Mental Health & Wellbeing
Miss Chamberlain 
Mental Health & Wellbeing leader.
Information for Parents and Carers
Southfield Junior School take the emotional health and wellbeing of every child seriously. We believe that the school can help pupils build resilience and support them to be mentally healthy. Our mental health and wellbeing policy sets out how we do this. Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy
We all have ups and downs in life but in childhood it can be particularly hard to cope with sad feelings and worries that arise when things are hard or scary. There may be times when your child is unhappy or struggling emotionally. You may notice that they seem low or worried or that their behaviour changes. We may notice that they seem withdrawn or upset at school.
If you are worried about your child’s mental health then you are not alone. Many parents and carers have similar worries and stresses . There is good support available from local and national organisations. The sooner you seek help the better for your child and you.
The leaflet: Mental health problems in children and young people: guidance for parents and carers provides some useful tips for helping your child plus links to local and national services.
Zones of Regulation
At Eastrop and Southfield we have been using The Zones of Regulation in small groups and have now introduced to the whole school.
Created by Leah Kuypers, Zones of regulation is a curriculum used to support young people in understanding and expressing their emotions, promoting self-regulation.
We have introduced the zones in classes and in assemblies and the main message to all children to start with is it's okay to feel any of these emotions.
It's how we react when we are experiencing these strong feelings that matters!
I will be setting a date soon at both schools to be able to provide more information on the Zones and how they can also be used at home.
Local services for children & young people
- The School
Please talk to us about your concerns, so that we can work together to help your child feel better. Miss Chamberlain works on a Monday and Tuesday and can be contacted via the school admin office.
- Your GP
A GP can check any physical symptoms linked to your child’s health and talk with you about their emotional well-being making a referral to a specialist service if necessary.
Websites that offer information and advice
The following organisations provide reliable information and advice to help parent/carers to support their child when experiencing emotional difficulties :-
Young Minds: - Help for Parents
Information about all aspects of child mental health, including a Parent Helpline 0800 802 5544
You’re Never too Young to Talk Mental Health
Leaflet for parent/carers of primary aged children
Taking Mental Health with Young People at Secondary School:
Advice for parents and carers of primary aged young people
Self-Care – Top Tips for Young Parents and Carers
Advice for taking care of your own and child’s wellbeing
Lots of information and tips for children of all ages about feelings and difficult situations
Free learning resource about mental health for parents and carers
Lots of information about health topics including mental health, organised under different age groups i.e under 5’s primary age, secondary age, young adults
Leaflets on a range of topics to support your family’s mental health
24/7 text messaging help service for parents
Expert led podcasts to help you understand and support mental health issues
Anxiety Presentation for Parents
A Power Point presentation to help parents understand anxiety
There are lots of fantastic book suggestions on BooksforTopics: Mental Health if you would like to ask your local library or buy one for home.
Looking after your own mental health
In order to support your child, you need to stay strong and well yourself. It isn’t easy being a parent or carer especially when you are experiencing problems of your own such as relationship difficulties, money worries, problems with work. Often it helps to talk to someone, so don’t be scared about doing this, with friends, family, your GP or a support service. The following organisations can also offer information and advice to help you.
Samaritans Tel: free confidential listening service 116 123
NHS Choices: moodzone Helps manage stress, anxiety, depression. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing
CALM Campaign against living miserably
Information and help around mental health particularly focussing on men
Swindon Mental Health Award
Southfield and Eastrop have both recently been awarded the Swindon Mental Health Award to add to our national award, Wellbeing Award for Schools. Both awards recognise our ongoing, outstanding work towards developing the support of mental health.