INTRO: Welcome to the NSPCC Learning Podcast, where
INTRO: we share learning and expertise in child protection
INTRO: from inside and outside of the organisation.
INTRO: We aim to create debate, encourage reflection and
INTRO: share good practice on how we can all work together
INTRO: to keep babies, children and young people safe.
PRODUCER: Welcome to the NSPCC Learning Podcast.
PRODUCER: This episode, recorded in January 2025,
PRODUCER: is all about supporting young people with their
PRODUCER: mental health. Mental health is an important
PRODUCER: issue for children and young people.
PRODUCER: In 2023 to 2024, over half
PRODUCER: of all Childline counselling sessions related to
PRODUCER: mental or emotional health and wellbeing.
PRODUCER: Whilst mental health issues can sometimes lead to
PRODUCER: safeguarding and child protection concerns, this
PRODUCER: doesn't have to be the case.
PRODUCER: By recognising when a child is struggling with
PRODUCER: their mental health and intervening to provide
PRODUCER: appropriate support, professionals working with
PRODUCER: children can help prevent mental health problems
PRODUCER: escalating into crisis.
PRODUCER: Common warning signs of potential mental health
PRODUCER: issues include sudden mood and behaviour changes;
PRODUCER: unexplained physical changes such as weight loss
PRODUCER: or gain; self-harming; sudden poor
PRODUCER: academic behaviour or performance; sleeping
PRODUCER: problems; and changes in social habits such
PRODUCER: as withdrawal or avoidance of friends and family.
PRODUCER: However, some mental health issues may not have
PRODUCER: visible signs, and some signs may also look like
PRODUCER: normal child behaviour.
PRODUCER: But if you're concerned that a child may be
PRODUCER: struggling, it's important not to wait for them
PRODUCER: to talk to you before trying to start a
PRODUCER: conversation.
PRODUCER: It might be helpful to consider things from the
PRODUCER: child's perspective.
PRODUCER: I asked two members of the NSPCC's Young People's
PRODUCER: Board for Change, Alice and Douglas, about what
PRODUCER: they think adults should do to be supportive when
PRODUCER: talking to a young person about their mental
PRODUCER: health.
ALICE: I think it's best if they listen, because
ALICE: sometimes they might exacerbate the problem by
ALICE: trying to come up with a solution, especially if
ALICE: they're unqualified.
ALICE: The best thing they can do is just try and do active
ALICE: listening and just try and give words of
ALICE: encouragement. But I know
ALICE: it depends on the severity
ALICE: of the problem, whether they need to be
ALICE: directly addressed to a therapist or something.
ALICE: But the best thing they can do is just to try and
ALICE: listen.
DOUGLAS: Definitely agree with what Alice has said.
DOUGLAS: I'd also say definitely make sure
DOUGLAS: to be supportive.
DOUGLAS: Make sure that the child is aware they can always
DOUGLAS: talk to them about anything.
DOUGLAS: And also point them to any options such as
DOUGLAS: Childline, if they want someone else to talk to;
DOUGLAS: or therapists
DOUGLAS: or anything else, make sure that they're aware of
DOUGLAS: their options and just being supportive,
DOUGLAS: I would say.
PRODUCER: And what might an adult do that isn't so
PRODUCER: supportive?
DOUGLAS: Being dismissive of the issue.
DOUGLAS: Not really listening to what the child is saying
DOUGLAS: about it and just being really...
DOUGLAS: Not being exactly kind
DOUGLAS: about it. Just treating it as "oh grow up,
DOUGLAS: you can go out, get through it fine, it's not a
DOUGLAS: big deal". Saying stuff like that, I
DOUGLAS: would say is not really being supportive.
ALICE: I think the worst thing that an adult can do is
ALICE: invalidate their experience and disregard
ALICE: it. So, hypothetically, if they were struggling
ALICE: with cyberbullying, it might be hard for
ALICE: an adult to relate to that because they didn't have
ALICE: to go through that themselves as a child.
ALICE: So it might be easy to dismiss them and just be
ALICE: like, "just stop going on social media,
ALICE: etcetera." And, yeah, it's...
ALICE: the worst thing you can do is judge them
ALICE: because they're not going to want to come
ALICE: to you if the problem gets
ALICE: worse.
PRODUCER: If you speak to a young person and think they
PRODUCER: need help with their mental health, there's lots
PRODUCER: of places to turn to.
