Children's Mental Health Week

By Natalie Hunt, Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Abingdon Foundation

Last week I attended a staff training webinar with Oxfordshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service's (CAMHS) School In-reach team. It served as a powerful reminder that school staff are uniquely positioned to support young people. Even though we might hesitate to step into therapy territory, simple psychoeducation techniques can make a huge difference in the early stages of emerging mental health concerns. This is especially important as we mark #ChildrensMentalHeathWeek.

I run an ‘early intervention’ programme across three secondary schools in the OX14 Learning Partnership. This initiative supports individuals, pairs, and small groups referred by tutors and pastoral staff for concerns like anxiety, low mood, friendship struggles, and low self-esteem. The programme allows schools to triage their support, offering timely interventions that can prevent issues from escalating.

Students are given clear information about the programme’s purpose and nature. If they choose to participate, they are also informed that I am not a therapist or counsellor and that standard safeguarding procedures are followed.

When working with young people, I use a variety of strategies to help them identify their own internal and external protective factors and understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected. Above all, I aim to provide a safe space where students can talk openly to a trusted adult, outside of their usual environment.

I’m grateful to Anna Lise Gordon from St Mary’s University, who is collaborating with me to measure the outcomes of this programme. I look forward to sharing these insights soon.

For more information about the programme or our collaborative work, please email: ox14lp@abingdon.org.uk.