At Southmoor Academy we place the highest important upon the mental wellbeing of our students. Young people in our modern society face many stresses and strains that effect their mental health, especially at school. We recognise this and have made fostering an environment where pupils can share any problems they might be having openly as well as obtain the best help and advice about what to do.
Key to our approach is ensuring that young people have agency, whilst empowering the community around them to have the health literacy and tools to respond. We want to ensure students have access to timely, youth-friendly support and resources. We’re focused on prevention, ensuring that more young people learn how to build their own wellbeing toolkit.
Helpful Advice
As part of our drive to address any issues surrounding student wellbeing, you will find on this page some useful advice for dealing with any mental health problems you may have, how to identify them as well as the best places to seek advice should you need it. Remember, you are never alone, our staff are always here to help you.
How to deal with Stress
How to deal with Anxiety
How to deal with Anger
How to deal with Low Mood
How to deal with Self Harm
Four Signs of Burnout – and How to Through It
This page is an excellent resource for students and parents to help them identify the signs of academic stress. This insight is extremely beneficial to parents, students, instructors, and anyone working in the education industry.
Remember if you are struggling at school you can always speak to your teachers, head of year or members of the pastoral or SEN team.
Useful Links & Resources
Sunderland Initial Response Team (IRT) – 0303 123 1145
The service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, throughout the year.
Kooth
Kooth is an excellent place to seek advice and support with regards to mental wellbeing, especially in young people. They even have a useful app that you can download to your photo. You will find instructions on this below.
Kooth App
Young Minds
This website has a lot of information about mental health issues.
Teen Life Check
Offers online health service aimed at young people aged 12 to 15 years to meet their desire to take more responsibility for their own health and well-being.
Talk to Frank
Offers confidential advice about smoking, drugs and alcohol.
Bullying UK
Offers information on a range of bullying issues.
Childline
Childline offers here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you.
T: 0800 1111
NHS Direct
Phone 111 – speak to a fully trained health advisor.
Shout
A 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Text 85258.
Sunderland & Washington Mind
Providing confidential, high quality services for individuals, carers and families experiencing emotional or mental health problems. They aim to do this in a safe, caring, non-judgmental and supportive environment.
Sunderland Mind are still operating and offering support in the following ways:
i) Support to all individuals within the community – Sunderland Mind are continuing to offer face-to-face support (were absolutely necessary) and also support either via telephone or zoom.
ii) Support to young people – Young people’s groups are continuing to run every Thursday, 4:30pm – 6pm. Spaces are available if anyone who would like to attend.
iii) The ‘listening ear’ service is available to both young people and adults,
iv) Support to young people – Lunch-time zoom sessions are not currently available but may be offered if you are interested.
Anyone wishing to access any of these services should contact Sunderland Mind on 0191 5657218
You can contact Sunderland Mind directly by clicking here.
Wellbeinginfo.org
A useful website for anyone looking to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Resources include: local support services, information about specific mental health and wellbeing issues, links to other websites and helplines.
Sunderland Community CAMHS
Community CAMHS is a team of people from different professional backgrounds. The following roles are all working within Community CAMHS and can sometimes be involved with offering support to a young person:
www.sunderlandcommunitycamhs.nhs.uk
Wellbeinginfo
Offering resources to encourage local people to make the most of themselves and help improve their health and wellbeing and for those they care about.
Talk to Frank
Confidential advice about smoking, drugs and alcohol
Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters provides simple tips and advice to start taking better care of your mental health. If you are still struggling after several weeks and it is affecting your daily life, please contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. Every Mind Matters sleep page provides practical advice on how to improve your sleep.
www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues
NHS Mental Health & Wellbeing
Visit the NHS mental health and wellbeing advice website for self-assessment, audio guides and practical tools, if you are experiencing stress, feelings of anxiety or low mood.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression
Support & Advice for Parents & Carers
Young Minds
Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Sunderland MIND
Support for parents/carers who are supporting young people.
Sunderland Mind are still operating and offering support in the following ways:
i) Support to all individuals within the community – Sunderland Mind are continuing to offer face-to-face support (were absolutely necessary) and also support either via telephone or zoom.
ii) Support to young people – Young people’s groups are continuing to run every Thursday, 4:30pm – 6pm. Spaces are available if anyone who would like to attend.
iii) The ‘listening ear’ service is available to both young people and adults,
iv) Support to young people – Lunch-time zoom sessions are not currently available but may be offered if you are interested.
Anyone wishing to access any of these services should contact Sunderland Mind on 0191 5657218
Anna Freud
Support for parents and carers – how to support children during the coronavirus.
NSPCC
Support and tips to help you keep children safe. From advice on children’s mental health to staying safe online, support for parents and what to do if you’re worried about a child.
Parent Club
The Parent Club website has lots of useful information to help families who are in isolation at home with young children.
CAMHS
A COVID resource pack for parents’
CAMHS Parental Covid Resource Pack
Further Useful Links & Resources
Anna Freud
Self care strategies identified by young people with anxiety and depression to help other young people manage their mental health and wellbeing.
Better health
Offers mental wellbeing support while staying at home.
Mental Health Foundation
Offers mental health tips
Sunderland community CAMHS
Community CAMHS is a team of people from different professional backgrounds. The following roles are all working within Community CAMHS and can sometimes be involved with offering support to a young person.
www.sunderlandcumminitycamhs.nhs.uk
Wellbeing info
Offers resources to encourage local people to make the most of themselves and help improve their health and wellbeing and for those they care about.
Northeast Counselling Service
North East Counselling Services are continuing to offer free support and counselling via zoom or telephone so that they can help anyone, anywhere, including children aged 11+. This website includes mental health support for businesses and their staff.
