‘Be You’ is a new programme focusing on schools which is designed to improve and support the mental health and wellbeing of young people; enabling them to build emotional resilience and identify issues early.
This programme is delivered in the following areas of Blyth, Hexham, Bedlington, Ashington, Alnwick, and Coquet and we have plans to set up a new team soon in Cramlington and Seaton Valley with a view to further expansion across the county.
The Primary Mental Health Work service also hosts the Northumberland mental health support teams across some areas in the County.
What is the purpose of the ’Be you’ mental health support team?
The mental health support teams provide 3 core functions:
- The delivery of evidence-based individual and group-based interventions.
- Support to school staff, pupils and parents/carers though whole-school approaches such as training, class-based lessons, assemblies, open days and parent/carer evenings.
- Advise, support and signpost to school staff to help identify the most suitable support emotional health support for pupils.
- Our team is aimed at supporting teachers to enhance mental health provision within schools so we’re here to give advice and act as a bridge to other services. But more than anything we are here to help young people develop healthy habits towards mental health and, where necessary, offer support at an early stage.
Who will support the programme in each school as part of the ‘Be You’ team?
Some changes in the order of the following information
We have specially trained staff that work with the Be You team:
- Education mental health practitioners (EMHP’s) in the Be You team who provide the 3 core functions. They work directly with individuals and groups of children and young people at risk of developing mild /moderate emotional difficulties.
- A peer educator worker who works to train and develop peer mentors so young people can help each other manage their mental health and provide support when emotional difficulties arise.
- Occupational therapists work with some of the Be You teams to provide advice, support, signposting, training and resources to school staff to make sure the environment at school is supportive of pupil's emotional health needs.
- Primary mental health Workers (PMHWs) also support the team by providing interventions with individuals with moderate mental health needs and support the EMHPs and school staff through consultation, advice and training.
The Be You team also works closely with the following Be You staff including-
- Senior mental health leads are the primary contact point for the ‘Be You’ team within schools and support mental health and wellbeing daily in their school.
- The Senior mental health lead coordinator is a qualified teacher. The role supports the senior mental health leads in schools, chairing peer support group meetings and ensuring learning is shared across schools.
- Educational psychologists and assistant psychologists work with schools to develop whole-school approaches and deliver enhancements to staff knowledge and skills in this area. They also support the impact of the whole school delivery.
- Peer educators work to develop peer mentors so young people can help each other manage their mental health and provide support when emotional difficulties arise.
How does the ‘Be You’ programme work with existing services?
All other services currently available to schools and young people to support their emotional health and wellbeing continue to exist. This means the Early Help, SEND Support, NHS services and voluntary organisations continue to operate alongside ‘Be You’. We’re something extra – not a replacement.
Get in touch
For further information please contact Rhian Davies rhian.