Kooth – free, safe and anonymous online advice for young people

Kooth is a free mental health resource, where you can access safe, anonymous support for children and young people aged 11-24 years.

If you are concerned about your child’s emotional or mental health, the following two websites offer support, including an online counselling service and a parent helpline:

Kooth – free, safe and anonymous online advice for young people www.kooth.com

XenZone is a provider of online mental health services for children, young people and adults. Kooth, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.

Online counsellors: Monday to Friday 12pm to 10pm; Saturday and Sunday 6pm to 10pm.

You can access the Kooth app from your phone, and support is available until 10pm. Read the exerpt from Kooth's website below to learn more about them and the services they offer.

About Kooth

Kooth is the UK’s leading digital mental health platform for under 18s. Founded in 2001, the service now provides mental wellbeing support to hundreds of thousands of young people, available in more than 80% of England and Wales.

The service is commissioned in local areas by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which allow young people to access it free of charge, whilst staying completely anonymous.

Once a user visits the site, they are able to access peer support through discussion boards, access a library of 100,000+ help articles and even talk to a counsellor live via chat, free of charge.

Have a look here to learn about Kooth's #DontDoItAlone campaign.

Take a look at the link below to learn more about Kooth.

Kooth's Providing an Online Service brochure Final 280322 (1)

Young Minds

Young Minds – children and young people’s mental health charity https://youngminds.org.uk

Young Minds Parents helpline: 0808 802 5544 Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4pm

Mental Health Support Team Podcast

The MHST has created an exciting new podcast for Children and Young People. The podcast will include hints and tips on promoting positive mental health and discuss different ways to get involved with our monthly awareness topics. We hope you enjoy listening to our podcasts and we look forward to hearing what you think. If you would like to give some feedback you can click on this link: MHST Podcast Evaluation Questionnaire

Below are just some of the many podcasts to listen to:

How to show yourself some self love - click here for the podcast: https://www.lpft.nhs.uk/young-...

Health and Nutrition https://www.lpft.nhs.uk/young-...

Getting enough sleep https://anchor.fm/lpft-nhs/epi...

Stress Busters https://anchor.fm/lpft-nhs/epi...

Loneliness Week https://anchor.fm/lpft-nhs

MHST adds a new podcast each week, so keep checking back here to listen to their latest releases. You can also find them to listen to on anchor.fm.

MHST have also just released their Summer/Autumn newsletter - you can read it here: Autum term MHST school newsletter.

NHS Mental Health - the five ways to wellbeing

The 5 ways to wellbeing are a great place to start for anyone who is struggling with their emotional and mental health and wellbeing. They are:

Connect
Be Active
Keep Learning
Give
Take Notice

Further details can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/

Psychology Tools

For those of you with time to look at something more lengthy with guidance on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) exercises, a guide entitled ‘Free Guide to Living with Worry and Anxiety amidst Global Uncertainty’ can be found here:

https://www.psychologytools.com/articles/free-guide-to-living-with-worry-and-anxiety-amidst-global-uncertainty/

Educate Against Hate

Educate against hate Information and support for parents/carers on the issues surrounding extremism and radicalisation and how to protect your child. http://educateagainsthate.com/parents/

Disrespect Nobody

Disrespect Nobody. Find out about health relationships, relationship abuse, consent, rape and pornography https://www.disrespectnobody.co.uk

Youth Mental Health Day

Youth Mental Health Day is on 19th September. See below a guide on how to connect meaningfully for adults.

Youth Mental Health Day Guide for Adults

Athena School and Wellbeing Plans

2022 - 2023 Athena School Dates of Importance / Events for MH and Wellbeing:

The following dates will be acknowledged by Athena School, with both pupils and staff, to contribute towards our whole school approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing. The immersion of different Mental Health and Wellbeing topics across the school calendar helps to normalise dialogue amongst staff and pupils regarding Mental health and will hopefully contribute to positive wellbeing for all.