PRODUCER: Childline has a range of free resources,
PRODUCER: including the tool we're going to talk about in
PRODUCER: today's podcast episode, the mental health first
PRODUCER: aid kit.
PRODUCER: A mental health first aid kit can be used by
PRODUCER: young people by themselves, or it can be
PRODUCER: initiated by an adult who wants to support a
PRODUCER: child. The kit includes a plan on what a young
PRODUCER: person can do to cope if they are starting to
PRODUCER: struggle with their mental health.
PRODUCER: Gawain Griffiths is a practitioner within the
PRODUCER: Childline online services team.
PRODUCER: I spoke to Gawain about what a mental health
PRODUCER: first aid kit is and why it's useful.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: In short, the mental health first aid kit is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: there to support someone when they're in
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: crisis and feeling overwhelmed, like how
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you'd have a normal first aid kit to help
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: if you'd had an accident or needed
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: support straight away.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: The principle is that when you're feeling
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: overwhelmed, it's really hard to know
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: what you should be doing, what you can do
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to cope. For a lot of young people,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they'll have things that they can do that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: will support them, but when they're in
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that moment, it's really hard to think of
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that and to know where to go and what to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: do. So having a plan in front of you can
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: make that a lot easier.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It can give you ways to distract
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: yourself, know who to speak to, and just
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: generally give you an idea of what to do
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to cope. Every kit is going to be
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: different for an individual young person,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and that's because for every young person
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: their situation is different, what works
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: for them is different, and where they can
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: get support is different.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: There's lots and lots that can go into
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: it. For some young people, we find that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they like to have things like breathing
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: techniques, different exercises they can
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: do, things around mindfulness.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: And for other young people it can be
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: about distractions, whether that's things
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: like fidget toys or even just watching
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: videos on YouTube, just having a reminder
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: of the different stuff that's available.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Another part of this kind of plan and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: this kind of kit is being able to know
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: what support you can get and when.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So we have templates on the Childline
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: website which go into detail on what you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: can include. We often suggest that people
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: include who they can talk to, details of
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: how to contact them — because young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: people won't always have that number
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: stored or know where to go — and also
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: talk about what they can go to them for
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and when they can go to them.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So, for example, if someone is under
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: CAMHS, they may have a crisis helpline
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they can call, and knowing what hours
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they are available to talk to. Or it may
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: be that they've got a teacher that they
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: particularly trust or someone at home
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that they like to talk to, but knowing
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: when they're available can help set their
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: expectations. And also, when you're
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: making your plan, it can also help you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: see gaps. So if you know that when things
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: are getting really hard, you really need
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to talk to somebody, but actually at the
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: moment you've only really got people who
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: are available from nine to five, or when
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you're at school, or times like that, it
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: can be good to give you a chance to think
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: about where else you can go.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: A really good example is just making sure
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that you write down Childline, so that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you know that actually if it's eleven o'clock
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: at night and you've got no one else to talk
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to, you know that you can contact them
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and how to do that.
PRODUCER: And who is the mental health first aid kit
PRODUCER: suitable for?
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: The mental health care is appropriate for
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: everyone. And there'll be some young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: people who it works for and some young people
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: who it doesn't work for. The thing to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: remember is the mental health care is not
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: an alternative to getting support.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It's very much in addition to whatever
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: support you're trying to put in place and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: is part of then that planning you have
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: around when things are in crisis, and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: looking at how you can support that young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: person overall. What I would say is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: anytime you are concerned about a young person's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: mental health or concerned about their
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: wellbeing, it's then important to take
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that seriously and it's important to look
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: at ways you can get support for them.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: The easiest and universal way is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: then going to a GP.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: You can have a conversation with them
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: about what's going on, and the young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: person can go themselves if they feel
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: able to, or they can go with their parent
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: or carer. You can then also look at
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: things like CAMHS.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Now CAMHS can be referred from the GP,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: but then they will take referrals from
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: schools, or from parents or carers, or
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: from the person themselves if they feel
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: able to. So it's all about looking at
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: what support there is in place for that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: young person. The mental health first aid
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: kit is very much an assist to all of that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: as opposed to an alternative.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It's more about making sure you're looking
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: at it at a time that's appropriate.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So, if somebody is feeling calm and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they're looking to get some support, this
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: is a really good tool to use with them,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and then they can bring it out when
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they're in crisis and then talk about it
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: after.
