Understanding Mental Health

of Children & Young People in

Renfrewshire
2020/21
What Is ‘Mental Health’?

“Mental health is defined as a

state of well-being in which every
individual realises his or her own
potential, can cope with the
normal stresses of life, can work
productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to
her or his community”

World Health Organisation

What is ‘Mental Health’?
Terminology
 Mental Health
Overarching umbrella under which ‘mental health problems’ (MHP) and ‘mental
health and wellbeing’ (MHW) sit.
 Mental Health Difficulties
A term that refers to symptoms that meet the criteria for clinical diagnosis
of MH problems i.e. anxiety, depression, eating disorder, etc.
 Mental Wellbeing
A term that includes self satisfaction and how we feel about ourselves. i.e.
self worth, self confidence, control, purpose, sense of belonging, positive
relationships.

Mental Health has to be referred to as a ‘continuum’

Why prevention is important

•1 in 10 children have no one to talk to in school when they are worried or sad
•nearly four in ten (38%) said that it caused them difficulty with going to
sleep
•more than a quarter (27%) said they got into fights or arguments
•more than one in four (26%) said that it caused them to struggle to do their
homework
•more than one in four (27%) didn’t want to be around others.
Why prevention is important

• 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24
• Adverse childhood experiences have been found to have a lifelong impact on mental
health
• Children born into poverty are more likely to experience mental health problems
• Education is important for wellbeing and can impact on many outcomes in life such
as mental health. (Public Health Scotland 2021)
• 20% of adolescents may experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• 10% of children and young people (aged 5-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable
mental problem, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health
problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.
 Discussion

What can affect the mental health of a

child/young person?
What can affect C&YP MH?

• Poverty • Physical abuse

• Bereavement • Sexual abuse
• Imprisonment • Peer pressure
• Divorce/separation • School pressures
• Bullying
• Caring responsibilities
• Long term illness
• Addiction
• Gender/sexuality
What Should I Look Out For..?

• Withdrawn/Loneliness • Self harming behaviours

• Decline in school performance • Absenteeism from school, youth club

(short/long term health)
• Physical appearance
• Lack of interest in things they used
to enjoy
• Aggressive
• Low self-esteem/confidence/worth
• Risk taking behaviour

• Communication difficulties
• Changes in eating/sleeping habits
What Can We Do?

‘Learning through HWB promotes confidence, independent thinking and positive

attitudes and dispositions. Because of this, it is the responsibility of every
teacher to contribute to learning and development in this area’. (BtC1)
1. Protecting, Promoting &
Supporting C&YP Mental Health
2. Remember – GIRFEC
My World Triangle

Good coping and Support through

problem solving skills ongoing mental
health care
Supportive Stable and
trusted adult supportive
environments
Financial
security
Feeling safe

Access to social Strong connections Amenities and

networks to family and services
community support
3.Be knowledgeable of NHSGGC
Framework for improving MH
One Good Adult
Importance of dependable
adult to supporting and
protecting mental health of
children and young people –
e.g. strengthen parenting,
mentoring, guidance,
befriending initiatives
Guiding Thru the Service
Maze
Children, families & young
people have range of support
options for early intervention
and can be helped to find
their way to appropriate help
quickly
Resilience Development in
Schools
Whole school approach to
mental health and wellbeing –
ethos, curriculum, positive
behaviour, anti-bullying,
pastoral care…
Responding to Distress
Frontline staff in many
agencies are confident and
supported to intervene and
help children and young
people in situations of
distress, including self harm
and risk of suicide
Resilience Development in
Communities
Strong network of youth
services, voluntary and
community organisations,
confident and skilled to
support and intervene
Peer help & Social Media
Those who share their
problems enjoy better mental
health - build opportunities for
young people to provide peer
support, and to use social
media for wellbeing
QR codes – Renfrewshire Council’s Mental Health and
Wellbeing Policy for Education Establishments
Early Years/Primary Secondary
4. Reduce the stigma…
Its okay not to be okay!
https://www.seemescotland.org/young-
people/whats-on-your-mind/
-Watch the video clip ‘What Difference Can
It Make?’ to gain a better understanding of
why a whole school approach to tackling MH
stigma is imperative.
Key messages
Create the conditions to:
•invite conversations with young people to talk about how
they feel.
•Have young people and adults working together to
produce an environment free from discrimination. How
can you contribute?
•Have the confidence to learn and use the same emotional
literacy, and challenge behaviours of others.
 5. In addition…
• Be vigilant for trends/changes in behaviour in your class/school/community
• Use Digital resources/Curriculum packs
• Keep up to date with current school, authority and national priorities and
training opportunities through the Renfrewshire HWB monthly newsletter
• Engage with the Scottish Government's new Children and Young People's
Mental Health Professional e-Learning Resource - https://www.cypmh.co.uk/
• Engage with the professional learning areas of our HWB blog -
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/re/renfrewshirehwb/
• Be aware of voluntary organisations – info contained in MHWB Policy
appendix
Looking After Yourself

 Support and supervision – who can you turn to?

 Time for Talking Counselling Service https://www.timefortalking.co.uk/

 Scottish Government Children and Young People's Mental Health Learning Resource
includes an area for self-care - https://www.cypmh.co.uk/

 NHS Living Life is a free telephone service available to anyone over the age of 16 feeling
low, anxious or stressed http://www.nhs24.com/usefulresources/livinglife/

MAKE TIME TO DO THE THINGS YOU ENJOY!

Resources for staff

• Warning signs and managing disclosures

• Further Information and Sources of Support for Common Mental
Health Issues
• Talking to students when they make a mental health disclosure
• Guidance and Advice Documents
• Mental Health and Wellbeing signposts for children/young people,
parents/carers and staff (separate resources)
• Supporting children/young people at risk of self-harm and suicide