Top tips for safely and sensitively teaching about mental health Dr Pooky Knightsmith Director: children, young people & schools Charlie Waller Memorial Trust Write notes here

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Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

What could happen? Pupil gets upset Disclosure Trigger behaviours

Have a plan for supporting in case of distress Be familiar with school policy in case a child causes concern or makes a disclosure

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

Hold vulnerable students in mind

Supporting Vulnerable Pupils 1 2 3 Give staff / pupils a heads up (share lesson content?) Invite input – what do peers need to know? Possibility of withdrawal OR ‘get out plan’

Inform relevant staff about upcoming lessons so pupils with known issues can be supported prior to the lesson

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

Methods of self-harm include ingesting poisons including X, Y or Z EDUCATE rather than INSTRUCT Methods of self-harm include ingesting poisons including X, Y or Z Methods of self-harm include ingesting poisons including X Y or Z

Review all lesson content to ensure it does not provide a ‘how to guide’

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

Video Case Study Day in the life of Talking about things in the third person helps to keep me safe, and avoids embarrassing me Video Case Study Day in the life of

Use distancing techniques. Also review all content for similarities to pupils in your class (name, appearance, story)

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

School Local Helplines Online

WHAT will happen if they do HOW to access support WHY to access support WHAT will happen if they do

If possible, remain behind for a few minutes after the lesson in case there is a pupil who needs some extra support

Signpost support both within relevant lessons and beyond them Signpost support both within relevant lessons and beyond them. All pupils should know how, where, when and why to seek support.

Anonymous questions & thoughts can be fed to Margot Monster

End on a light note…

Any Questions?

Next Time… 4th October 6pm Understanding Self-Harm (primary & secondary pupils) Dr Pooky Knightsmith @PookyH | pooky@cwmt.org Link to register Write notes here

Lovely Free Stuff ….from CWMT…

Free Book Club for School Mental Health Leads inourhands.com/bookclub @CharlieWTrust | @PookyH

Mental Health: Weekly Online Learning for Staff working with CYP inourhands.com/onlinelearning @CharlieWTrust | @PookyH

@CharlieWTrust | @PookyH Mental Health: Free training and workshops for school staff, pupils and parents inourhands.com/cwmt @CharlieWTrust | @PookyH

E-Newsletter Highlighting events, resources, research etc inourhands.com/sign-up @CharlieWTrust | @PookyH

Dr Pooky Knightsmith Director: CYP& Schools Charlie Waller Memorial Trust training@cwmt.org | 01635 869754 pooky@cwmt.org | 07590 446 791 | @PookyH

Any Questions?