Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Children Partnership

Emotional wellbeing and mental health

Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for the development of mental health. The foundations laid during these years shape future wellbeing. A child who develops strong mental health early on is more likely to maintain it into adulthood, take on responsibilities successfully, and reach their full potential.

Mental health influences every aspect of a child's development, including how they think, learn, interact socially, and manage emotions. Emotional resilience plays a central role, and there are key behaviours commonly seen in mentally healthy children and young people, including:

  • the ability to form and sustain positive relationships
  • the ability to engage in play and learning that is appropriate for their age and level of understanding
  • developing a good understanding of right and wrong
  • developing the ability and resilience to handle emotional challenges
  • a clear sense of identity and self-worth
  • continuous psychological and emotional development

When children and young people have good mental health, they are more likely to thrive in life. They’re more likely to enjoy their childhood, cope with stress and adversity, succeed academically, build strong friendships, safely navigate the digital world, and embrace new experiences with confidence. 

Emotional Health and Wellbeing Directory

The Emotional Health and Wellbeing Directory is designed to support children and young people across Westmorland and Furness by helping professionals and families find the right help at the right time.

The directory is organised into six key sections, each hyperlinked for easy navigation:

  • counselling and therapeutic services
  • local community services
  • support for specific needs
  • online resources and self-help tools
  • specialist services
  • crisis and emergency care

It also addresses a wide range of important topics, including:

  • resilience building
  • SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
  • SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health)
  • transitions through and out of school life
  • bullying
  • sexuality and identity
  • anxiety and stress
  • bereavement and loss
  • self-esteem and confidence
  • trauma and safeguarding

This directory brings together services and resources across Westmorland and Furness to support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people. It is designed to help services, organisations and community partners find the right help, at the right time for children, young people and families. Each entry is organised by Key Area and tagged with Key Themes such as Anxiety, Bullying, and SEND, making it easier to navigate.

The Children and Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing Directory (PDF , 698KB) provides information on how to support children and young people with their emotional health and wellbeing.

Thrive after tackling trauma (TATT) service – support for Eden residents

The Thrive after Tackling Trauma (TATT) Service supports children, young people and care leavers in the Eden area who have lost a loved one to suicide or traumatic death.  The service is for:

  • ages 6–24
  • ages 24–29 for those leaving care

Offering 6–8 sessions, TATT helps you feel safe, listened to and supported, providing a space to talk through your experiences.

If you or someone you are supporting lives in the Eden area, you can reach out today:

You can also download and share information leaflets about the service for children and young people by clicking the links below.

Information for professionals

Children and young people’s health and wellbeing, provides information about support schemes on offer in Westmorland and Furness for children and young people’s health and wellbeing. 

Thrive Pathway, has a one-page guide to help you choose the right Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health services and support (PDF , 526KB)  across Cumbria. It is intended to help you choose the right support and service depending on presenting symptoms and behaviours. The guide to help you choose the right support and service can be accessed by the link below: 

Cumbria Service Providers Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Padlet, provides support for services working with children and young people across Westmorland and Furness. It offers a range of resources, training opportunities, and links to additional services that promote emotional wellbeing, resilience, and mental health in children and young people. 

Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health - A Schools Guide Padlet, provides support for schools in accessing resources and training focused on emotional wellbeing, mental health and resilience in children and young people. It includes links to local and national support services for school staff, as well as services to meet the needs of children and young people. 

Child Bereavement Support Information for Schools, Families and Communities (PDF , 309KB) contains details of information and support available in Westmorland and Furness in respect of Child Bereavement. 

The school age children and young people self-harm pathway is a guide to help schools decide who to ask for help to choose the right support service.

Social emotional mental health in Westmorland and Furness

Support C&YP with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs , explains what SEMH is and how to support children and young people.

The SEMH How Can I Help (PDF , 241KB) provides guidance to support accessibility for C&YP with SEMH needs.

