Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership

Mental Health of Children and Young People

General support and resources:

  • Understanding Young Minds
  • Child Mental Health: Recognising and responding to issues - NSPCC
  • Mind Your Words - Free eLearning designed to support those working with children and young people with mental health needs.
  • Hub of Hope - The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.
  • Kooth - Please find here a link to our Kooth Sign Up Guide should you wish to support any young people with gaining access to our online community. In addition to all this information, you can request any Kooth services by accessing the Online Kooth Booking Form
  • R;pple - R;pple is a browser tool which aims to minimise the risks of the internet, while harnessing its potential for good. R;pple is an interceptive tool designed to present a visual prompt when a person searches for harmful keywords or phrase relating to the topic of self-harm or suicide. These phrases include any words or terminology which had been identified as displaying potentially damaging online content. The tool discretely intercepts harmful searches and provides signposting to 24/7, free mental health support at a time when individuals are most vulnerable.
  • We all feel it - The NSPCC has launched a new Childline campaign ‘We All Feel It’, which supports young people, particularly males, struggling to reach out for mental health support.  

Trauma and ACES:

Covid-19:

Suicide Awareness and Prevention:

Bereavement Support:

  • Washington MIND – ‘We provide bereavement counselling for young people aged 11+yrs , and if appropriate would be happy to speak with the young people you mention, or their family, regarding how to arrange this. As a loose guide we would usually offer counselling from around 3 months following a bereavement. We also sometimes offer what we call a 'normalising' appointment (horrible term which we don't use with families), to support young people to understand how they are feeling within the context of normal grief. We are currently working with 4 local secondary schools to co-produce materials and model of good practice based on the continuing bonds research.’
  • Community CAMHS – ‘We have a team of counsellors (and of course other staff including family therapists, early years specialists, PWP's and high intensity CBT therapists) in 3 Sunderland bases, at Valley Road Primary in Hendon, Southwick Primary in Southwick and Wessington Primary in Washington. The referral form is on the CCAMHS website, but it needs to be completed by a professional.’ The CCAMHS service is not just for those schools listed, but for any child.

Please ensure that all staff are aware of how to make referrals for young people into bereavement counselling and that these services are involved as part of the Team Around the Family. We are not using them enough, as far as I can see. It should be the first thing we consider when there has been a bereavement (even a long time ago) and a child is struggling with their mental health and/or behaviour.

Website by: Taylorfitch