Wellbeing
The Leathersellers' Federation of Schools Wellbeing Strategy
Social Emotional and Mental Health Support
In the Leathersellers Federation of Schools we aim to:
- provide appropriate support for all students who have Additional Educational Needs;
- to promote an ethos of inclusion
- to enable all students to access the curriculum and achieve their full potential
Providing advice and guidance is an important step in achieving these aims.
There are a small number of students whose needs necessitate additional support from specialist external agencies, many of which can be accessed through referral by your GP. In addition, there is a wide range of skilled support available to students and parents on the internet.
We have information on these pages for a number of support agencies relating to Self Harm, Disordered Patterns Around Eating Habits, Mental Health, Counselling. See Social Emotional and Mental Health Support.
We are also aware that specific recommendations are also helpful and we have included these appropriately.
Self Harm
Self-harm does not always just affect the individuals carrying it out, but also their friends, family and other people around them. Self-harm can be lonely and isolating and caring for someone who self-harms can be emotionally exhausting. There is no single cause or event that leads directly to self-harm, but rather a series of risk factors combine to increase the likelihood that a vulnerable individual will start.
Self-harm is a coping mechanism, therefore it is necessary for the individual to learn about safer alternatives. Students have told us that they find www.kooth.com useful as it is a confidential way of accessing counselling for young people. We provide information about kooth in in our schools.
Our policy is that it is unacceptable for students to self-harm in school; we have a rule that any self-harm marks on arms should be covered by long-sleeved tops for P.E. and that students should not show their cuts to their peers. We are happy to support in any way we can, but we always advise parents and their daughters and sons to see their GP so that they can offer the appropriate advice and referral to meet needs.
Alternatives to Self Harm
Soothing/Stress Relief/Distraction:
|
Releasing emotions:
|
|
Help for Young People Professional Help: GPs School Counsellors School Nurses Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - CAMHS* *Usually through referral by GP or other professional
Helplines and Online Information/Support:
Childline
Samaritans
National Self Harm Network – NSHN
The Site |
Help for Parents and Carers Professional Help: GPs School Nurses Counsellors/Therapists
Helplines and Online Information /Support:
Samaritans
Mind (over 18s only)
Rethink
Harmless
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Maudsley Hospital |
Disordered Patterns Around Eating Habits
While rates of clinical eating disorders are low, estimated from 1% to 3% of the general population, more subtle forms of disordered eating are difficult to pinpoint and mare more widespread. People’s focus on size and weight, diet and exercise means that disordered eating is more widespread; such disordered patterns can also by their nature be episodic. See Social Emotional and Mental Health Support. for further information.
Mental Health
There are a number of organisations and groups that support young people and families who are concerned about mental health issues. See Social Emotional and Mental Health Support. for further information.
Counselling
There are a number of London-based counselling organisations that offer free or low cost counselling for young people and their families. See Social Emotional and Mental Health Support. for further information.
