New mental health training programme for people working with children

Schools, leisure centre employees and council workers are all being encouraged to attend the courses being run by three local specialist charities.

They have been developed to increase day-to-day awareness of young people’s emotional and mental health, and will cover suicide alertness training, self-harm, bereavement, ADHD, the impact of social media, and mental health awareness.

Elaine Colomberg, from Coastal West Sussex Mind, who is leading the partnership with YMCA Downslink Group and Grassroots Suicide Prevention, said: “This new training programme is part of our commitment as a local mental health charity to the mental health and wellbeing needs of our local communities.

“Recognising when a child or young person needs help can be a lifesaver. It is also just as important to be aware of mental health and what it means.”

This training programme is one of the initiatives within the five-year plan by West Sussex County Council and the NHS to improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing services across the county.

Stephen Hillier, the county council’s cabinet member for children – start of life, said: “Being ignorant of mental health issues is not an excuse when working with children and young people. We want to make sure everyone has access to the knowledge and skills to recognise when someone has a mental health need.

“These new courses form a small part of our commitment to improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing services. I’m pleased to say that they will not just target council staff but also be available to those who work in youth services across the county.”

The training programme, which will initially run for two years, is being funded by West Sussex County Council, West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups and Health Education England.

For more information call Coastal West Sussex Mind on 01903 277010, email [email protected] or visit http://coastalwestsussexmind.eventbrite.co.uk

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.