This area of the website provides information on external support and resources for mental health and wellbeing. Dudley Academies Trust recognises that positive mental health and wellbeing are essential to the development of thriving and successful pupils/learners. It is therefore vital to our aims as a Trust that we provide high quality emotional health and wellbeing support.

In addition to supporting individual pupils/learners with emotional health and wellbeing concerns, the Trust is committed to making sure that all pupils/learners can access a cohesive network of pastoral and medical services. These include:

• A pastoral team, who are available at any time of day.
• Appointments with trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Peer mentors, who are trained to support other pupils/learners in their year groups.

The academies work alongside Reflexions (the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) – Dudley) that includes having a dedicated Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).

Summer Holiday Support

Kooth- an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for young people 11-18 years old. Including an online chat, magazines, forums, activity centres, and live counselling.

https://www.kooth.com/  

A free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope https://giveusashout.org/get-help/   

You can talk to child line about anything. No problem is too big or too small  0800 1111 or chat online https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/  

 

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 0800 008 6516

 

Government Guidance: Health and wellbeing during coronavirus

Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19). This guide provides advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Academy Helpline

Please contact the academy helpline (support@thelinkacademy.org.uk) for any additional support or information regarding mental health, wellbeing, online safety or distance learning. For immediate safeguarding concerns, please visit the COVID-19 > Safeguarding & Support area of the website for further information.

Local Support

• Dudley Virtual School provide resources to help support children and young people and those who support them at this very challenging time.
• Dudley Educational and Child Psychology Service aims to optimise learning, development and emotional well-being of children and young people in the borough. 
• Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership advice for parents, carers or those working with children.
• West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit aims to keep people safe and free of violence in their lives.
• Phase Trust believes that every child and young person has value, whether they know it or not.
• Let’s get Healthy Dudley aims to support you to make healthy lifestyle changes
• Safe and Sound Dudley’s community safety partnership

National Support

• Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.
• ThinkuKnow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
• Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
• Young Minds is one of the UK's leading charities for children and young people's mental health. ·
• The Mix – Essential support for under 25s. 
• Place2Be is one of the UK’s leading children's mental health charities.
• Children's Mental Health Week is an annual opportunity to encourage children, young people and adults to celebrate their uniqueness.
• NHS provide mental health and wellbeing advice and guidance.
• Childline one of UK’s leading support agencies for children.
• NSPCC – National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children – this website contains a wealth of advice and resources.
• Britannica Digital Learning Free eBook: Tackling Anxiety and Encouraging Resilience!

Online Safety

• CEOP – Child Exploitation and Online Protection.
• NSPCC – Online safety advice.
• NSPCC – Online parental controls.
• INEQE – A safeguarding hub with lots of training resources and videos about staying safe online.
• Izone – Dudley website providing support.
• Safe and sound – Stay safe on social media, advice from Dudley’s community safety partnership.

SEND Support

• Little Puddins - What is Coronavirus?
• Local Authority Educational Psychology Community Support flyer
• Send Wellbeing Pack Issue 1
• Dudley Learning Support Service – SEND advice and support

Fun Activities

• The British Museum has made its online collections free to the public.
• The Natural History Museum has free virtual tours.
• The Tate Gallery has a 360-degree virtual tour online.
• View the latest exhibitions at The National Gallery virtual tours.
• The Vatican has opened up its digital tours so the Sistine Chapel can be viewed.
• NASA Kids is perfect for space fans. Learn all about the universe we live in by viewing these online videos.
• Watch The Wind in the Willows stage production online.
• Minecraft: The Education Edition is popular with children already – these resources all have an educational purpose.
• Look at nature all around the world with Explore.
• Audible Stories has made all of its classic children’s stories free.
• Watch science experiments with Colorado University.
• For music lovers, there is a 21-day free trial to learn an instrument with Prodigies Music.
• Explore the world with videos capturing activity all over the planet with Project Explore.
• On Twitter, Patrick Stewart (@sirpatstew) is reading a sonnet a day.
• Julie Dawn Cole, who played the original Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (and Tes mental health columnist), is reading the book it was 3 based on – Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – aloud one chapter a night at 6pm on her Facebook page.
• News Mag Media have made their content free. Great for supporting children with their non-fiction reading.

Please note all of the above are subject to availability from the source.

Guidance for the public on the mental health and well-being aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Advice for parents and carers on how to talk with young people about the invasion of Ukraine

As per Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, please find below a link to guidance for parents/carers on how to talk with young people about the invasion of Ukraine. It offers advice on managing difficult feelings, fact checking and maintaining a sense of stability and calm at home.