that appropriate support and resources are offered to enable early intervention in the management of emotional health needs. Assessing the level of risk to the child or young person is a fundamental part of that process with referral onto other appropriate professionals where the risk is deemed higher than Tier 1 (signposting) or Tier 2 (first line care planning). Find out more about the School Nursing Service in Hampshire.
ChatHealth is a free confidential texting service, provided by the school nurse service for young people age 11 – 16. Young people can text 07507 332160 for support.
Hampshire CAMHS
Lots of parents and carers have worries about their child’s mental health and think they need a referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Whilst this is understandable, there are often lots of other things you can try in the first instance. The Hampshire CAMHS Website provides further information on supporting young people with problems and life issues.
The Anna Freud Link Worker Programme is a major national initiative which is being rolled out over 4 years starting from September 2019. The aim of the programme is to bring together education and mental health professionals so that more children and young people get help and support they need, when they need it. The programme centres around 2 full-day workshops which bring together education and mental health professionals working in the same areas. The training programme is funded by the Department for Education and will be delivered by the Anna Freud Centre and training partners. This training is being rolled out across Hampshire, organised by the clinical Commissioning Groups.
As part of the NHS Long-Term Plan an additional national funding was put in place to support roll out of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) between 2018 and 2021. There are currently 2 Mental Health Support Teams in Hampshire, these were set up in 2019 in Havant and Gosport. Further bids for Mental Health Support Teams across Hampshire have been submitted.
National Resources
If you work with children and young people, have a look at the YoungMinds professionals page for resources, tips and advice on things you can do to help young people with their mental health.
Coping with Self Harm- A Guide for Parents and Carers
Young People Who Self Harm- A Guide for School Staff
National Self Harm Network Resources
Advise for Friends, Family and Carers
Bereavement and Loss
There are a number of local and national organisations who can support families, children and young people who are experiencing bereavement and loss. For further information see the professionals page on Bereavement & Loss.