Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

Childhood and teenage years are when mental health is developed and patterns are set for the future. So a child with good mental health is much more likely to have good mental health as an adult, and to be able to take on adult responsibilities and fulfil their potential.

Mental Health affects all aspects of a child’s development including their cognitive abilities, their social skills as well as their emotional wellbeing. Building emotional resilience is key and we believe there are core strengths seen in mentally healthy children and young people:

  • The ability to build and maintain positive relationships
  • An ability to play and to learn appropriately for their age and level of understanding
  • A developing a good sense of right and wrong
  • The ability and resilience to cope with a degree of emotional challenge
  • A clear sense of identify and self-worth
  • An ongoing progression of psychological growth and development
     

With good mental health, children and young people do better in every way. They enjoy their childhoods, are able to deal with stress and difficult times, are able to learn better, do better at school, navigate and benefit from the online world they are growing up in and enjoy friendships and new experiences.

Guide for Professionals

Cumbria Service Providers Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Padlet - This Padlet has been created to provide valuable support for services working with children and young people across Westmorland and Furness. It offers a range of resources, training opportunities, and links to additional services that promote emotional wellbeing, resilience, and mental health in children and young people.

Thrive Pathway - A guide to help you choose the right support and service. This guide is to assist professionals with how to most appropriately respond to and support a child or young person (CYP) aged 5 – 19 years, who are showing signs of struggling to cope.   The guide covers a spectrum of signs, symptoms and behaviours which may be symptomatic of a range of levels of needs in relation to their emotional and mental wellbeing.

Guide for Schools

Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health - A Schools Guide (Padlet) - This Padlet has been created to assist schools in accessing a wide range of resources and training aimed at promoting the emotional wellbeing, mental health, and resilience of children and young people. It also provides links to both local and national support services available to school staff, as well as services specifically designed to support the needs of children and young people.

Thrive Pathway - A guide to help you choose the right support and service. This guide is to assist professionals with how to most appropriately respond to and support a child or young person (CYP) aged 5 – 19 years, who are showing signs of struggling to cope.   The guide covers a spectrum of signs, symptoms and behaviours which may be symptomatic of a range of levels of needs in relation to their emotional and mental wellbeing.

Early Help Offer - A guide to help you choose the appropriate support and service.

Whole System Workforce Development Offer Support

In Cumbria, we believe mental health is everyone's responsibility. We strive to ensure that our workforce and communities are well-equipped to support children and young people (CYP) at every opportunity.

We need a clear and consistent way to train our staff so they can recognise signs of mental health challenges. Our aim is to help raise awareness and ensure our workforce feels confident in supporting children and young people who are struggling with emotional wellbeing or showing early signs of distress or difficulty. We are dedicated to making sure they receive the right support at the right time, following the Thrive model.

Professionals, practitioners, staff, foster carers, and volunteers can access advice, information, and support from:

  • 'My Time' Primary Mental Health targeted support teams 
  • Public health school-age nursing team (ages 5-19) 
  • Family Hubs

Social, Emotional Mental Health in Westmorland and Furness

Social, Emotional Mental Health - How Can I Help? (Westmorland and Furness) (PDF. 234KB)

Social, Emotional Mental Health - 'All About Me' profile guide (Westmorland and Furness) (PDF. 127KB)

'All About Me' personal profile (Westmorland and Furness) (WORD. 195KB)

Training

Every Life Matters

Every Life Matters: A programme focused on raising awareness and understanding around mental health and suicide prevention.  All programmes and awareness raising sessions can be used by school staff, health and mental health professionals as well as any service supporting children, young people and families. 

Every Life Matters Cumbria is a local charity dedicated to suicide prevention and promoting mental health awareness across Cumbria.  They offer training and support designed to help individuals and communities understand mental health challenges, recognise signs of emotional distress, and respond effectively to those at risk of suicide. 

