There is an ever increasing rise in the number of students who require support with their emotional and mental health. Here at The Sixth Form we recognise this, and have numerous resources and strategies, internally and externally, to ensure we are knowledgeable and well equipped to help students as quickly and efficiently as possible.
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Our role in supporting and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing can be summarised as:
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• Prevention: creating a safe and calm environment, improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole sixth population. Equipping students to be resilient so that they can manage the normal stress of life effectively. Teaching students about mental wellbeing through the tutor programme.
• Identification: recognising potential issues as early and accurately as possible and communicating with the sixth form team who in turn will communicate with parents.
• Early support: helping students to access early support and interventions.
• Access to specialist support: working effectively with external agencies to provide swift access or referrals to specialist support and treatment.

Students/ Parents/ Teachers can discuss any concerns they have regarding a pupil’s emotional well-being with the pastoral team. All stakeholders can then make a decision about how best to support the student.
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Early help internal support:

• First response mobile apps
• First response self-help guides (available online)
• Referral to Off the Record
• Referral to Sixth Form Counsellor
• Referral to Kooth

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Early help external support:

• CAMHs
• GP
• Talking Therapies
• Youth connect

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If you have any concerns about your son/daughter’s emotional and mental health please contact the Sixth Form team who will be able to discuss the best approach to support.
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Below are some useful websites that parents and students can access for additional support as well as a list of downloadable resources.

School Nurse Support

Drugs and Gangs

Coping with exam stress

Mental health is often difficult to talk about but 1 in 10 children have a diagnosed mental health problem. Below we have listed a number of links that offer advice and support.
Controlling Anger
Make it count guide for parents
Make it count guide for pupils
Make it count guide for professionals
Anxiety support guide
Stress support guide
Self Harm support guide
Sleep support guide
Apps to support emotional support
Supporting mental health
A Parent's Guide on Teenage Depression
Mental health problems in children and young people
Parents Leaflet interactive

Happy Maps - The aim of HappyMaps is to signpost parents to existing resources on mental health for their families and most of these are relevant for parents wherever they might live.

Kooth - this is a free, online service offering emotional and mental health support for children and young people, aged 11-25. Users can have a drop-in chat with a counsellor, therapist or book a one-to-one session. They have a monitored online forum and users can also record a journal.

Off the Record - Off the Record provides free and confidential mental health support, information and workshops for young people aged 11-25 in Bristol. 0808 808 9120

TESS - TESS is a text and email support service that is run by Self Injury Support, which offers help to girls and young women up to 24 in the UK who are affected by self-harm. 0780 047 2908 (Open Sunday - Friday, 7-9pm). ​

Anorexia & Bulimia Care (ABC) - ABC offers personal, ongoing, emotional support and practical guidance for recovery for people struggling with Anorexia Nervose, Bulimia Nervosa and binge eating, in addition to related self-harm. 03000 11 12 13 ​

Drug & Alcohol Rehabs in Somerset and near Somerset. Find drug and alcohol rehab or outpatient treatment in Somerset. Select from a variety of options, including residential and outpatient rehab treatment to suit your needs.

BEAT - BEAT is the UK's leading charity supporting anyone affected by eating disorders or difficulties with food, weight and shape. Youthline: 0345 634 7650

Bullying UK - Provides advice on all aspects of bullying. 0808 800 2222

Childline - A 24-hour helpline for children and young people to discuss any issues they're concerned about. 0800 1111

Harmless - A voluntary organisation supporting anyone affected by self-harm of suicide.​

National Self Harm Network - Support for individuals who self harm to reduce emotional distress and improve their quality of life. ​

NHS Choices: Young People and Mental Health - An information hub offering young people advice and help on mental health problems including depression, anxiety and stress.

Papyrus - A national charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide among young people. 0800 068 4141

Talk to Frank - Friendly, confidential advice on drugs. 0300 123 6600 / live chat, text: 82111​

The Mix - Support and information about how to cope with various issues, whether it's mental health, money, relationships, finding a job, or drugs. 0808 808 4994​

Thinkuknow - Supporting positive sexual behaviour​

Time to Change - Time to Change is a growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health.

Winston's Wish - A leading childhood bereavement charity offering practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals. 08452 03 04 05​

Young Minds - Young Minds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. 020 7089 5050

Guide to online Safety - Guide to safely raising children in an online world​

Social Media Support
It can seem difficult to keep up-to-date with the technology that students children use. You can find out much more information and support about digital technologies here:
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/How-to-guides/

Keeping your children safe online:
https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/top-antivirus-with-parental-control/

We have also uploaded some PDF guides. You can view these by clicking the links below.
Facebook
Instagram
Kik
Momo
Snapchat
Twitter

Public Health Information
For information on Coronavirus please use the following links to access these posters:
Useful links to resources
Information​