Focus Topics: Mental Health and Wellbeing
At the Kent Resilience Hub, our focus topics support schools and professionals to strengthen children and young people’s mental health, wellbeing, and resilience. Covering key areas such as anxiety, trauma, behaviour, and relationships, they provide clear, evidence-informed guidance for responding to a range of needs.
Developed through our Wellbeing for Schools workshops, each topic brings together practical strategies, tools, and expert advice to support early intervention, build resilience, and create safe, supportive environments where young people can thrive.
Explore the topics below or join one of our Wellbeing for Schools workshops to build your knowledge, develop practical strategies, and enhance your approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools.
Simply select the focus topic heading of your choice, and then select ‘filter results’.
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A Safety Plan template
This safety plan template should support you in the development of a safety plan with a child or young person, and those that can support them when experiencing self-harm.
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Anxiety and Autism
In England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week. In this video Dr Rachel Hussey discusses understanding the world from the neuro diverse perspective, differences in the way the brain functions, different thinking styles and how this may contribute to anxiety
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Anxiety in Children and Young People: Webinar for School Staff
Kent Educational Psychology Service (KEPS), the PRU, Inclusion and Attendance Service (PIAS) and Early Help have produced the following resource to support school staff when working with children and young people experiencing anxiety.
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Barnardo’s Transition Resources
A useful leaflet full of activities and resources to allow children to explore their feelings during the transition from Year 6 to Year 7.
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Basic self-harm awareness
Self-harm awareness training for Medway professionals supporting children and young people.
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Beat: Eating Disorders
National organisation offering support and information in relation to eating disorders. Formal diagnosis is not needed to seek help. Calls to the helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills.
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Childnet – online safety for young people
Childnet is a charity that provides online safety education, resources and advice for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals.
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Classroom wellbeing toolkit
A toolkit for secondary school staff, sharing practical steps to promote and support mental health through everyday interactions with students.
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Disordered Eating
Dr Annie Cardinal, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Strategic Lead and Aimee Flannagan, Assistant Psychologist for the Kent and Medway All Age Eating Disorder Service share bitesize information on disordered eating. Whilst these have been developed for acute setting staff in mind, these videos are relevant to practitioners in acute, community and primary care settings as well as partner organisations.
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Eating disorders and refeeding syndrome
Dr Annie Cardinal, Clinical Lead & Sara Boorman, Head of Service, for Kent and Medway’s All Age Eating Disorder Service presents this bitesize introduction to management of children and young people with eating disorders. Whilst these have been developed for acute setting staff in mind, these videos are relevant to practitioners in acute, community and primary care settings as well as partner organisations.
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Everyday Mental Health course
This 1 hour course explores common stressors such as financial worries, how these can impact us and how we can positively manage our own wellbeing. Delivered by Mid Kent Mind.
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Functional Neurological Disorder (FND?)
FND and functional neurological symptoms are surprisingly common but can be difficult for patients and health professionals to understand. This website, written by a neurologist with a special interest in these problems, aims to give you a better understanding of these symptoms.
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Functional Neurological Symptoms
An introduction to Functional Neurological symptoms including up to date research, resources and learning from good practice. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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Guidance for Management of Functional Neurological Disorders in Schools & Colleges
This guidance was written with input from the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Mental Health Support Team, Educational Psychology Service, school staff, and students in a mainstream secondary school diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND).
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Internet Matters
A one-stop shop resource featuring guides and apps about internet safety.
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Kent and Medway All Age Eating Disorder Service
Specialist help and support for those experiencing disturbances in eating behaviour, as well as feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape and /or weight.
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Let’s talk about anxiety: animation and teacher toolkit
The Let’s talk about anxiety animation and resource toolkit helps students aged 11 to 13 to normalise, understand and manage anxious feelings.
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PSHE Association – Support your pupils to stay healthy and safe
PSHE education helps children and young people to understand their own and others’ emotions, develop healthy coping strategies and seek appropriate support. And talking openly about mental health issues is an effective means of breaking down any associated stigma.
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Self-harm and suicide prevention apps
A list of apps that support young people with self-harm and suicide prevention, offering tools for coping, safety, and emotional wellbeing
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Self-Harm Prevention Guidance | Support for CYP in Kent
Expert self-harm prevention guidance for supporting children and young people in Kent, including warning signs, advice, and support pathways.
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Selfharm: Alumina
Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 8 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK.
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Sorts – Recognising and responding to self-harm in schools
Training and information to help all school staff including those in admin, support and teaching roles respond to young people who self-harm.
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Students, Substances and Mental Health
In this webinar 'We are with you' will be talking about the effects on substance misuse on students, the current data on where we are at and what you can do to help
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Supporting transitions
Colleagues from NELFT Emotional Wellbeing Teams (MHST) and KCHFT Whole School Approach team discuss supporting transitions. Including everyday transitions and transitions such as starting primary school, moving to secondary school, and leaving school. The team share theory and practice tips.
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Supporting you to work better with young people
Young Minds knows working with children and young people can be rewarding and fulfilling, but it can be difficult sometimes too. They can offer you the resources, training and consultancy you need so you can be there for the young people when they open up about their mental health.
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Supporting young people who self-harm
An introduction to supporting young people who self-harm with practical strategies and information. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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Talking about Mental Health with children of primary age (Anna Freud)
Simple advice and guidance to parents and carers of primary aged children about how to make conversations about their child's feelings part of everyday conversations.
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Template for Self Harm Policy
This template for a self-harm policy enables organisations to have clarity and direction about how best to support young people as well as ensuring good safeguarding practice.
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The Importance of Sleep
An introduction to the Importance of Sleep. Understand what sleep is, the science behind it and why it is so important to raise the profile for children’s development. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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The role of the All Age Eating Disorders Service (AAEDs)
An introduction to the All Age Eating Disorders Service in Kent and Medway. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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The Sleep Charity
Whether a parent or a professional, it is important to understand how important sleep is to good health, the impact of sleep deprivation and how we can prioritise sleep.
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Understanding and supporting young people experiencing suicidal ideation in educational settings
An introduction to understanding and supporting young people experiencing suicidal ideation. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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Understanding Anxiety with young people
An introduction to Understanding Anxiety with young people, including what is anxiety and you can support children and young people. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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Understanding Worries and Fears in Childhood for Education Professionals
An introduction to Understanding Worries and Fears in Childhood for Education Professionals. This video is part of the county network series from the Wellbeing for Schools team.
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We Are With You: Mind and Body Programme
Mind and Body accept referrals from young people, parents/carers and professionals. We Are With You can offer 1:1. group and in school support to young people aged 13-17 who may be struggling with self-harm or their mental health, where they have not taken any steps to end their own life within the past month.
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Youth Mental Health and Suicide Awareness course
This course is suitable for anyone who supports, encounters or cares for a young person including health care workers, school staff, family and youth group leaders. Delivered by Mid Kent Mind.