The following training is FREE:

  • Suicide awareness bitesize training session.
  • Suicide alertness interactive training. 
  • Safety planning to support someone with thoughts on suicide.
  • Self-Harm alertness.
  • Parent & Carer session: supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The following training is at a cost:

  • ASK workshop: assessing suicide in kids.
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
  • Mental health first aid (face to face or on-line) and Youth MHFA
  • Mental health awareness training

Suicide Awareness & Prevention Training Courses - Every Life Matters (every-life-matters.org.uk)

Change Talks

Change Talks: Several programmes and training offers aimed at promoting mental health awareness and providing practical strategies to support emotional well-being.  Change Talks programmes and awareness raising sessions are predominantly aimed at school staff and young people. 

Change Talks is a health education initiative serving Lancashire and South Cumbria, primarily focused on young people, schools, and communities. The goal is to raise the awareness of mental health, emotional well-being, and the significance of early intervention. The programmes and sessions are led by a team with both lived experience and professional expertise. 

The Change Talks team provides training and awareness sessions for young people and school staff on the following key topics:

  • Neurodiversity
  • Stress and Coping Strategies
  • Healthy Relationships and Abuse
  • Young People’s Mental Health
  • The Impact of Screen Use and Social Media
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Risk-Taking Behaviours
  • Eating Disorders/Image
  • Gambling
  • Smoking
  • Drug Awareness
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Autism
  • Nutrition
  • Attachment Styles
  • Men’s Mental Health
  • Anger
  • Minority Groups
  • Communication
  • Self-Esteem
  • Self-harm

The Change Talks team also offer parent and carer support sessions on the above key topics.  Contact the team for more information.

Change Talks : Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (lscft.nhs.uk)

Solihull Approach

Solihull Approach: A training model designed to enhance emotional health and well-being by improving relationships and understanding of mental health in families and communities. Solihull approach programmes can be accessed by professionals and practitioners, families and young people. 

Solihull Approach is a model of working with children, families, and professionals that emphasises emotional health, attachment, and relationships.  The approach aims to promote emotional well-being by offering a framework that helps professionals understand and respond to the emotional needs of children and families.

The Solihull Approach training is FREE to anyone who lives or works in Cumbria.

SOLIHULL APPROACH ONLINE MODULES. 

Parents/carers/grandparents/young people etc courses:             

In Our Place  Access code : WORDSWORTH

  • Understanding pregnancy, birth, and your baby
  • Understanding your baby
  • Understanding your child
  • Understanding your teenager's brain
  • Understanding your child’s feelings 
  • Understanding your child’s mental wellbeing
  • Understanding your child with additional needs
  • Understanding your relationships
  • Understanding your brain (for teenagers only!)
  • Understanding your feelings (for teenagers only!)
  • Understanding Anger
  • Understanding Behaviour
  • Moving on up – transition

Professionals Courses:       

In Our Place  Access code: WORDSWORTHPRF

  • Understanding trauma
  • Understanding attachment
  • Understanding brain development

MindEd

MindEd: An online learning platform offering training and resources on mental health to help support children and young people.  MindEd is multi-professional, and can be used by teachers, health and mental health professionals, police and judiciary staff, social workers, youth service volunteers, school counsellors among others to support their professional development.  All registered learners can access a learning path tailored to their needs.

MindEd is a comprehensive, FREE e-learning resource, supported by Health Education England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Education. It is designed to provide professionals and the public with trusted, evidence-based information on mental health across all age groups—children, young people, adults, and older adults. The training is highly adaptable, making it relevant across sectors such as healthcare, social care, education, criminal justice, and community services. From beginner to specialist, MindEd offers tailored learning opportunities to suit all needs.

MindEd can be personalised by creating a custom learning path. This allows you to select a 'starter pack' of sessions most relevant to your specific audience, ensuring quick and easy access to the content that matters most. You can even enhance the experience by adding introductory text, images, and links to your own website.

Explore a range of specialised e-learning sessions, including:

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Programme
  • Blue Light Services
  • Combining Therapies
  • Core Mental Health Content
  • Counselling
  • MindEd for Families
  • Healthy Child Mental Health Framework
  • Improving Workforce Wellbeing, Resilience, and Population Mental Health
  • Learning Disabilities and Mental Health
  • Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention (SSHP)
  • Targeted and Specialist CAMHS
  • Wellbeing for Education Return
  • MindEd Top Tips Hub

MindEd Hub