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Mental Health and Well-being

Supporting Mental Health and Well-being

To support families during the pandemic, we have created a new pastoral help page with useful links and advice about well-being and mental health. 

Please visit our help page be clicking here:  Mental Health and Well-being

If you or a member of your family are struggling please ring a member of the school safeguarding team below 0151 638 8131

Safeguarding Lead: Mr Gareth Evans (Deputy Headteacher)

Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Sam Denheyer (Pupil Services)

  • Mr Ray Sinclair (Assistant Headteacher)
  • Mrs Cheryl Danher (Assistant Headteacher Sixth Form)
  • Mrs Nicola Treanor (SENCO)

Please see our Well Being booklet.
It is for pupils and their parents/carers to look at and use as discussion points for wellbeing.


Wirral Council Helpline

In response to the current health crisis, a dedicated free phone helpline has been set up by Wirral Council to support young people who may be struggling.

The helpline, which will be staffed by professionals from across the council’s children’s services who are experienced in dealing with young people, will be open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. All calls made to the number will be free.

Young people across the borough are being encouraged to call the number if they are feeling unsafe for any reason or have any worries at all. All calls will be treated as confidential with staff providing support in whatever way they can, to show Wirral’s young people they don’t have to struggle on their own.

Urgent Mental and Emotional Health Support Line

Cheshire and Wirral Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) has launched a new 24 hour mental health helpline which can be accessed by all Wirral residents (of all ages including children and young people) who need urgent support. If you need urgent support for your mental health, please call their mental health helpline on the new free phone number 0800 145 6485 and their dedicated local staff will support you to access the help you need.

For more information, visit their website: www.cwp.nhs.uk/crisis

 


Wirral Mind

Chat Health Wirral is a confidential advice and support page for 11-19 year old students. 


Conversastions About Mental Health 

You can download a poster at the bottom of this webpage which you can use as a parent/carer to support you having a conversation about your child's mental health and well-being. 

 


Wirral InfoBank

Wirral InfoBank is a Directory of local care and support services, community resources, activities and information. Visit us now and see what you can find!

www.wirralinfobank.co.uk

 


Please look under the sections below for additional support and guidance...


Bereavement
 

https://www.mymind.org.uk/resources/relationships/loss/children-and-young-people/

Follow the My Mind link to find resources to support children cope with bereavement. Links provided include; Child Bereavement UK

https://www.childbereavementuk.org/young-people

Read about the experiences of young people who have been bereaved, watch videos and download their app. There is also a live chat service available.

Winston’s Wish

https://www.winstonswish.org/about-us/

Supports bereaved young people, their families and professionals. They have a section for Young People that offers support & advice.

Hope Again

https://www.hopeagain.org.uk/

Cruse Bereavement Care launched this website designed for young people by young people for those living after loss.

Helping Kids Grieve

https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/grief/

Resources by Sesame Street Communities to help you grieve. This is good site for young children as it has Sesame Street videos (approx. 3 mins) with advice for parents underneath.

Bereavement Support Resources

Mental Health 

Concerns about Mental Health

CWP Mental Health Helpline

0300 303 3972

If you need urgent mental health help please call 0300 303 3972 and our dedicated local NHS staff will support you to access the help you need;

  • The helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is open to people of all ages – including children and young people;
  • The helpline is now the first port of call for mental health help – it is operated by people in your local area who will know how best to support you. If you call NHS111 you may have to wait longer for help and will be re-directed to this local service – so call 0300 303 3972;
  • Please note, A&E and 999 are not the best places to get help for the majority of mental health problems – call 0300 303 3972 to be directed to the best local service to support you;
  • You should still call 999 or go to A&E if you have an immediate, life-threatening emergency requiring mental or physical health assistance;
  • For non-urgent help and general wellbeing advice, the CWP website contains information and links to resources to support people with anxiety, low mood, and worries relating to the current Covid-19 pandemic www.cwp.nhs.uk
  • For children and young people there is also a dedicated website MyMind.org.uk

Wirral CAMHS Mental Health Support Team

The cases that the Mental Health Support Team accept are mild to moderate, if there are any that are moderate to severe they will be referred to other services to ensure they receive the correct support. All referrals must be made through discussion with the school and permission of parents. Support is adaptable to the school needs but some of the ways she can support include;

  • workshops for parents via video- these could include support for anxiety and low mood. 
  • 1:1 basis Cognitive Behaviour Therapy parent based interventions on anxiety or behaviour. 
  • Children on a 1:1 basis via telephone/video consultations doing CBT based low intensity interventions. (low mood, sleep hygiene, phobia, a range of anxieties such as social anxiety, health anxiety, separation anxiety, generalised anxiety etc.) 
  • Weekly videos for the children on various topics to help try and support the children at home. The topics for these can also be; corona virus, worry time, absorbing activities, schedules, sleep hygiene, breathing strategies etc.

