headspace’s Post

EXPANDING OUR MENTAL HEALTH TOOLKITS - ASA SANDERSON CPD SESSION If you sit still and stop learning - That is where your standards start to decline. You do not have to re-invent the wheel - sometimes it is just a case of putting a little more air in it! CPD forms a key part of teachers lives at Holmewood House School. Every Monday we hold a session between 5 and 6pm to help staff learn, expand and refresh. This week we were very fortunate enough to welcome Asa Sanderson, multi-award winning clinical psychotherapist and the brains behind The Process Mental WellBeing. He delivered a dynamic and thought provoking session looking at how we can as a school optimise how we help pupils, as well as how we can help each other optimise our mental health. This is in contrast to the more familiar route of being reactive and managing poor mental health. With staff attending from Nursery, all through to Year 8 it was great to see how academic research complimented the excellent pastoral care that Holmewood House School already delivers. Those little adjustments can make a huge difference and I really took a lot from the section on recognising and managing anxiety in young people, an ever changing and relevant area of life. I really enjoyed some insightful conversations with our team afterwards about the different ways they are excited to enhance our provision even further. Our sincere thanks to Asa for the session and for reinforcing the adage that it doesn't matter who you are, your mental health counts. #mentalhealth #wellbeing #staffwellbeing #cpd #asasanderson #theprocessmentalwellbeing #holmewoodhouse

💚 Mental Health Awareness At Oasis Manor Care, we understand that for many young people in care, mental health and emotional well-being are the cornerstones of progress. Before learning, growth, or independence can take place, a young person must first feel safe, valued, and supported. Many of the children and young people we support have experienced difficult early life experiences, including trauma, neglect, loss, or breakdowns in family relationships. These experiences can leave deep emotional scars that affect how they see the world, how they relate to others, and how they manage their emotions. That is why, at Oasis Manor Care, mental health is not treated as a single intervention or one-off support session. It is woven into everyday life in our homes. Our teams take a trauma-informed approach to care, meaning we prioritise understanding behaviour rather than simply responding to it. We know that anger can come from fear, withdrawal can stem from sadness, and silence can often mean a young person is trying to cope in the only way they know how. Every interaction, whether it is a morning check-in, a shared meal, or a calm de-escalation after a challenging moment, is an opportunity to reinforce trust, stability, and emotional safety. We also work collaboratively with therapists, schools, local authorities, and families to ensure each young person receives consistent and holistic support. This might include therapeutic input, creative expression, or simply providing space to talk and be heard. We aim to help young people: 🌱 Understand their emotions rather than fear them 🌱 Develop healthy coping strategies 🌱 Rebuild trust in adults 🌱 Believe that positive change is possible We are proud of our staff, who show daily commitment, empathy, and emotional resilience in supporting young people through complex and sometimes painful journeys. Their ability to stay calm, patient, and hopeful is what makes lasting change possible. At Oasis Manor Care, we believe that when a young person feels safe, emotionally as well as physically, everything else becomes achievable. 💚 Because every child deserves to be understood, supported, and given the space to heal. #OasisManorCare #MentalHealthAwareness #TraumaInformedCare #ResidentialCareUK #ChildrenFirst #SocialCareUK #EmotionalWellbeing #TherapeuticCare

Calling new and recently elected councillors: develop your skills in creating mentally healthier communities. Our virtual event on Monday 1 December examines how you can use your powers, skills and influence as a councillor to address the social and environmental determinants of mental health. The session covers practical approaches to improving mental health through your work on housing, green space, air quality, commercial determinants like food and alcohol environments, and building social connections. This is an essential professional development opportunity for councillors who want to make a meaningful impact on resident wellbeing whilst supporting their own mental health. Funded by UK Government. https://orlo.uk/he0mx

Schools are pouring time and money into wellbeing programmes — but are they working? Few are ever evaluated, and no one’s asking the key question: do students actually get better? Read our latest piece on why evidence, not volume, should drive mental health in schools. https://lnkd.in/eV5n-gmt

Recently we’ve been speaking to organisations who tell us that, when their employee is in a mental health crisis, they don’t know what to do. The employee’s GP has referred them to other services, but the waiting lists are long. And their symptoms are too complex for their employee assistance programme (EAP) to offer support. What’s next? When a person is in a mental health crisis, it’s important they are assessed by a mental health doctor and provided with the right support, at the right time. That’s why we created MOAI Flex. For when employees need more than an EAP. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/esEuTD9a

https://lnkd.in/eWPpzeC2 SilverCloud has launched a range of free self-guided online programmes for individuals aged 16 and above who live in Gwent. Their programmes cover the following areas: Adult Mental Health Adult Wellbeing Students Parenting Young Persons These self-guided sessions can help individuals: Understand what causes stress Build healthy coping skills Learn mindfulness and relaxation techniques Regain balance and control in daily life All programmes can be completed anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace.

According to EAPA UK, more than 623,000 employees contacted EAP providers last year with more than one million counselling sessions provided. Some of the most common reasons were relationships at home and work, financial worries and health. But a new reason is fast emerging - parental concern about the mental health of children. Find out how we can help support your employees when - and how they need it most. https://lnkd.in/eJd7fCMT

Adolescents with OCD often struggle to manage intrusive thoughts while navigating school, identity, and social pressures. While therapy like CBT with ERP is essential, coaching plays a key supportive role by helping teens apply coping strategies in daily life, build resilience, and strengthen self-confidence. Coaching also reinforces therapeutic progress by promoting emotional regulation, accountability, and support from caregivers, empowering adolescents to take ownership of their mental health.

📢 New publication alert! We’re proud to share our latest open-access article exploring how adolescents experiencing dissociation navigate daily life—drawing on rich insights from young people themselves, as well as their parents and clinicians. The paper also offers practical guidance for clinicians and caregivers supporting young people with dissociative experiences. 🔗 Read the full article: “Wait with me until it’s over”: A reflexive thematic analysis of adolescents’ coping with dissociation https://lnkd.in/g4_BakpN Well done Dr Bronwyn Milkins, and thanks to the strong team with Prof Helen Milroy, Dr Maryam Boutrus, and Dr Giulia Pace, with support from The Kids Research Institute Australia and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services.

🌿 Building a culture of care and understanding at NDO We’re proud to share that Datuk Nicol David, Mariana De Reyes and Shanise Pereira completed the Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) course certified by MHFA England® . This training equips our team to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges — creating safer, more supportive spaces for both our employees and the children we work with. The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated. In Malaysia, the prevalence of mental health issues has been on the rise — with more individuals, including children and young people, experiencing stress, anxiety, and emotional struggles. Yet, conversations around mental wellbeing often remain limited. By investing in mental health training, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that our team has the knowledge, confidence, and empathy to provide early support and promote open dialogue. 💚 Special thanks to the Squash United Foundation who sponsored this training opportunity and supporting our foundation Adriana Olaya #MentalHealthAwareness #MHFAEngland #NDO #WellbeingAtWork #SafeSpaces #Empowerment #ChildDevelopment #MentalHealthMalaysia #TeamGrowth #CommunityCare