PRODUCER: That's a really important point to emphasise,
PRODUCER: isn't it, that the mental health first aid kit is
PRODUCER: not a standalone resource and should be used to
PRODUCER: supplement other avenues of support.
PRODUCER: But if you have concerns about a young person
PRODUCER: with low level mental health problems, the first
PRODUCER: aid kit can be a useful tool to prevent those
PRODUCER: problems from escalating.
PRODUCER: So, who is best placed to help young people build
PRODUCER: their mental health first aid kit?
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: In terms of who can support someone, it
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: really varies with that young person.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It's about who's already there to support
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: them in their life. So if somebody is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: there who's supporting them
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: professionally, whether that's a therapist
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: through school or CAMHS, or a worker or a
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: teacher, they can be really best-placed
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: because they know that young person, they
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: work with them all the time.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: But you don't necessarily need to be
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: working with that young person professionally
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to be able to support them, [for example] a parent
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: or carer. If you've got that good relationship
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: with them, and the young person trusts
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you, then you can absolutely sit there
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and do that with them. It's also designed
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: in such a way that a young person can do
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: it themselves. And I think when it comes
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to thinking about who can do it or who's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: best, it's good to think about it from
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: the other point of view of, actually, who's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: going to be most able to support that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: young person to do it. Now, with the
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: first aid kit, the really important thing
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: is that it's young person-led.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: What we find is if you've got this kind
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: of plan and this kit that's set out and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: it's being very much led by another
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: person, that young person has no
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: ownership over it.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So when it comes to, when they're in
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: crisis, they're really not going to pay
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: attention to it because it's not about what
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they want.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Whereas if you have someone who's able to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: work with them, be really patient, and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: actually talk to them about what works
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: for them and what they think will work
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and not work, and actually get that down
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and really work with the young person
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that way, that will get you into a place
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: where you've got a kit that the young person can
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: really use. Where it can be important, if
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you've got professionals working with
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that young person, whether they've
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: designed it with them or not, it can be
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: really helpful for those professionals to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: know what's being designed because then
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they can refer to it with that young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: person. So if a young person is talking
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to them and they're in crisis, and they
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: both got this kit that they've designed
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: together or that they're both aware of,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they can then refer to it and talk about
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: different techniques and see whether or not they're
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: going to work with them in that situation.
PRODUCER: You talk there about the importance of the first
PRODUCER: aid kit being child-led, so the child takes a
PRODUCER: lead on creating that kit.
PRODUCER: I'm curious at what point you'd direct the young
PRODUCER: person to this resource and how you'd go about
PRODUCER: beginning that conversation.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It depends a lot on the young person,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: in terms of how you'd approach it. If you've
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: got a really good relationship with a
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: young person and they're very keen to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: look at different ways, it's a really
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: easy conversation. You can bring up and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: maybe show them the website, maybe ask
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: them to take some time themselves to then
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: build the kit and then show it to you so
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you can then talk through what they've added in,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and then maybe look at any gaps and what
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you could do.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: For young people who might struggle a bit
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: more, who are maybe feeling a bit more
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: negative — especially young people who
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: are struggling to see ways to cope — you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: then may need to do a bit more motivation
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: with them. Look and be really positive
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: about what's worked before, however small
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: it is, and then try to add that into the
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: kit, and using that as an opener. On our
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: [Childline] website we've got loads and loads
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: of resources in terms of ideas of what
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you can add in, different kinds of things
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you can do, and you can use those as a
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: kind of hook to say, "okay, what do you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: think about this kind of thing? What do you think
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: might work and what might not work?" It's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: also really good to be clear with a young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: person that this isn't a pass or fail.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: This is something where you're making it
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and you want to see how it goes the next
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: time they need it. It might work.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It might not. There might be some bits that work
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: really well, some that don't work at all. And
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: then you can revisit it — and you can be
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: really clear that this is something we can
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: revisit — and keep updating and keep
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: changing as time goes on.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So if it's not working or if it's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: working, we can then update it.
PRODUCER: Yeah. And mental health first aid kits are
PRODUCER: designed to be updated, aren't they?
PRODUCER: So what does that update process look like?
