Mental Health & Wellbeing
Key Staff
Gemma Roberts – Designated Mental Health Lead gemma.roberts@westpark.derby.sch.uk
Deborah Sheffield – Designated Safeguarding Lead deborah.sheffield@westpark.derby.sch.uk
Caroline Lupton – SEND Department senco@westpark.derby.sch.uk
Katy - School Counsellor
We have been lucky to have Katy working full time in school since September 2022. Katy is a professionally trained children’s counsellor and works with our pupils in numerous ways:
- Providing short term (6 week) 1:1 counselling sessions to pupils to work through a number of issues that may be having an impact on a pupil’s daily life. Referrals made through HOY/Pastoral team.
- Running weekly group session for pupils to access support for specific needs. Referrals made through HOY/Pastoral team/Form Teachers.
- Providing a space for any of our pupils to drop-in and access MH support for themselves on a Monday morning. Pupils just need to go to the Head Space room at the designated time.
Useful Links
Young Minds – YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Emotional Health & Wellbeing - Derby & Derbyshire - Emotional Health & Wellbeing (derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk)
Hub of hope - Mental Health Support Network provided by Chasing the Stigma | Hub of hope
Anxiety - Every Mind Matters - School and the social interactions it involves can bring up lots of feelings of worry. Learn about these feelings and how you can manage them here
Anxiety Self Help Guide - Anxiety can sometimes lead to avoiding certain things. Here is a great self help guide to allow you to find ways to manage or overcome the anxiety
Looking After Yourself During GCSEs
Coping with low mood
Self Care Plan
Helpful resources for young people’s mental health
Helplines
Chat Health (a text messaging support service for pupils) Text messaging advice service launched for Derby’s young people and parents :: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk)
Childline -Childline | Childline
Get Urgent Help -Get Urgent Help | Support If You're Struggling | YoungMinds
Self-referrals
Compass Changing Lives - provide a range of evidenced based interventions either one-to-one or in a group setting (usually 6-8 sessions based on what you need) for children and young people aged 5-18. Complete the referral form here: Complete the referral form here
There are also lots of handy hints and tips on the Compass Changing Lives App. Download the app here:
App for Iphone - App for Android
Kooth -Free online counselling for pupils
Empower - Derby County Community Trust - The Empower Programme aims to support young people aged 11-12 to manage their psychological wellbeing and physical health to fulfil a happier, healthier lifestyle. Sessions run on Tuesdays, 4:30pm - 5:45pm at Derwent Family Youth and Community Centre, Chaddesden. Click on the link to complete the referral.
Chat Health - A text messaging support service for parents
Young Minds Parent Helpline - Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child | YoungMinds
Emotional Health & Wellbeing - Derby & Derbyshire - Emotional Health & Wellbeing (derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk)
Hub of hope - Mental Health Support Network provided by Chasing the Stigma | Hub of hope
Anxiety - Every Mind Matters - School and the social interactions it involves can bring up lots of feelings of worry. Learn about these feelings and how you can manage them here
Anxiety Self Help Guide - Anxiety can sometimes lead to avoiding certain things. Here is a great self help guide to allow you to find ways to manage or overcome the anxiety
An Emotional Approach To GCSEs
Coping with low mood
School anxiety and refusal
Self Harm
Parent Online Courses
We are delighted to announce that we will be working with Bridge the Gap again this year. Bridge the gap are a children's mental health organisation based in Derby that we have bought a selection of services from in order to offer support to the parents and carers of pupils.
We are pleased to be able to offer a bespoke package of online materials for parents to access whenever they feel that then help/support and we will also facilitate a combination of face to face parent workshops(online and in-person) on topics such as exam stress and anxiety later in the year.
The bespoke bundle of online support includes courses for parents on the following topics:
- Exploring anger
- Supporting an anxious child
- Grounding and soothing strategies
- Time for you: Wellbeing for adults
- Supporting child mental health: An in depth approach (content includes screen time, sleep. social media, crisis, self esteem etc.)
This platform has been developed by Bridge the Gap's team of multi-disciplinary professionals and is designed to arm parents and carers with the tools and knowledge to be able to help and support their child(ren). Once you sign up, you will have access to these detailed courses and you will be able to work through them at your own pace.
If you would like to access any of the online courses listed above please email gemma.roberts@westpark.derby.sch.uk directly. Please state your child's full name and their form in your email and the information on how to sign up and login for free will be sent directly to your email.
Parent Workshops
10th February 2025 6-7pm Supporting an Anxious Child. A live, online workshop on Microsoft Teams. Click here to sign up
24th March 2025 5-6pm Exam stress and anxiety (open to parents from all Year groups). An in-person workshop that will take place in the school hall. Information on how to sign up will be shared after Feb half term.
You can find out more information about Bridge the Gap here: Click here
Other Useful Links
Anna Freud Centre - Anna Freud
Useful MH tips and advice for parents - Mental health and wellbeing - Support for Parents from Action For Children
Young Minds - YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Action for Children - Confidential free 1:1 chat with a parenting coach 1:1 chat - Parent Talk (actionforchildren.org.uk)
Mentally Healthy Schools - Secondary : Mentally Healthy Schools
Students Against Depression - The Students Against Depression - Students Against Depression
Parental Education Growth Support - Child to Parent Abuse: Supporting parents and professionals
Parental Conflict - developing positive parental relationships
12% of all children are being exposed to negative conflict between their parents.
Frequent, intense, and poorly resolved conflict between parents can significantly affect the long-term mental health and life chances of children. If you have found yourself in this situation then please look at the following links for support:
OnePlusOne - relationship support parents.
Relate Chatbot - Relate - Relate Chat bots for parents and carers that support around relationship difficulties as well as lots of helpful information on the Relate website.
Click - Click offer parental support - chat forums and lots of useful advice and information.
Referrals
Compass Changing Lives - provide a range of evidenced based interventions either one-to-one or in a group setting (usually 6-8 sessions based on what you need) for children and young people aged 5-18. Complete the referral form here: - Complete the referral form here
There are also lots of handy hints and tips on the Compass Changing Lives App. Download the app here:
App for Iphone - App for Android
Trent PTS - anyone over the age of 16 can self-refer to Trent PTS for MH support Trent PTS | Psychological Therapies Service
Talking Therapy for 18+ - Everyturn - Free Talking Therapies
Talking Mental Health Derbyshire - Talking Mental Health Derbyshire :: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk)
Empower - Derby County Community Trust - The Empower Programme aims to support young people aged 11-12 to manage their psychological wellbeing and physical health to fulfil a happier, healthier lifestyle. Sessions run on Tuesdays, 4:30pm - 5:45pm at Derwent Family Youth and Community Centre, Chaddesden. Click on the link to complete the referral.