1st Edition
The Mental Health Handbook for Primary School Raising Awareness of Mental Health Issues and How to Deal with Them
The stigma attached to mental health and the social barriers that surround it amplify its direct effects and damage the life chances of people with mental health problems. Department of Health (2011) Educating children and young people about mental health is of vital importance if we are to challenge the ignorance and stigma related to this area of health. Many young people will be living in families where an adult member may have mental health problems or indeed may be facing similar problems themselves. This book provides a comprehensive resource to help teachers deal sensitively with this important area. Part One provides an introduction and background information highlighting the need to tackle Mental Health in primary schools. The facts are startling - 10% of 10-16 year olds have a diagnosed mental health disorder, there is an increasing number of children self-harming and an alarming increase in early eating disorders. This section provides clear guidance on how to use the programme, including working with parents and answering questions children may ask. Part Two details a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation introducing staff to the programme. Part Three provides wide-ranging lesson materials with comprehensive teacher notes and including all the necessary copiable resources for using the programme from years 3 through to 6. Part Four has a Glossary of Terms as well as a valuable Resource Directory to direct the busy teacher to other useful sources of information. The accompanying downloadable resources include: activity pages; a model letter for parents; and, staff PowerPoint.
Biography
Belinda was the lead consultant for emotional health and wellbeing with Gloucestershire County Council Health and Wellbeing Team. During that time, she developed many guidance packs for schools and other settings. A number of topics were covered including bereavement, domestic abuse and bullying. Belinda provided training for staff on how to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people. She also wrote the universal strand of the county strategy on wellbeing. She is a member of the national training team for Mental Health First Aid England and is passionate about raising awareness and reducing stigma and discrimination against those who experience mental health problems. Her firm belief is that if mental health is discussed more openly with younger children, society would not be quite so judgemental in its views of mental health in the future, therefore this book has been developed to provide teachers with a starting point. Belinda runs her own business, delivering training and developing resources and combines this with a part time practice nurse position which maintains her contact with people and utilises her skills.