PRODUCER: When you're checking in with a young person and
PRODUCER: seeing how things are going, at what point do you
PRODUCER: suggest updates be made, or is that a decision
PRODUCER: for them to make?
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It's partly a decision for them to make,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: but I think it's really good to bring it
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: up. And I think if you're working with
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: someone over a long period of time and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they're having these crisis moments, and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you're talking to them— It's really
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: important just to say now: this is not
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: something to be trying to do when
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: somebody's in crisis.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: This is something to do outside of those
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: times, because when somebody is in
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: crisis, you just need to be focusing on
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that moment and what to do with them.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: But, say they've been in crisis before
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and something's happened or you talk to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: them, this can then form part of that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: conversation. Say, 'okay, what happened
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: then? What helped or didn't help?
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: How did you find this coping kit?' And if
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they're feeding back saying 'this bit
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: didn't work, this bit didn't', it's then
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: a very easy opportunity to say, 'okay, we
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: can just update that, we can look at
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that.' Or if the person feels able to go
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: away themselves and update it and then
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: share it with you later.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So it's all about those kind of normal
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: check-ins and those typical times where
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: you're having those conversations, you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: can just bring it into the conversation.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It doesn't necessarily have to be something
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: where you've set some time aside
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: specifically to do it.
PRODUCER: So earlier in the podcast, we heard from members
PRODUCER: of the NSPCC's Young People's Board for Change,
PRODUCER: and one of the things they spoke about was how
PRODUCER: important they thought it was for adults to try
PRODUCER: and improve their understanding of what mental
PRODUCER: health issues are like, particularly if you
PRODUCER: didn't go through them yourself.
PRODUCER: Where can professionals go to learn more about
PRODUCER: child mental health?
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: There's loads of places to go.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: The first thing I'd say is if you have a
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: young person who's talking to you about
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: their mental health and talking to you about what's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: happening, the most important thing you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: can be is curious.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: So, while there's lots and lots of
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: information online about what things are like,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: what different conditions are like, what
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: different mental health conditions can
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: affect people and symptoms around that — people
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: will have different experiences.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: They will be going through different things. And
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: actually, really being curious and open
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: and accepting to what a young person is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: saying to you, without adding anything on
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to it, without trying to minimise or
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: solve it, that will give you a really,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: really good understanding of what's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: happening with a young person. It also
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: will show them that you really want to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: support them, and actually really want to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: take what they're saying seriously.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: For specific mental health conditions,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: obviously the NHS website is a really
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: good resource to understand different
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: conditions. The NSPCC website has loads
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: of different information about supporting
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: young people and engaging young people.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: And as well as that, you can look at the
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Childline website because we have lots of
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: child-friendly information about
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: different types of mental health conditions,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: how they can affect you and how to get
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: support. And that can also be something
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that can be really helpful to look at
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: with a young person, because what we find
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: is seeing what you're going through on
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: screen and seeing what you're going through
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: written in front of you can actually be
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: very validating; because it can show you
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: what you're going through is actually
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: real and it is something that someone
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: else goes through so you're not feeling
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: isolated in it.
PRODUCER: Gawain, we spoke earlier in the podcast about the
PRODUCER: different types of professional support available
PRODUCER: to children experiencing mental health problems.
PRODUCER: We know that, unfortunately, the
PRODUCER: waiting lists for CAMHS and other mental health
PRODUCER: support across the UK are very long.
PRODUCER: The mental health first aid kit can be one way of
PRODUCER: providing a kind of intermediary support whilst
PRODUCER: you wait for access to those services, but what
PRODUCER: other advice would you give to professionals on
PRODUCER: how to best support children who are waiting for
PRODUCER: that mental health care?
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Well, the first thing to say is that waiting
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to be assessed is going to be really tough.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: There's no two ways about it. It's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: actually— if you're stuck on a waiting
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: list and you're waiting for that support, it's
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: a really difficult time.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: And I think it's okay to acknowledge to
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: the person you're working with that this
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: is difficult and it's not easy.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: The next is looking at what local
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: resources are available. So whether
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: that's via the school, via the GP, or
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: even speaking to the CAMHS office
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: themselves, looking at if there is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: anything that's available for the person
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: to access in that time.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Lastly, it's then about looking at what
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: community support there is for that young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: person. So having a trusted adult, having
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: people that they can speak to, who they
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: can engage with, is really, really
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: important. And it's really important that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: a young person isn't feeling isolated and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: isn't feeling like basically they're
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: waiting for CAMHS and there's nothing they're
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: allowed to do in the meantime.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: It's also important to remember that
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Childline is there as a resource for
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: young people and we have lots and lots of
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: resources on our website, which is
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: childline.org.uk, that give young people
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: ideas on how to cope, to build
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: resilience, to express themselves.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: We have the counselling service behind it
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: as well: lots of young people will call
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: us on our number, which a lot of people
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: know, which is 0800 1111.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: But we also have an online service: young
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: people can speak online via the website,
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: or even just send a message and then one
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: of our counsellors will reply.
