Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families

Anna Freud Centre – Mental Health Awareness Training

The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has been commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care to offer a comprehensive free Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT).  MHAT is underpinned by the Centre’s longstanding experience of working within schools to support pupil, parent/carer and staff mental health. This one-day training grounded on a rigorous evidence base and will take place across England in over 130 locations over the next 6 months (September 2019 – March 2020). To find out whether your secondary school or sixth form college is eligible and to register to attend a free training, please visit the website.

Five Steps to Mental Health and Wellbeing

Over the next four years all schools and colleges will be expected to have a trained designated mental health lead in their setting. The Anna Freud Centre has created a simple framework to help. The Ofsted Inspection Framework calls for settings to support pupils with behaviour and mental health needs and to create a culture that supports emotional wellbeing and resilience.

The Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families have produced a series of helpful wellbeing guides for schools.

Supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools. This booklet is aimed at all schools and provides advise on topics including anxiety, low mood and self-harm.

Supporting mental health and wellbeing in secondary schools. This booklet is for secondary schools and provides guidance around issues including exam stress, substance mis-use and eating disorders.

Supporting staff wellbeing in schools. This booklet aims to offer practical guidance about what school staff and senior leaders can do to support their own and their colleagues’ wellbeing.

Supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools: Engaging with parents and carers. This booklet was developed by teachers, clinicians and parents and carers and explores a range of innovative ways that schools are successfully engaging with parents and carers.