Get in touch with our pastoral team if you would like some support from CAMHS

Additional information and support

Click here: www.mymind.org.uk - Coping with Coronavirus

There are 8 categories to choose from;

  • Anxious about coronavirus? (Covid-19)
  • YoungMinds-Self Isolation
  • Coronavirus Social Story
  • Helpful information for children (Place2Be)
  • Coronavirus-Supporting Children (Bereavement UK)
  • CAMHS Covoid-19 Advice (Winsford CAMHS)
  • Wirral inforBank
  • Guidance for parents and carers

Click here: www.mind.org.uk - Coronavirus and Well-Being

Includes information about taking care of your mental health and wellbeing.

  • Handwashing and anxiety
  • Connect with people
  • Decide your routine
  • Try to keep active
  • Get as much sunlight, fresh air and nature as you can
  • Find ways to spend your time
  • Keep your mind stimulated
  • Take care with news and information
  • If you're feeling anxious
  • If your feeling claustrophobic or trapped

Click here: Every Mind Matters

Looking after your mental health is so important. The NHS have set up this site to offer support and advice. Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. This site has expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.


Safeguarding Children 10 Top Tips Parent Resource

This resource is designed to offer advice on how parents can safeguard their child/ren's mental health and promote their wellbeing and is available as a document and short video presentation.

The link to both resources is here:  Top Tips for Parents

Anxiety 

Click here: NSPCC - Coronavirus Advice and Support for Families

Topics to choose from;

  • Talking to children worried about coronavirus
  • Working from home
  • Keeping children safe from abuse
  • Staying home alone
  • Lockdown and separated parents
  • Supporting SEND children
  • How to cope with tantrums
  • Online safety
  • Types of abuse

Click Here: NSPCC - Keeping Children Safe

If your child is anxious or worried about coronavirus (COVID-19), there are things you can do to help. And if they're struggling with their mental health, we have advice to help you support them and keep them safe.

There's a lot of uncertainty in the world at the moment. And there won't always be answers to the questions your children are asking. But we can help you have these conversations in a safe and open way.

  • Talk about feelings and worries
  • Keep in touch with family and friends and balance screen-time
  • Try to create structure and routine
  • Help give children a sense of control

Domestic Abuse 

Advice and information is available by telephone, text message or online services. Sources of support are listed below, and you can find examples of coercive or controlling behaviour at the Women’s Aid website.

Who to contact

If you, your child or anyone in the family are at immediate risk of harm, you should contact the police urgently, CALL 999.

If you are a Wirral resident and are experiencing domestic abuse or believe someone you know is, please contact 

Wirral Integrated Front Door: 0151 606 2008 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) 

Outside of these hours please call the Emergency Duty Team on 0151 677 6557.

www.victimcaremerseyside.org
www.itsneverokwirral.org/


Further support

Wirral Family Safety Unit: Independent Domestic Violence Advisors will continue to offer telephone support to victims of domestic abuse, and to all victims where risk of ‘harmful practices’ needs to be explored (forced marriage, honour-based abuse and female genital mutilation (FGM). Call an advisor on 0151 666 4914.

Tomorrow’s Women Wirral: The team is in regular contact with women during this difficult time. Please call 0151 647 7907 if you need help, and one of the team will offer advice and a listening ear.

Wirral Women and Children’s Aid: Provides a 24/7 helpline. Please call 0151 643 9366 for guidance and support. Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

National Domestic Violence Helpline0808 2000 247 (24 hours) 

Worst Kept Secret Helpline0800 028 3398

Refugewww.refuge.org.uk0808 200 0247 (24 hours). The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors: 0808 801 0327

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline0800 999 542


Help for those Concerned about their own Behaviour

Respect Phoneline Covid-19 Campaign

Many families and relationships will feel increased pressure and for those living with domestic abuse, this could cause serious harm.

The Respect Phoneline is a key source of support for people concerned about their behaviour and wanting to manage and change it. Now more than ever, the Respect Phoneline will be critical to family members and others who are finding it difficult to manage their behaviour during this difficult time.

If you are struggling with your own behaviour at home please contact the Respect Phoneline using the contact information below:

Website: www.respectphoneline.org.uk

Call: 0808 8024040

Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Webchat: Thurs & Fri 10am-11am & 3pm-4pm

Email: info@respectphoneline.org.uk

Useful Links 

Emergency Food 

Wirral Council and community food providers have come together to make sure vulnerable residents don’t go hungry during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Please check if you are eligible for free school meals support click Free School Meals


Emergency Food Hub

This is a partnership between the council and community food providers provides a single point of contact for residents who need urgent help to get food.

Residents should visit www.wirral.gov.uk/foodhelp to give their details or phone the Wirral Coronavirus Helpline on 0151 666 5050 if they can’t go online, or have problems completing the form.


Emergency Food Support

Please see the link below which describes how families can access emergency food support:

https://www.wirral.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-updates/emergency-food


Claremount Church Social Supermarket

Open

Thursdays 3-5pm 

Fridays 1-3pm. 

They get fresh deliveries every Thursday. Produce is half of the price of what you would pay in the local supermarket.  They also have surplus stock from Morrisons which is given out for free. 

Facebook @claremountHUB - social supermarket 


The Hive in Birkenhead 

The Hive offer free meals at lunchtime as a takeaway service. Find out more below. 

Click here: The Hive