Beyond Fed Up
The young people of Gloucestershire have told us quite clearly through the Gloucestershire Online Pupil Survey that they are finding it increasingly difficult to keep themselves mentally well. In turn, schools and colleges who are witnessing this decline in emotional health and well-being have asked for advice and support from the Lead Teachers seconded to Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning.
The teaching pack ‘Beyond Fed Up’ has been written by teachers for teachers, with the intention of enabling classroom teachers to tackle this sensitive subject. It aims to help young people to understand their own mental health, to build resilience, know ways in which they can support other young people who are having a difficult time and to recognise when they need to seek help. Nothing can be more important for a young person than having these skills and knowledge.
Education and health are synergistic. Students in better health do better academically. Giving time in school to health education and the development of social and emotional skills boosts both attainment and more importantly, helps keep our young people safe.
Training is also offered in the delivery of ‘Beyond Fed Up’. If you need additional advice or help please contact us on 01452 427208 or at ghll@gloucestershire.gov.uk
This resource is aimed at Key Stages 3 and 4. There are three sessions to this resource but you may feel that slower coverage is better for your students. The focus of the resource is to encourage young people to develop greater emotional resilience and to be aware of the needs of the young people around them; also they should be empowered to seek help if they are concerned about their own feelings or of the emotional health of their peers.
Suicide
Losing a child to suicide is devastating. Schools can help prevent these tragedies
At least 200 children take their own lives each year in the UK. Teachers are in a unique position to support vulnerable pupils, but more awareness is needed
- Harry Biggs-Davison is a former headteacher and trustee of the charity Papyrus
Click here to view the full report from The Guardian - 18/11/2017
The Staying Safe website is a potentially life-saving resource developed by 4 Mental Health, with invaluable with invaluable input from our Expert Reference Group of international academics, people with lived experience (including of surviving a suicide attempt, self-harm, supporting a friend or family member or bereavement by suicide), suicide prevention experts, mental health practitioners, general practitioners, policy makers, public health experts, sector experts, educationalists and concerned citizens.
StayingSafe.net offers compassion, kindness and easy ways to help keep people safer from thoughts of harm and suicide, seek support and discover hope of recovery through powerful videos from people with personal experience.
The website provides vital ‘Safety Plan' guidance tools jointly funded by NHS England, with easy to print / online templates and guidance video tutorials purposefully designed to help people through the process of writing their own Safety Plan to build hope, identify actions and strategies to resist suicidal thoughts and develop positive ways to cope with stress and emotional distress.
Tragically, suicide takes far too many lives, yet suicide is preventable. Anyone struggling to cope or experiencing deep distress may begin to think about harming themselves and consider suicide as a means to escape their emotional pain. It can be incredibly difficult to think clearly during these times. Everyone is encouraged to PREPARE for possible difficult times ahead BEFORE they happen, by completing a Safety Plan.
Staying safe - safety plan template
Helplines for young people
GHLL Accreditation
This resource can help your school work towards the Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning Accreditation. It would help you towards the following outcomes:
• Increase in no of C+YP who show an improvement in mental health
• Increase in no of C+YP who report that they feel confident to support their peers
• Increase in no of C+YP who report feeling confident in their abilities to be resilient and make successful relationships
• Decrease in no of C+YP with measured/reported levels of stress/anxiety
• Increase in no of C+YP who demonstrate greater resilience
• Increase in no of C+YP who report using different methods of managing stress and achieving calm
• Increase in no of C+YP who show empathetic ability
Note to Facilitators
First do no harm. Due to the sensitive issues being discussed, teenagers may share information during the session which raises safeguarding or disclosure issues. If a disclosure is made you should follow your own Safeguarding Children and Information Sharing policies.
It is also useful to make yourself available after the session to talk to those young people who might not have felt comfortable talking in front of the group and offer specific advice if needed.
Prior to this topic, ensure all relevant staff in your establishment are aware you are covering this topic so that they are prepared for any disclosures.
Make sure all young people know who they can go to for support.
To log in and download the GHLL Beyond Fed Up resource, click here
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