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: Then as well as that we have our message
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: boards where lots of young people will
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: talk to each other anonymously and
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: they'll share support and give peer
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: support to each other in a really safe
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: way. So there's lots of resources online
GAWAIN GRIFFITHS: as well.
PRODUCER: Absolutely. And we'll put links to all those
PRODUCER: resources in the podcast shownotes.
PRODUCER: Gawain, thank you so much for talking to me
PRODUCER: today. To conclude the podcast, I asked Alice
PRODUCER: and Douglas about what they think could be useful
PRODUCER: for other young people to include in a mental
PRODUCER: health first aid kit.
DOUGLAS: One of the things that could be useful
DOUGLAS: for a mental health first aid kit is hot
DOUGLAS: drinks or something like that, since they can very
DOUGLAS: much have a calming effect on people.
DOUGLAS: And maybe
DOUGLAS: even blankets or something like that to
DOUGLAS: snuggle into, since people like to — when they're
DOUGLAS: anxious or something like that — to
DOUGLAS: snuggle in warm space.
ALICE: What I think might be helpful to include — and
ALICE: obviously it's different for every individual — but
ALICE: I think one of the most helpful things is stress
ALICE: toys because they have been proven to reduce
ALICE: stress and occupy your mind.
ALICE: And I would probably have a
ALICE: contact list of services that you can go
ALICE: to, especially overnight, so you can contact them if
ALICE: you're really struggling in the middle of the night.
ALICE: I would also have a pre-created list
ALICE: that's already pre-approved by a mental health
ALICE: professional with calming strategies
ALICE: to help de-escalate
ALICE: maybe severe anxiety and help focus
ALICE: your mind on other things.
PRODUCER: Yeah, absolutely. Some really good suggestions
PRODUCER: there. And thinking about calming strategies,
PRODUCER: I'm really curious if there are any examples of
PRODUCER: calming strategies that either of you have come
PRODUCER: across or have learnt about?
DOUGLAS: Well, I know a couple of calming strategies, such
DOUGLAS: as, if you get anxious or something like that,
DOUGLAS: take slow, deep breaths to
DOUGLAS: catch your breath. That one's a good one.
DOUGLAS: Or to go for a walk,
DOUGLAS: walk about back and forth.
DOUGLAS: They're the only calming strategies that
DOUGLAS: I can remember.
ALICE: Definitely breathing exercises: so,
ALICE: you know, in through your nose, out through your
ALICE: mouth.
ALICE: One thing I heard that is quite useful is I've heard
ALICE: that some people draw their heart rate.
ALICE: So they'll constantly doodle it over and over again,
ALICE: and the more they do that and focus in on it, their
ALICE: heart rate will become more manageable and it will
ALICE: calm them down quite a bit.
PRODUCER: A massive thanks to Alice and Douglas there for
PRODUCER: providing a young person's perspective on the
PRODUCER: mental health first aid kit.
PRODUCER: If you'd like to learn more about the kit or
PRODUCER: maybe build one with a child you're working with,
PRODUCER: you can find an accessible guide on the Childline
PRODUCER: website.
PRODUCER: You'll find links to this page as well as loads
PRODUCER: of other mental health resources in the podcast
PRODUCER: shownotes. Thanks for listening.
OUTRO: Thanks for listening to this NSPCC Learning Podcast.
OUTRO: At the time of recording, this episode's content was
OUTRO: up to date, but the world of safeguarding and child
OUTRO: protection is ever-changing.
OUTRO: So if you're looking for the most current
OUTRO: safeguarding and child protection, training,
OUTRO: information or resources, please visit
OUTRO: our website for professionals at
OUTRO: nspcc.org.uk/learning.