Coronavirus updates

Useful links on how to look after our mental health and emotional wellbeing:

Due to the unprecedented nature of this situation, there are many unanswered questions, and lots of media attention, which can lead to anxiety and stress among children, young people, parents/ carers and colleagues. We hope that you will find the following information about how to look after our mental health and emotional well being helpful.

- Young Minds have published great resources and ideas about things adults and young people can do to manage any stress and anxiety they may experience in relation to coronavirus, including:Young Minds – What to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus
  Young Minds – Talking to your child about coronavirus
  Young Minds – How to look after your mental health when self isolating
  They also have a mental health advice line available for parents operating between 09:30am-4pm, Monday- Friday: 0808 802 5544.

- Centers for Disease Control and prevention – how to talk to children about Coronavirus:

- Every Mind Matters – general information about looking after your mental health (which would be relevant during this challenging time as much as at any other time) and top tips to improve emotional wellbeing, as well as tips on how to look after your mental well being whilst staying at home.

- Mind website – information about how to cope if people feel anxious about coronavirus, how to manage staying well at home if being asked to self-isolate and taking care of your mental health and wellbeing among other tips and advice.

- Education Support website – dedicated to supporting the mental health and well being of education staff in schools, colleges and universities. It contains free information, including a free 24/7 helpline at 08000 562 561 and also has financial advice information for supply teachers.

- Mind Hertfordshire Network – provides a crisis helpline for anyone experiencing mental health distress or requiring emotional support and signposting. Professionals, family/ friends can call on someone’s behalf with the individual’s consent.
  Crisis Helpline number: 01923 256 391, or visit https://www.hertsmindnetwork.org/

- The Anna Freud Centre ‘Schools in Mind’ have worked closely with settings to help promote whole-school and college approaches to wellbeing. They are conscious that the Coronavirus is creating increased pressure and additional workload for school and college staff at an already busy time of the school year. Therefore, they have produced the following document which they hope will give some guidance about how to maintain children’s wellbeing at a time of uncertainty.They have also developed three videos which will hopefully be helpful to share as follows:
  Video for schools staff:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjSh5SYWFqM&feature=youtu.be
  
  Video for parents:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnANLAcpRZ4&feature=youtu.be
  
  Video for children and young people:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME5IZn4-BAk&feature=youtu.be

- WHO and UNICEF: Addressing social stigma associated with Covid-19

There will be a weekly update via the Healthy Young Minds in Herts website where the information above will also be shared and there will be helpful safe advice around managing self-care. There will also be a webpage for young people and families, focussed on how to cope during periods of self-isolation, appearing very soon on www.justtalkherts.org.

Coronavirus updates