The MK Mental Health Leads Network meets every term and is an opportunity for mental health leads from different schools to meet and discuss cases and issues, as well as access the latest information about what is happening both locally and nationally with mental health initiatives and resources. Representatives from CAMHS, Public Health, Mental Health Support Teams and Educational Psychology Service also attend the meetings. Useful information and resources are also shared via email with network members throughout the year.

If you’d like further information about the network, or would like to join please email liz.nightingale@greenparksch.org.uk

Autism and anxiety Mental Health Lead presentation

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Anna Freud Centre has created a range of helpful resources and toolkits. Toolkits include resources for parents, children and young people, and schools on various themes including:  

• staff and parent wellbeing
• supporting vulnerable children and children with SEND
• transitions
• anxiety

The Anna Freud Centre has also launched its 5 Steps to Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework, a simple, free and interactive tool to help schools and colleges develop a whole setting approach on their own terms. It’s also providing a new series of seminars which look at building a whole school and FE approach to mental health.

The Anna Freud Centre also has a toolkit for staff in school - Let’s talk about anxiety: animation and teacher toolkit (annafreud.org)

In Milton Keynes we are seeing an increase in children and young people experiencing difficulty in attending school due to emotional reasons, like anxiety. Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is a broad umbrella term used to describe this. EBSA can present differently across individuals, but can often involve fear and anxiety, misery, complaints of feeling ill without an obvious cause, and/or reluctance to leave home.

EBSA Guidance for Milton Keynes schools has been developed. The guidance comprises two parts: Information and Practical Support. Both parts aim to draw upon evidence-based theory and practice to provide useful guidance for schools, parents and other professionals when supporting children and young people who experience EBSA. More information, and the EBSA guidance can be found under our EBSA page.

The Department for Education has published the first of the relationships, sex and health education training modules for teachers. This supports them in preparing to deliver content on mental health and wellbeing. The training module on teaching about mental wellbeing has been developed with clinical experts and schools. It will improve teacher confidence in talking and teaching about mental health and wellbeing in the classroom. It was published early given the importance of supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing at this time.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have produced guidance and an overview on Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education.

The BLMK Suicide Prevention Campaign group has produced a communication toolkit, which covers the following areas: 

• What is Mental Health Awareness Week 
• This years theme- Anxiety
• Every Mind Matters
• Cost of Living 
• Mental Health in the Workplace
• Support for Children & Young People
• Ways to support Mental Health Awareness Week  
• Mental Heath Awareness Week Resources
•  Anxiety Support Crisis Support

Mental Health Awareness 2023: Communications toolkit