What are the Rise Mental Health in Schools Teams (MHSTs)?

MHSTs are sometimes also called Mental Health Support Teams. The Mental Health in Schools Team is an NHS service that has been introduced as part of the national plans to expand mental health services for children, young people and their families within the education setting. Working across Coventry and Warwickshire, we are here to provide mental health interventions, advice, and liaison with specialist services to help children and young people get the right support. We work closely with schools to develop their ‘whole school approach’ to mental health and wellbeing.

The Mental Health in Schools Team strives to provide a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ children and young people and their families. Our service provides mental health interventions and support for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We support young people who are experiencing low mood and a range of anxiety difficulties. We are currently based in schools in South Warwickshire, Coventry and North Warwickshire The team consists of qualified and trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), Senior Educational Mental Health Practitioners, Specialist Mental Health Practitioners, Youth Workers, Team Leaders, a Service Manager and Clinical Lead. Between us we have a wealth of experience supporting children and young people with their mental health.

Meet the Team

MHST Meet The Team Feb 23.pdf [pdf] 831KB

How can Mental Health in Schools Teams help children and young people?

The MHST team’s focus is to positively impact young people’s mental health and wellbeing. We aim to do this by: Using evidence-based CBT treatment approaches for anxiety and low mood. This can be done in group or 1-to-1 settings, either face to face or virtually. This means that we can continue to work with young people during school holidays. We work closely with each school’s identified Mental Health Lead (a senior member of school staff who has received specific training to support this role) to support individual referrals and to complete an annual audit of the school’s mental health needs. We support each school in developing and maintaining a ‘whole school approach’ 

What is the Whole School Approach?

We work collaboratively with schools to deliver a ‘whole school approach’ which involves all parts of the school community working together to improve mental wellbeing. MHSTs support the whole school approach in several ways: delivering assemblies, classroom-based sessions and workshops in schools covering a range of topics (mental health awareness, creating calm, building emotional awareness, mood boost and sleep hygiene).

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a treatment approach which looks at the difficulties a young person is experiencing through an understanding of the links between how we think, feel and behave (what we do). Understanding how these links affect the problem for the young person is important.  CBT helps the young person to develop a toolbox of strategies and learn new ways of coping with difficult situations. It is a collaborative approach, which means that young people are an active part of their therapy and will regularly take ideas or strategies from their sessions and practice them or test them out at home and at school. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a widely used approach in Mental Health. For further information, please see: Overview - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - NHS (www.nhs.uk) MHST are able to offer both high and low intensity CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a widely used approach in Mental Health. For further information, please see: Overview - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

What does low intensity mean?

What does low intensity mean?

What does high intensity mean?

What does high intensity mean?

Referral Process and Confidentiality

Referral Process and Confidentiality

How to Contact Us

Our contact method is through the Rise Navigation Hub: 0300 200 2021 – please ensure you ask for the MHST and they will take a message for us to contact you as soon as we are able to. If you wish to discuss a referral to our service, please contact your school’s Mental Health Lead. If your school is not listed below but you require Mental Health Services or advice, please contact our Primary Mental Health Team.

North Warwickshire Schools working with MHST

North Warwickshire Schools working with MHST table

South Warwickshire Schools working with MHST

South Warwickshire in schools working with MHST

Coventry Schools working with MHST

Coventry schools working with MHST

Rugby Schools working with MHST

Rugby schools working with MHST

Download a leaflet

Mental Health in Schools Teams - Leaflets for parents.pdf [pdf] 659KB

Returning to School Leaflet.pdf [pdf] 1020KB

Meet an EMHP:  Meet an Education Mental Health Practitioner.pdf [pdf] 189KB

No matter why or how you access rise we want you to receive the right support at the right time.

A journey with Rise is as unique as the person receiving support. So the support each person receives may be different.