1. SEND Parent Meeting Gemma Battrick-Mantell SENCO
Jackie Oakley SEND Manager
Ruth Crockett SEND Governor

2. Objectives Guest Speakers: Dorset Mind
To discuss strategies for supporting children with anxiety
Ways to support children with their mental health and wellbeing

3. Who are Dorset Mind
Dorset Mind are an affiliate of national Mind, is an independent voluntary organisation registered with the Charity Commission.
Dorset Mind aims to help people to cope with their mental health problems and to rebuild their lives. Mental health problems can affect anyone: around one in four people will suffer from some form of mental health problem during their lifetime. The most common forms of mental health problems are anxiety and depression.

4. What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of fear or panic. Feeling generally anxious sometimes is normal. Most people worry about something - money or exams - but once the difficult situation is over, you feel better and calm down.
If the problem has gone but the feeling of fear or panic stays or even gets stronger, that’s when anxiety becomes a problem.
With as many as one in six young people experiencing anxiety at some point, it is very common to have anxiety.

5. Symptoms of anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety start out the same as just feeling generally anxious but get worse or last longer than they should. These include:
Feeling frightened, nervous or panicky all the time
Getting down or depressed
Difficulty sleeping
Low appetite
Lack of concentration
Tired and irritable
Palpitations - when your heart feels like its racing
Dry mouth
Trembling
Feeling faint
Stomach cramps and/or diarrhoea
Feeling one, some or even most of the above doesn’t necessarily mean you have anxiety. It’s important to talk to your GP to get a full diagnosis.

6. What t do about anxiety
If you notice symptoms in your child then it is important to see your GP and inform school.
•Worrying or difficult behaviour might be short-lived, so give it some time. All children go through stages of feeling anxious or angry and they can show this in lots of ways, for example, tantrums, crying, sleeping problems or fighting with friends or siblings. They might be adapting to a change in the family or in their school life, or just trying out new emotions, and will generally grow out of worrying behaviour on their own or with family support.
•Talk to your child: Even young children can understand about feelings and behaviour if you give them a chance to talk about it. Take it gently and give them examples of what you mean, for example, ‘When you said you hated Molly, you looked really angry. What was making you so cross?’, or ‘When you can’t get to sleep, is there anything in your mind making you worried?’
•With older children, they might not want to talk at first. Let them know you are concerned about them, and are there if they need you. Sending an or a text can work better if this is the way your child likes to communicate.
•Ask your child what they think would help - they often have good ideas about solving their own problems.
•If you can, talk to your child's other parent about your worries, when the child is not around. They might have a different take on what’s going on. Try and sort out how to deal with the behaviour together so you are using the same approach, and can back each other up. Children are quick to spot if parents disagree, and can try and use this to get their own way.

7. Mental Health and Wellbeing
Connect
There is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to functioning well in the world.
It’s clear that social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages.
With this in mind, try to do something different today and make a connection.
•Talk to someone instead of sending an
•Speak to someone new
•Ask how someone’s weekend was and really listen when they tell you
•Put five minutes aside to find out how someone really is
•Give a colleague a lift to work or share the journey home with them.

8. Mental Health and Wellbeing
Be active
Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.
Exercise is essential for slowing age-related cognitive decline and for promoting well-being.
But it doesn’t need to be particularly intense for you to feel good - slower-paced activities, such as walking, can have the benefit of encouraging social interactions as well providing some level of exercise.
Today, why not get physical? Here are a few ideas:
•Take the stairs not the lift
•Go for a walk at lunchtime
•Walk into work - perhaps with a colleague – so you can ‘connect’ as well
•Get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the final part of your journey to work
•Organise a work sporting activity
•Have a kick-about in a local park
•Do some ‘easy exercise’, like stretching, before you leave for work in the morning
•Walk to someone’s desk instead of calling or ing.

9. Mental Health and Wellbeing
Take notice
Reminding yourself to ‘take notice’ can strengthen and broaden awareness.
Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities.
Heightened awareness also enhances your self-understanding and allows you to make positive choices based on your own values and motivations.
Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you. Here are a few ideas:
•Get a plant for your workspace
•Have a ‘clear the clutter’ day
•Take notice of how your colleagues are feeling or acting
•Take a different route on your journey to or from work
•Visit a new place for lunch.

10. Mental Health and Wellbeing
Looking After Yourself
•If your child is having problems, don’t be too hard on yourself or blame yourself. Although it can be upsetting and worrying if your child is having a bad time, and it makes your relationship with them feel more stressful, you are not a bad parent. Children often take it out on those closest to them, so you might be feeling the effect of their very powerful emotions.
•If you had a difficult time growing up yourself, or have had emotional problems or mental health problems, it can be very worrying to think that the same thing might happen to your child. But the love and care you show them and the fact that you are trying to help will protect against this. Getting help for them and perhaps for yourself too can give them the best chance of feeling better.
•If things are getting you down, it’s important to recognise this. Talk to someone you trust and see what they think. Many people go on struggling with very difficult situations because they feel they should be able to cope, and don’t deserve any help.
•Friends and family can often help - don’t be afraid to ask them to have your child for a bit if you need some time out to sort out your own stuff. You can repay them when things get better for you!

11. Services offered through Dorset Mind
Our Young People Befriending Service offers individual support by trained volunteer befrienders to young people with concerns about their mental health and/or emotional wellbeing.
Young People's Befriending Pilot Scheme. The aim is to improve quality of life, reduce isolation, and increase confidence and self-esteem.
Volunteer befrienders (all of whom are 18+) will have an induction, plus mental health, child protection and safeguarding training.
Volunteers can provide support of approximately one hour a week (or two hours a fortnight) for up to a year. We ask our volunteers to commit to the service for a minimum of one year.

12. Mental Health Event
#IMINDUK Mental Health Awareness & Social Action Day 2018
It is a FREE youth run event being held at Bournemouth University
17th March
Please see link below for more information

13. Support / Umbrella Group
We are a parent led support group, for parents of children and young adults with ASD. We are known as The Umbrella Group, with its connotations of protection and covering a wide spectrum of behaviours which all come under the same umbrella of autism. We normally meet once a month, but during school holidays, meetings may not take place or are rescheduled and so you should check first with Debbie or Natalie.
Venue The Pool room at Portfield School, Parley Lane, Hurn, Christchurch BH23 6BP
On 4th Saturday of the month (Occasionally changes due to school holidays)
Time  am
We often have speakers at our meetings
 We hope to see you for support, laughter, moaning and tears!
Saturday 24th February am -12
Supporting students with ASD in mainstream schools
Saturday 24th March am-12
Susan Britain
Understanding self-harming. A parent’s perspective
For more information please contact:-
Debbie Muldoon-Hall ( )
Natalie Chambers ( )