Police support pupils with mental health issues

Online education packages for schools to help children and young people are being introduced by Northumbria Police in support of Children's Mental Health Week.

Dedicated schools liaison officers have developed online packages for schools to access during lockdown which address matters such as self-esteem, forming healthy relationship, harm and exploitation.

Community Advisor Nichola

Bone has created the packages, which help children better understand mental health, and hopes they can help teachers with early intervention and education to prevent children suffering mental health issues in later life.

She said: "The packages are tailored to Key Stage 2 and will be delivered by teachers to help children better understand things like self-esteem, bullying, peer pressure and online safety.

"Young people are dealing with a lot right now and with the added pressures of social media, it can be really overwhelming for a lot of children.

"We aim to help provide a network of support to show that talking about mental health is good and we should encourage openness around it.

"While our Safetyworks centre maybe closed, we are still doing a lot of work to provide learning online for schools to access during heightened Covid restrictions."

Schools and educational professionals can access the packages by searching Northumbria Police Education Advice online

Anyone who needs urgent help with mental health issues or learning disability can telephone the CNTW dedicated helplines 24/7 on 0800 6522 867.