This section of the website gives information about wellbeing and available support and guidance. 

 

 YOUNG MINDS MATTER

Huntley Primary works in partnership with Young Minds Matter has has done for some years. Young Minds Matter is a safe, confidential mental health support service for school-aged children. They are part of the Gloucestershire NHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and a national scheme of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs).

How can Young Minds Matter help?Young Minds Matter is an early intervention team who can support children who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. They can help with things like:

• Worries
• Negative thoughts
• Anxiety
• Low Mood
• Low self-esteem
• Friendship difficulties stemming from anxiety or low mood
• Low level self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
• Parent-Led CBT for anxiety and Brief Parenting.

Young Minds Matter mainly uses a type of therapy called Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which helps children to think about how their thoughts (cognitions) impact on their actions (behaviours) and their feelings (emotions). There are tasks to complete between sessions to help the child practice the skills they are learning. It works best when parent and carers are able to support their child with the tasks between sessions and attend sessions (assuming the child is happy for them to do so). There are also other members of the team that provide other CBT-informed interventions.

Young Minds Matter can meet with children face-to-face in school, virtually through an online platform or at another venue such as a children’s centre. In some cases, they may suggest Parent-Led CBT as the most helpful form of support for a child. Parent-Led CBT and Brief Parenting involve a member of the YMM team meeting with the parent/carer. It assumes that the parent is the “expert” of the child and the parent/carer will have between session tasks to do with their child at home. This can be helpful for younger children, parents/carers who are looking for ways of supporting their children and for children who may find it harder to identify their own thoughts and behaviours.

Young Minds Matter does not offer counselling, and sessions are based on supporting a young person with achieving a specific goal by understanding more about their mental health and strategies they can use to achieve the goal.

How to access support: To access a referral to Young Minds Matter, please speak with Mrs Curtis who will be happy to support you with this. If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable speaking to Mrs Curtis  about this then you can also access a referral through On Your Mind Glos (www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk).

What else does Young Minds Matter do in our school? Young Minds Matter also comes into school on a termly basis to deliver assemblies or class workshops on a range of wellbeing topics such as Transition, Understanding Emotions and Wellbeing. A member of the team also meets with us regularly to talk about what other support is available. If you would like us to discuss your child with someone from Young Minds Matter then let us know by contacting Mrs Curtis

 

myHappymind 

We are proud to be a My Happy Mind School. The children all have weekly sessions focusing on developing skills to support positive mental health and wellbeing. My Happy Mind is an award winning, NHS backed program, designed to teach children lifelong mental health skills, resilience and wellbeing habits. My Happy Mind is a preventative, evidence-based program that empowers children with the knowledge, skills, and habits to maintain positive mental health and thrive in life. 

Overview: My Happy Mind (myHappymind) is a structured program for schools, nurseries, families, and organisations that focusses on developing children’s mental  health, self-esteem, and resilience through science - based techniques grounded in neuroscience and positive psychology. It is delivered via a digital platform and in-class activities, making learning engaging, convenient, and fun. 

Purpose: The program aims to equip children with preventative strategies to manage stress, regulate emotions, and build confidence, helping them thrive both at school and at home. By teaching these skills early, myHappymind reduces the likelihood that children will require specialist mental health support, such as CAMHS, and supports overall wellbeing. 

Structure: My Happy Mind uses five core modules across all year groups from Early  Years to Year 6:

• Meet Your Brain: Understanding how the brain works and managing emotions.

• Celebrate: Recognising and celebrating personal strengths.

• Appreciate: Developing gratitude as a habit.

• Relate: Building positive relationships and friendships.

•  Engage: Setting meaningful goals and maintaining resilience.  

 Impact: Evaluations show that myHappymind improves children’s mental wellbeing resilience, and self-esteem, while also positively influencing teachers and parents.

Please click here for a video about the My Happy Mind Parent App which is free to use. 

LUMI NOVA

This is a great resource- currently being funded for all pupils in Gloucestershire schools. Follow the QR code to get information and free access. It has proven to be very useful for children who have low level anxiety or worry.