2022-2023 Academic Year

September
10^th September	World Suicide Prevention Day https://www.rethink.org/get-involved/awareness-days-and-events/world-suicide-prevention-day/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwit_8BRCoARIsAIx3Rj4SFn-vG9ip3uAmB0NJeJ2k892ZE0H3dj9T0uRP6CtA83JEQGZS2rQaAu1mEALw_wcB https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/world-suicide-prevention-day/
16^th September	National Teaching Assistant’s Day Send postcards from pupils / Celebrate teaching assistants / Token of appreciation https://www.nationalteachingassistantsday.co.uk/
12^th to 18^th September	Sexual Health Week – to be included in RSE/PSHE https://www.brook.org.uk/shw/
19^th September	Youth Mental Health Day https://stem4.org.uk/youthmentalhealthday/
20^th to 25^th September	International week of happiness at work Staff wellbeing focus / Opportunity to launch social ideas for the new academic year https://internationalweekofhappinessatwork.com/

October
All of October	Black History Month – to be included in history planning Themed conversations / Link in with history / KS3 REAL projects https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/
5^th October	World Teacher’s Day Send postcards from pupils / Celebrate teachers / Token of appreciation https://www.unesco.org/en/days/teachers-day
10^th October	World Mental Health Day / Athena Mental Health Week Activities / focus days each day / fundraising day for ‘Mind’ / use themed resources from Mind - stick to their annual theme. https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/ https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day The official theme is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’ and we’ll be exploring how we can put mental health at the top of our personal agenda, and how to create social and work environments that are conducive to looking after number one first.
10^th to 14^th October	National Work Life Week / OCD Awareness Week Breakfast activities / discussions https://workingfamilies.org.uk/campaigns/national-work-life-week/ https://www.rethink.org/get-involved/awareness-days-and-events/ocd-awareness-week/
11^th October	National Coming Out Day – LGBT+ Group Discuss with LGBT+ group / Use as opportunity to publicise the group as open space for pupils https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/why-do-we-need-national-coming-out-day

November
All Month	Men’s Health Awareness Month https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/general
2^nd November	National Stress Awareness Day Stress discussions / workshops for staff and pupils https://nationaltoday.com/national-stress-awareness-day/ https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/health-and-wellbeing/
7^th to 11^th November	International Stress Awareness Week Strategies to cope with stress / Mindfulness, fitness activities, planned wellbeing activity https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress-awareness-week
13^th November	World Kindness Day Random acts of kindness / Athena kindness challenge https://www.kindnessuk.com/world_kindness_day_kindness_day_uk.php
14^th to 18^th November	Anti-Bullying Week Workshops / structured conversations https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/resources-to-help-you-celebrate-anti-bullying-week-2022 Anti-Bullying Week (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)
19^th November	International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day https://www.leedsmind.org.uk/suicide-loss-day-2021/ International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day \| AFSP
25^th November to 10^th December	16 days of activism against gender-based violence https://16dayscampaign.org/

February

2^nd February

Time to talk day

Resources shared for breakfast time

https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/time-to-talk-day-2022/

https://timetotalkday.co.uk/

6^th to 12^th February

Children’s Mental Health Week

Discussions / activities carried out throughout the week - evidence collected

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/

8^th February

Safer Internet Day - E safety ambassadors

Liaise with E-safety ambassadors - resources shared

https://www.saferinternetday.org/

17^th February

Random acts of kindness day

https://www.cute-calendar.com/event/random-acts-of-kindness-day/40782.html

Dates TBC

28^th February – 6^th March

Eating Disorders Awareness Week

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/eating-disorders-awareness-week-2022/

March
8^th March	International Women’s Day https://www.internationalwomensday.com/events
17^th March	World Sleep Day Prepare resources for discussion of the importance of sleep for Mental Health at breakfast time https://worldsleepday.org/
23^rd March	National Day of Reflection Breakfast chat / PowerPoint / resources sent out https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/national-day-of-reflection-2022/
31^st March	International Transgender day of Visibility – LGBT+ Group Prepare resources for breakfast time conversations / discussions / Discuss with LGBT+ group https://lgbt.foundation/who-we-help/trans-people/trans-day-of-visibility