Newton Abbot business welcomes mental health announcement

A South Devon business which trains teachers to support the emotional and social development of children has welcomed a government announcement of new online resources for schools and colleges to boost mental health support for staff and pupils.

Thrive, based at Seale Hayne, near Newton Abbot, has welcomed news of grants worth more than £750,000 for the Diana Award, the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the Anne Frank Trust to help schools and colleges build relationships between pupils, boost their resilience, and continue to tackle bullying both in person and online.

Videos, webinars and teaching materials, produced in partnership with charities, will be made available to schools and colleges, helping to foster conversations about mental health and reassure many young people who are worried about the impact of the coronavirus on their lives.

Viv Trask-Hall, Head of Innovation in Education and Principal Trainer at Thrive, said: “As a business that works to support the emotional and social development of children and young people, Thrive is delighted to see that the Government is supporting young people’s mental health in this way. It’s encouraging to see that the focus of this initiative is on the mental health of both teachers and pupils. This is a real opportunity for education professionals to model an open and honest approach to mental health and to build on the relationship they have with children to explore this important area together.

“We know from talking to teachers, pupils and parents that there is a need for more support for children’s mental and emotional wellbeing as a result of the disruptions and loss of the coronavirus pandemic and we hope that this is part of a long-term commitment to support the mental and emotional health of our young people and the education sector.”

The announcement also includes a new £95,000 pilot project in partnership with the Education Support Partnership will focus on teachers’ and leaders’ mental health, providing online peer-support and telephone supervision from experts to around 250 school leaders.

It adds to the support the Government has already put in place to help families and children during the pandemic, with more than £9 million already being invested in mental health charities to help them expand and reach those most in need, and priority given to it within planning guides for a phased return to education.

Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford said: “There has never been a more important time to speak about mental health and wellbeing – especially for thousands of children, young people and teachers who are adapting to education and different ways of living and learning in these unprecedented times.

“Schools and colleges are often a safe haven for children and young people, but the challenges we face at this time mean we are all more likely to feel anxious or sad – no matter our age or circumstances.

“These new resources, created with charities and health experts, will encourage confident conversations between friends, colleagues, pupils and their teachers, and improve our understanding of how to make ourselves and others feel better.”