Mental Health and Wellbeing

We know that life can be really challenging for both children and adults and that sometimes this can affect our wellbeing and mental health. At Longcot and Fernham C of E Primary School we firmly believe that being mental wellness is vital for us to cope with day-to-day life and that mental health and wellbeing need to be a high priority in order for children to be ready for learning. On this page we will be sharing ideas about how to support your own and your child's wellbeing and mental health. 

What is Mental Health

We all have mental health. Mental health is about our feelings, our thinking, our emotions and our moods. Looking after our mental health is important. We all have ‘small’ feelings every day. These sometimes feel strong and overwhelming, whether happy or sad, but they go away before too long. Sometimes we experience ‘big’ feelings: These can feel strong and overwhelming for a long time. They stop us doing what we want to in our lives. When this is the case, it is important that we access support, whether we are an adult or a child.

How can help my child’s mental health?

1. Make conversations about mental health a normal part of life: Anywhere is a good place to talk; in the car, walking the dog or cooking together. Model everyday talk about feelings such as by talking about a TV character’s feelings.

2. Give your full attention: We all know it’s horrible to be half listened to. Keep eye contact, focus on the child and ignore distractions.

3. Check your body language: Try to keep it open and relaxed and make sure you come down to the child’s level.

4. Take it seriously: Don’t downplay what the child is saying or tell them they’re “just being silly”. Resist the urge to reassure them that everything is fine.

5. Ask open questions: Such as “How did your day go today?” This will help to extend the conversation.

6. Calmly stay with the feelings that arise: It can be our automatic reaction to steer away from difficult emotions.

7. Offer empathy rather than solutions: Show that you accept what they are telling you but don’t try to solve the problem.

8. Remember we are all different: Respect and value the child’s feelings, even though they may be different to yours.

9. Look for clues about feelings: Listen to the child’s words, tone of voice and body language.

10. Some ways to start a conversation about feelings might be: “How are you feeling at the moment?” “You don’t seem your usual self. Do you want to talk about it?” “I’m happy to listen if you need a chat.”

Signposting

Whether you're concerned about yourself or a loved one, these mental health charities, organisations and support groups can offer expert advice. Please don't hesitate to contact us at Longcot and Fernham CE Primary School if you would like any more help or advice.
 

Find an urgent mental health helpline

If you need help during a mental health crisis or emergency, NHS urgent mental health helplines provide:

Anxiety UK

Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. A charity providing a mental health helpline and webchat.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men's Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0300 772 9844 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your
phone provider's Access Charge
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
Email: sarah@nopanic.org.uk

OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per
minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org

PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9am to midnight, every day of the year)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org

Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it
most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support

YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)

NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.refuge.org.uk

Alcohol misuse

Alcoholics Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.u...

Al-Anon
Al-Anon is a free self-help “12 step” group for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else's drinking
Phone: 0800 0086 811 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

Drinkline
A free confidential helpline for people worried about their own or someone else's drinking.
Phone: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)

National Association for Children of Alcoholics
National Association for Children of Alcoholics offers free confidential advice and information to everyone affected by a parent’s drinking including children, adults and professionals.
Phone: 0800 358 3456 (Friday, Saturday and Monday 12pm to 7pm and Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday 12pm to 9pm)
Website: https://www.nacoa.org.uk/

SMART Recovery UK
SMART Recovery UK face-to-face and online groups help people decide whether they have a problem with alcohol and drugs, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.
Phone: 0330 053 6022 for general enquiries about SMART Recovery UK (9am to
5pm, Monday-Friday)
Website: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/
 

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on
weekends)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Bereavement

Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.cruse.org.uk

Crime victims

Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.victimsupport.org

Drug misuse

Cocaine Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0800 612 0225 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: https://cocaineanonymous.org.u...

FRANK
Free, confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law.
FRANK's live chat service runs daily from 2pm to 6pm.
Phone: 0300 1236600 (24-hour helpline)
Text a question to: 82111
Website: https://www.talktofrank.com/

Marijuana Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using marijuana
with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0300 124 0373 (callback service)
Website: http://www.marijuana-anonymous...
 

Narcotics Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using drugs with
the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
Website: www.ukna.org

SMART Recovery UK
SMART Recovery UK face-to-face and online groups help people decide whether
they have a problem with alcohol and drugs, build up their motivation to change,
and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.
Phone: 0330 053 6022 for general enquiries about SMART Recovery UK (9am to
5pm, Monday-Friday)
Website: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/

Eating disorders

Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
 

Gambling

Gamblers Anonymous
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping gambling with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 0330 094 0322 (24-hour)
Website: https://www.gamblersanonymous....

Gam-Anon
A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme is for those affected by someone else’s gambling with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.
Phone: 08700 50 88 80
Website: www.gamanon.org.uk

National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
Website: www.begambleaware.org
 

National Problem Gambling Clinic
A specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers aged 13 and over.
Phone: 020 7381 7722 (callback)
Website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/servic...

Learning disabilities

Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.mencap.org.uk

Parenting

Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday,
10am to 3pm)
Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Relationships

Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
Website: www.relate.org.uk