Healthy mind CYP
Mental health & wellbeing
Many young people experience issues such as anxiety, low mood, depression, eating disorders and self-harm. At least 1 in 6 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health condition. If you are ready to share how you feel, help is available. You are not alone.
There are many services that we provide in the borough to support you. Please visit:
Useful links:
Don't Hide Your Mind: Talk About It
Mental health is a spectrum. Whether you’re feeling happy, sad, or somewhere in between, we are all somewhere on that spectrum. Talk About It. Don’t hide your mind.
Mental health and wellbeing tips
Looking after your mental health is something we should invest in, like our physical health. Building your mental health can help us to build resilience to manage difficult times in the future.
Top tips:
- Reframe unhelpful thoughts
- Be in the present (see information on mindfulness)
- Get good quality sleep
- Connect with others
- Live a healthy life
- Do something for yourself
- Write a letter to future you (a mind plan)
Resilient Schools
The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people can affect them for the rest of their lives. Supporting their mental health at this early stage can help them cope better with life, whatever it throws at them. The growing number of children and young people experiencing poor mental health is one of the greatest challenges facing our schools. One in ten young people have some form of diagnosable mental health condition and we know that half of these are established before the age of fourteen.
Resilience in schools is seen when pupils, parents/carers and staff have a greater ability to “bounce back’’ when faced with difficulties so that they can achieve positive outcomes. The Resilient Schools Programme takes a whole-school approach to promote and build resilience in schools and address mental health concerns early on.
Barnet CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) have developed a resilience-based programme which works on the principles of a child-centred approach, involving children, young people and families at the heart.
Perinatal mental health
Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. Perinatal mental illness affects up to 27% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions.
Examples of perinatal mental health problems include antenatal and/or postnatal depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, postpartum psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These illnesses can be mild, moderate or severe, requiring different kinds of care or treatment.
Perinatal Mental Health Coaches are available to help in Barnet. Health coaches will support you with weekly coaching sessions, for three to six months. Perinatal Health Coaches also offer support to access mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence services where required, and will work closely with midwives, GPs, health visitors and children’s centres.
If you would like support from a perinatal health coach please contact:
referrals@homestartbarnet.org or telephone: 020 8371 0674.
There are a range of services available in Barnet to provide support for Perinatal mental health. You can find out more by clicking below.
Papyrus
If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice. Call: 0800 068 4141 | Text: 88247 | Email: pat@papyrus.uk.org
The Waiting Room
The NCL Waiting Room is a website that provides information and resources for young people, parents, carers and professionals who are looking for wellbeing support in North Central London (NCL).
The North Central London Integrated Care System (NCL ICS) covers five London boroughs: Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the opposite of automatic pilot mode. It is about experiencing the world that is firmly in the ‘here and now’ and directing our attention to our experience as it unfolds. This mode is referred to as the being mode. It offers a way of freeing oneself from automatic and unhelpful ways of thinking and responding such as worrying about what has happened or might happen - training us to explore and respond skillfully to whatever is happening right now.
You are able to read more about mindfulness and meditation on the following websites:
As a young person you can access mental health support on Barnet Council’s website.
Digital Resilience
It is an increasingly more digital world, where Children and Young People (CYP) are using digital technologies earlier. Digital resilience is the ability for CYP to develop a critical mindset when accessing information online, to reduce their vulnerability and potential for harm. It is about being able to navigate, deal positively and be able to safeguard themselves from harmful information often found on social media platforms and the internet.
Barnet council have developed resources for children and young people, teachers, parents, and children with SEND to initiate conversations, provide resources and education around this topic.
Please see our page on Digital Resilience here.
Barnet's mental health and wellbeing strategy for children and young people
To mark World Mental Health Day, Barnet Council has launched a new mental health and wellbeing strategy designed to promote the mental wellbeing of children and young people. The strategy was created following consultation and engagement with residents, youth and parent groups and using insights from national and local data.
Visit also Barnet's Children and Young People's Mental Health Charter, co-produced with over 200 young people.
