Mental Health in Schools Team

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

The Mental Health in Schools Team is a service that has been introduced as part of the national Trailblazer Project for children, young people and their families within the education setting. Working across Coventry and Warwickshire, we are here to provide low-intensity mental health interventions and support. The team consists of qualified and trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), Specialist Mental Health Practitioners, a Team Leader and a Service Manager. Between us we have a wealth of experience of supporting children and young people with their mental health.

 

 

Download a leaflet: 

RISE Mental Health in Schools Teams Leaflet.pdf [pdf] 715KB

Summary of Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) role for schools.pdf [pdf] 314KB

Watch the video about the Rise Mental Health in Schools Teams

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

We work with schools to help deliver a ‘whole school approach’ to support positive emotional wellbeing and mental health. We can also work with children and young people in groups or on a one-to-one basis.

We can help you find ways to take care of your own mental wellbeing using a variety of evidence-based approaches, including low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which has proven to be successful.

What is CBT?

CBT looks at the difficulties a young person is experiencing, and is based upon the understanding that how we think, feel and behaviour is closely linked to understanding a young person’s difficulties. Understanding how these interact for the young person is important.  CBT helps the young person to develop a toolbox of strategies and new ways of coping with difficult situations.  

What does low intensity mean?

Low intensity means treatment that uses fewer resources. This means that sessions may be shorter or involve a smaller number of individual face-to-face or telephone sessions.

Offering low intensity treatment first means we are able to:

• offer psychological help to more young people
• offer psychological help more quickly
• offer early intervention, before problems build up

Low intensity interventions are:

• Often more convenient for the young people and families we support
• Based on evidence of effectiveness
• Based on a teaching skills model thus contributing to longer-term wellbeing

 

We also use different approaches to emotional wellbeing and these include sensory based strategies, mindfulness, practical ideas and creative problem solving to help a young person find what works for them in their context.

Our response to Covid-19

The Covid-19 Pandemic has brought a time of uncertainty for us all. We understand that the mental health of our young people may be affected in different ways and in response to this we have increased the support we can offer.

In  Coventry and South Warwickshire certain schools have signed up to take part in this project – but now during this Pandemic we are offering support to any school who would like it.  So please if you have any concerns or questions regarding young people’s mental health and wellbeing then get in touch! 

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.

Direct support you may receive from the Mental Health in Schools Team:

• As an individual:  6 support sessions
• As a class: group sessions

Outside of direct support  we will work closely with those who you spend the most time with, such as teachers, family, carers and friends.

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.

Other sources of Help

1. CWmind.org.uk
2. Healthforteens.co.uk
3. Chat Health – Warwickshire text: 07507 331 949; Coventry text: 07507 331 949

Coventry Schools working with Mental Health Support Teams:

• Ernesford Grange Community Academy
• Foxford Community School
• Lyng Hall School and Specialist Sports College
• Little Heath Primary School
• Stretton Secondary School
• West Coventry Academy Secondary School
• St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School

South Warwickshire Schools working with Mental Health Support Teams:

• Aylesford  Secondary School
• Alcester Academy
• Myton Secondary School
• Campion Secondary School
• North Leamington Secondary School
• Southam College
• Studley High School
• Coten End Primary School
• Clapham Terrace Primary School
• Sydenham Primary
• Cubbington Church of England  Primary School
• Aylesford Primary School
• St. John's Primary School
• Studley Infant School
• Our Lady Alcester
• Bidford Primary School
• Thomas Jolyffe Primary School
• Wellesbourne Church of  England Primary School
• Tyso Church of England Primary School

 

Summary of situations EMHPs can/can not help with

EMHPs CAN work with	EMHPs MAY work with (discretion and supervision)	EMHPs DO NOT work with (Significant levels of need /complex conditions)
Low mood	Irritability as a symptom of depression, can present as anger	Anger management, chronic depression, relationship problems more suited to counselling.
Anxiety/Worry management	Low confidence, assertiveness or interpersonal challenges (e.g. with peers)	Low self-esteem, social anxiety disorder
Simple phobias/Separation anxiety	Short-term phobia exposure work	Extensive phobias e.g. Blood, needles, or vomit phobia
Sleep Hygiene	Insomnia	PTSD, trauma, nightmares
Assessing self-harm and supporting alternative coping strategies. Pupils with history of self-harm, but not active.	Thoughts of self-harm with no action. Superficial self-harm. Basic harm reduction techniques	Severe, active, high risk self- harm.
Problem Solving	Assessment of complex interpersonal challenges
Panic Management		Behaviour experiments
Behavioural difficulties (identification, and brief parenting support)		Conduct disorder, anger management, full parenting programmes (e.g. Triple P, Solihull Approach).
Training parents and teachers to support interventions with children		Treatment of parents’ depression and anxiety.
Thought challenging (negative automatic thoughts)
	Mild/early onset Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)	Obsessive compulsive disorder moderate to severe in nature
	Children that are displaying rigid, ritualistic behaviour that may or may not be within a diagnosis of ASD	Moderate to severe attachment disorders. Assessment and diagnosis of developmental disorders and learning difficulties.
		Pain management
		Historical or current experiences of abuse or violence
		Health anxiety
		Bereavement
		Eating disorders