Wellbeing and Mental Health Resources
Medway local authority has created some excellent resources focusing on adult and children's mental health at this difficult time. Please find them in the Page Downloads below. Parents may wish to use the 'lesson plan' as a family.
Books which deal with emotions
In the Page Downloads section below, you will find two useful documents. One is called Planning Using Books Which Deal With Emotions and the other is Books Which Deal With Emotions and Which Could Drive Activities. These can be used by parents or teachers and are useful in giving a context to children to talk about how they are feeling and to make sense of an ever-changing world.
Websites
The following are links to websites and agencies parents may consider to help their children understand the Coronavirus and the current situation we all find ourselves in. Thank you to the Essex Local Offer team for sourcing the majority of these websites. We will add more as we come across them:
UNICEF gives six ways parents can support their children: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/6-ways-parents-can-support-their-kids-through-coronavirus-covid-19
Zero to Three includes at home activity guides:
MindEd educational resources for adults about children and young people’s mental health, which is relevant for parents and carers as well as volunteers, teachers, and other professionals working with children.
The Every Mind Matters platform which supports looking after your own and other’s mental health
Here you will find guidance on looking after wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Here you will find guidance on supporting children’s wellbeing and mental health.
Mental Health at Work have created a website called Our Frontline. This is to support key workers during this difficult time. Access teh support here: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ourfrontline/?utm_source=MIND%20%28THE%20NATIONAL%20ASSOCIATION%20FOR%20MENTAL%20HEALTH%29&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11514198_HTWW_MHAW_1_May_Manual_SP_oneoff&dm_i=CZC,6USEU,UB52YS,RHTQN,1
YMCA Essex is a charitable organisation that has served the community of Essex for many years. As ever, we stand ready to support children, young people and families across the county during these difficult times. Should you need support, you can complete our request form below and we will put you in touch with the right person or team that can speak with you and help you with any query, support or advice you may need just now. Alternatively, our Family Support, Digital Youth Work, Early Years Online and Housing and Welfare Benefits webpages may also help answer some of your queries and give you and your household additional suggestions on how to keep busy, active and healthy during the coming weeks and months. Access the resources here: http://www.ymcaessex.org.uk/coronavirus-response/
Leader in Me
Leader in Me is an evidence-based, comprehensive-school improvement model—developed in partnership with educators—that empowers pupils with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. This is something we at Magna Carta are looking to become involved in. It is based on the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The owners, Franklin Covey have kindly made some resources free for parents and children to use at home while schools are closed. Click on the link to read more and to access the resources: https://www.leaderinme.org/family-resources/#section6
DfE Wellbeing Resources
The DfE have published an extensive list of resources which are free of charge to support children's education at home. Here are the Wellbeing resources:
CAFCASS Co-Parent Hub
A free online resource for separated families linking together expertise from across the family justice sector, has been launched. We have been working with colleagues at the Ministry of Justice to launch this website to help families maintain co-parenting arrangements during this uncertain and stressful time. The Co-Parent Hub can be accessed here.
Domestic Abuse chat lines
During the COVID-19 social isolation/social distancing period we know that there will be victims of domestic abuse living with the perpetrator who are not able to call others for support or help if needed. If this applies to you or someone you know, please consider the support below.
National Live chats and survivor forums;
- Women’s Aid Survivors Forum: https://survivorsforum.womensaid.org.uk/
- Women’s Aid Live Chat: https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
- Victim Support Live Chat: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/live-chat
Essex based;
- Changing Pathways - https://changingpathways.org/
- Next Chapter https://www.thenextchapter.org.uk/
- Perpetrator – Respect phone line (for any one worried they may be harming someone else) - 0808 8021414
Little Havens Bereavement Support Line
Havens Hospice Bereavement Support Line which was set up this week to support anybody who is bereaved directly or indirectly as a result of Coronavirus and is available to anybody living in Essex. Access the support here: https://www.havenshospices.org.uk/coronavirus-crisis-bereavement-line/. If your family have been affected in this way, please let us know so we can support your family.