Mental health support teams for schools are expanding across Northumberland. 

  

Following their successful introduction in schools in Blyth, Hexham, Ashington and Bedlington, the teams will now be rolled out across the Alnwick and Coquet Partnerships of schools. 

 

Ahead of the launch, children, young people, parents, carers and teachers in the Alnwick and Coquet Partnerships are being asked to share their views on their child's mental health and the support they would like to see to help shape the service.   

   

Known as 'Be You,' the teams support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs and provide training and support for school staff, parents and carers.   
 

The aim is to open-up conversations around wellbeing and mental health to make sure that children and young people get the right support at the right time and gain the skills they need to build their resilience.   

  

The service was named ’Be You’ following consultation with young people - a reminder to always be themselves and be the very be the best they can be.  

  

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member with responsibility for Inspiring Young People, said: “I am delighted that we are now able to roll out this excellent programme across more of our schools.  

  

“Over the last three years, the teams have developed fantastic relationships with students, staff, parents and carers, embedding mental health support into schools.  

  

“We want to equip children and young people with the tools they need to develop healthy habits surrounding their mental health so they can overcome the challenges they face, build resilience and thrive.   

  

“By offering guidance at an early stage we want to prevent problems from escalating further.  

  

“We also want to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, making young people feel more comfortable asking for support or advice about where to go or who to contact.”  

  

Funded by the Department for Education and NHS England, ‘Be You’ is a partnership with NHS North East and Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Northumberland  County Council.  

  

The teams are made up of Education Mental Health Practitioners, Primary Mental Health Workers, Educational Psychologists and Assistant Educational Psychologists, a Peer Mentor Co-ordinator and a Senior Mental Health Leads Co-ordinator. Working collaboratively, the different professionals take the lead for different activities available to schools, working from the individual to the whole school level.  

  

Rachel Mitcheson, local director for NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “What a brilliant journey it has been over the last three years since we launched our first Be You trailblazer programme. Through investing in more preventative and early help measures we are seeing a real impact on the lives of our children and young people and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.  

  

“We’re really excited to build on the work of Be You and expand our teams so this vital service can go from strength to strength.  

  

“It’s really important that we hear the views of as many people as possible in the Alnwick and Coquet areas, so that we can shape the service to best meet the needs of the community.”  

  

Ahead of the launch, children, young people, parents, carers and teachers in the Alnwick and Coquet Partnerships are being asked to share their views on the services and support they would like to see to help shape the service.   

  

We will use the data collected to plan for further face-to-face consultation events as well as a series of launch events that will take place later this term.