Mental Health Support Teams work in schools to help young people improve their mental wellbeing and improve the links between schools and mental health services.
Following the success of the teams in South Telford and Shropshire which were set up in January 2020, the scheme is being expanded to reach a further 17 schools within the Telford & Wrekin local authority.
“The take up of referrals was immediate, impactive and timely given months of disruption and lockdown which had seriously affected our students. The trailblazer team are professional, dedicated and most importantly, respected and valued by our students and staff. The work you have completed has improved the mental health and wellbeing of many young people” school feedback
Four new trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners have been recruited and have commenced their yearlong training at Derby University. They are already forging links with their new schools and should begin seeing pupils from May onwards.
Baljit Kaur Nhal, Mental Health Support Team Manager said “With 1 in 6 school children presenting with a mental health difficulty, the Education Mental Health Practitioner roles offer an important expansion of the children’s mental health workforce. The focus is on early intervention and prevention and supporting schools to develop their whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing”
For more information about our mental health support teams and other services to support children and young people’s emotional wellbeing see https://www.mpft.nhs.uk/services/camhs/beeu