Celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 and this year’s theme of ‘let’s connect’ with our free toolkit of resources for secondary and FE settings. Children’s Mental Health Week starts on 6th February, and this year the theme is ‘let’s connect’, looking at the importance that connections with others have on our mental health. Healthy relationships with family, friends and others are vital for young people’s wellbeing, offering a strong protective factor against poor mental health. Connections within a school or college setting are also very important – students should feel that they belong to, and are a valued part of, a school or college community. Their relationships with adults in the school or college should be positive, consistent, and based on trust and mutual respect. In this toolkit, we’re sharing free resources to help you explore the theme of connections with your students, and celebrate the week in your setting.

This written resource supports children and young people not only express their feelings but identify why they are feeling a particular way. When these feelings are positive children can refer back to activities that took place that day to help them practice self care. The resource can also be used to support conversation with children and young people on strategies to improve wellbeing, alongside being shared with parents and carers for a further insight into their child’s thoughts and feelings. Prior to using this resource with a child, please read through our guidance for delivering short activities, to ensure you have a good understanding of how to use the resources safely.

These tools are designed to help children understand and manage their emotions and feelings, and stay calm and in control in the classroom. There are three tools included in this resource: a coping skills wheel, to give children different strategies for coping with difficult situations a strengths and weaknesses chart and control circle, to help children understand their own strengths and weaknesses and identify areas for development a focus plan, to help children stay calm and focused in the classroom Using this resource This resource is designed for: children aged 7 and up use with individual pupils Find more resources at www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources

This appreciation circle activity encourages children to appreciate positive attributes and qualities in everyone, recognising differences and similarities and building friendships. An appreciation circle may be a useful activity for supporting a particular child with self-esteem issues, or a good activity for the whole class to complete together. This resource is designed for: children aged 4 to 11 use with a whole class or small groups For more resources, go to www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

Download the Mentally Healthy Schools free toolkit about internet safety, packed full of practical teaching resources for primary school staff. The toolkit includes lesson plans, videos, quizzes, animations, assembly plans and information and guidance. It covers topics such as cyberbullying, gaming, social media, website use and other online risks. Find more resources at www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY TOOLKIT The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘mental health for all’. In this toolkit, we’ve created and curated a set of resources focusing on inclusivity and celebrating our differences. The resources are designed to help you support your pupils who may need more help with their mental health, and celebrate the unique and different qualities each child brings to your school community. The toolkit is split into two sections: ‘The same but different’ resource set We’ve created a set of resources all about celebrating diversity and difference. There’s an assembly plan, tips from teachers, and three lesson plans for different age groups (children aged 4 to 5, 5 to 8 and 9 to 11). You can use these resources in the week leading up to World Mental Health Day, to help you create a mentally healthy culture in your school. Further resources to support diverse groups of children We have also collected together resources to be delivered to, or inform your work with, groups of children who may need more support with their mental health. There are resources included for: LGBTQ+ children Children from ethnic minority groups Refugee and asylum seeker children Looked-after children Young carers

Celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 and this year’s theme of ‘let’s connect’ with our free toolkits of resources for primary, secondary and FE settings. Children’s Mental Health Week starts on 6th February, and this year the theme is ‘let’s connect’, looking at the importance that connections with others have on our mental health. Healthy relationships with family, friends and others are vital for children’s wellbeing, offering a strong protective factor against poor mental health. Connections within a school setting are also very important – pupils should feel that they belong to, and are a valued part of, a school community. Their relationships with adults in the school should be positive, consistent, and based on trust and mutual respect. In this toolkit, we’re sharing free resources to help you explore the theme of connections with your pupils, and celebrate the week in your setting.

This free toolkit is our third coronavirus toolkit. It includes resources for school staff, as well as parents, to use with vulnerable children or children with SEND, a resource from Stonewall for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as a resource pack for staff wellbeing and practical activities for adults and children to help stay mentally well during this time. #coronavirus #covid19 #covid-19

This toolkit has been created to help prevent bullying in primary schools, empower bystanders and support children who are bullies or have been bullied. It is ready to use for Anti-Bullying Week from 11th-15th November. The free toolkit includes: Activities Videos and animations Worksheets Lesson plans Assemblies and workshops Information and advice Guidance for school staff For more primary mental health resources visit www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

This ‘snowball fight’ activity is a fun way for children to recognise positive qualities and attributes of themselves and others. Using this resource This resource is designed for: children of all ages use with small groups or a whole class You will need one sheet of paper (ideally scrap paper) per child. Depending on the size of the group, this activity could take 10-20 minutes. Find more resources at www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources

Free, practical resources for primary schools, to help pupils feel calm and confident towards the end of Autumn term. There are also practical resources to boost staff wellbeing over the winter break, and a selection of free helplines and counselling services to signpost to for support. For more primary mental health resources visit www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

In our 7th coronavirus toolkit, focusing on managing transitions and preparing children for change, there are lots of free, quality-assured resources for school staff, parents and carers and children. The toolkit is packed full of practical activities, guidance, an assembly plan, tips, videos and booklets to help children transition to primary school or to transition from primary to secondary school. For more coronavirus toolkits and other resources, head to www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

A free, colouring in activity for KS1 and KS2 that can help children to focus on the present, and encourages them to think of a positive word to describe themselves. For more free, primary mental health resources visit www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

This toolkit includes resources for school staff, parents and carers and children to help manage anxiety and improve wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis. You will find practical activities such as mindful crafts, breathing exercises and other self-care ideas, informative videos, emotional expression worksheets and helpful strategies to address anxiety. Suitable for: Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils, school staff, parents and carers. #coronavirus #covid19 #mentalhealth #wellbeing #anxiety

A free toolkit with resources and tips to help support the mental health and wellbeing of school staff, parents, carers and children. In this toolkit you will find: resources for staff wellbeing, including carers and headteachers, resources to help communicate the coronavirus outbreak to children with SEND and responding to the unique challenges that may arise for vulnerable children. There are also some further resources to help manage anxiety and improve wellbeing. #coronavirus #covid19 #covid-19