Social, emotional mental health – ‘all about me’ (PDF, 128KB), explains what the ‘All About Me’ personal profile (DOCX , 201KB), is and how it can help. For guidance on how to complete these, please refer to WFSCP Guidance Document - all about me (DOCX , 23KB)

Training

Links to useful training resources relating to emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Every Life Matters

Every Life Matters is a programme focused on raising awareness and understanding around mental health and suicide prevention.  All programmes and awareness raising sessions can be used by school staff, health and mental health professionals as well as any service supporting children, young people and families.

Every Life Matters Cumbria is a local charity dedicated to suicide prevention and promoting mental health awareness across Cumbria.  They offer training and support designed to help individuals and communities understand mental health challenges, recognise signs of emotional distress, and respond effectively to those at risk of suicide. 

The following training is  free:

  • suicide awareness bitesize training session
  • suicide alertness interactive training
  • safety planning to support someone with thoughts on suicide
  • self-Harm alertness
  • parent & carer session: supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing

The following training is at a cost:

  • ASK workshop: assessing suicide in kids
  • applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST)
  • mental health first aid (face to face or on-line) and Youth MHFA
  • mental health awareness training

Suicide awareness & prevention training courses – Links to the Every Life Matters website. Information regarding suicide prevention training. The training aims to reduce the stigma attached to suicide, increase understanding of when someone is at risk of suicide, raise awareness of how to practically support someone, and the range of services and resources available for people in our communities experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Change talks 

Change Talks – LSCFT resource, is a health education initiative offered by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. Change Talks delves into critical subjects such as anxiety, depression, risk taking behaviours, stress management and eating disorders. This health education initiative serving Lancashire and South Cumbria is primarily focused on young people, schools, and communities. The goal is to raise the awareness of mental health, emotional well-being, and the significance of early intervention. The programmes and sessions are led by a team with both lived experience and professional expertise.

For more information, visit the Change Talks website.

Solihull approach

Solihull approach is a training model designed to enhance emotional health and well-being by improving relationships and understanding of mental health in families and communities. Solihull approach programmes can be accessed by professionals and practitioners, families and young people. 

Solihull Approach is a model of working with children, families, and professionals that emphasises emotional health, attachment, and relationships.  The approach aims to promote emotional well-being by offering a framework that helps professionals understand and respond to the emotional needs of children and families.

The Solihull Approach training is FREE to anyone who lives or works in Cumbria. 

Solihull approach online modules  

In our place  is a website where you can access many training courses. Access code : WORDSWORTH 

This website provides training for parents, carers, grandparents and young people. The courses offered are:

  • understanding pregnancy, labour birth, and your baby
  • understanding your baby
  • understanding your preterm or sick baby in hospital / now you’re home
  • understanding your child
  • understanding your teenager's brain
  • understanding your child’s feelings 
  • understanding your child’s mental wellbeing
  • understanding your child with additional needs
  • understanding the impact of the pandemic on your child
  • understanding your relationships
  • understanding your brain (for teenagers only!)
  • understanding your feelings (for teenagers only!)
  • understanding Anger
  • understanding Behaviour
  • moving on up – transition 

Professionals Courses:

In our place  also has training for professionals. Access code: WORDSWORTHPRF 

  • understanding trauma
  • understanding attachment
  • understanding brain development 

MindED 

MindEd is a free educational resource on children, young people, adults and older people’s mental health. The online learning platform offers training and resources on mental health to help support children and young people. The resource is intended to support anyone who works, volunteers or is studying to work with infants, children, teenagers or adults. MindEd has elearning applicable across the health, social care, education, criminal justice and community settings. It is aimed at anyone from beginner through to specialist. All registered learners can access a learning path tailored to their needs.

MindEd for families – There are also free to use resources to support parents and carers. They provide safe and reliable advice about young people’s mental health, created by experts and parents together.

MindEd brochure, provides a range of specialised e-learning sessions, including:

  • adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) programme
  • blue light services
  • combining therapies
  • core mental health content
  • counselling
  • MindEd for families
  • healthy child mental health framework
  • improving workforce wellbeing, resilience and population mental health
  • learning disabilities and mental health
  • suicide and self-harm prevention (SSHP)
  • targeted and specialist CAMHS
  • wellbeing for education return
  • MindEd top tips hub