The Mental Health and Wellbeing Handbook for Schools: Transforming Mental Health Support on a Budget

by Clare Erasmus, Chris Edwards (Foreword by)

Overview

This book lays out an intuitive and practical approach to mental health and wellbeing that any school can adopt to transform their mental health support for students.

With a focus on providing staff with practical tools on a limited budget, the book helps schools make a real difference to student mental health. It sets out a roadmap for staff to create robust mental health support for students without requiring qualifications in psychology or counselling. It covers key areas including staff training, creating safe spaces for wellbeing and how to harness the support of parents and the local community. It also includes practical advice for addressing concerns such as stress, self-harm and body image.

From small, everyday improvements that foster a culture of mental wellbeing to whole school campaigns, this book shows how to embed mental health at the heart of a school's philosophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785924811
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	05/21/2019
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.35(w) x 8.43(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Clare Erasmus is the Designated Mental Health Lead Advisor and Head of the Digital Technology & Communication Faculty at Brighton Hill Community School. Clare has worked with a range of mental health experts often sitting as an advisor on behalf of schools. She has given keynotes at many national mental health conferences and is regularly invited to deliver university. Clare has collaborated with staff, students and mental health experts to help create an award winning, bespoke Mental Health and Wellbeing app for her school with PSHE styled podcasts called BHCS My World.

Table of Contents

Foreword Chris Edwards 7

Preface 11

1 Make a Start 17

2 Listen to and Identify the Wellbeing Barometer of your School 21

3 Raise the Finance 26

4 Start at the Top 30

5 What is Resilience? 40

6 Train Staff 43

7 Teach Students about Mental Health 49

8 Build Safe Classroom Environments 52

9 Plan Mental Health Lessons 55

10 Create Safe Spaces for Wellbeing Support 65

11 Referrals and Mental Wellbeing Mentors 70

12 Harness the Power of Peer Mentoring 74

13 Embrace Digital Technology 80

14 How to Make Interventions Work 88

15 Work with Parents 102

16 Whole-School Campaigns 110

17 Share Best Practice 117

Appendix 1 Lead on Mental Wellbeing: Roles and Responsibilities 121

Appendix 2 Example of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy 129

Appendix 3 Example of a Generic Staff Wellbeing Survey 130

Appendix 4 Generic Student Mental Wellbeing Internal Referral Form 135

Appendix 5 Examples of #familyMH5aday activities 138

References 144

Editorial Reviews

We know our 'why' for making our schools mentally healthy. We know our 'what' for our children's wellbeing. We now have our 'how' to for all school leaders. As a leading wellbeing light, Clare's handbook is full of practical, cost-effective solutions, it is the key to unlock how our schools can operate differently. It is the hope that our school system is crying out for. Bravo, I am proud to call you a friend and have learnt so much from you.

Hannah Wilson

This is a timely and important book that will be vital reading for school leaders, pastoral staff and teachers. In this clear, practical and realistic guide, Clare Erasmus gives lots of ideas about how schools can support and prioritise the mental wellbeing of both students and staff. From advice on how to audit your current provision, to ideas about peer mentoring and wellbeing spaces, the author guides you through all aspects of mental health, with an insight borne out of hands-on experience and a wealth of research.

This book demonstrates that schools can take simple yet positive steps to promote better mental health for their students, without it costing them a huge amount of money or adding to staff workload. At a time when the mental health of children and young people is in the spotlight, this book offers you a clear and insightful way through a complex and difficult subject. Clare Erasmus demonstrates how, even though you are not in a position to diagnose or treat mental health disorders, there is still plenty you can do to support and benefit all the children in your care.

Sue Cowley

Every chapter in this book is packed with practical ideas about what needs to happen for schools to take mental health seriously. Warmly and clearly written, with real world examples, Clare is focused on how to keep children and young people mentally well in an educational setting, as well as recognise those who are not in good shape. This well-timed volume will be of immense help to every school that realises that the wellbeing of both students and staff is critical not only for mental health but also an effective learning environment.

Dr Sue Roffey