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WHAT IS A TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH INFORMED SCHOOL?

WHAT IS A TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH INFORMED SCHOOL?

A trauma informed school is one that is able to support children and teenagers who suffer with trauma or mental health problems and whose troubled behaviour acts as a barrier to learning. Our training programmes were born out of a response to major public health studies that have shown that when children who have suffered several painful life experiences, are unhelped, there is a very high chance of them going on to suffer severe mental and physical ill-health. We therefore support schools, communities and other organisations in providing relationships for these children that heal minds, brains and bodies. Key conversational skills in addressing and making sense of what has happened are central to our work as is a major shift in whole school/organisation/community culture. 

  

 

Joshua Tyers, Head of School at Biscovey Academy,  illustrates the transformation in his school from chaos to calm through creating a trauma and mentally healthy school culture. Josh highlights the steps taken by the leadership  team and staff in implementing policy, practice and cultural change at every level. He also shares the  impact in outcomes for children, staff and the cost benefits to the school. Essential viewing for those embarking on the process of becoming a trauma informed school.

  

 

WHY WE NEED TRAUMA INFORMED SCHOOLS

‘Rising numbers of children are presenting with mental health difficulties in schools and current teaching environments are struggling to keep up. Many children have a high ACE score (meaning multiple adverse childhood experiences) known to leave children at risk of mental and physical ill-health later in life and even early death' (The ACE study Felitti and Anda, a study involving over 17,000 people). With the cuts in CAMHS and with over 1 million children in the UK with a mental health problem, schools are often left holding the baby. Children spend 190 days a year at school so we believe that schools are very well placed to pick up the baton and help these children.

HOW TO BECOME A TRAUMA INFORMED SCHOOL

We offer training to schools to empower and enable key staff to be able to respond effectively to mild to moderate mental health problems. The government Green Paper 'Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision' (December 2017) wants a Mental Health Lead in every school (trained member of school staff). Their research found that appropriately trained teachers /teaching assistants can achieve results comparable to those of trained therapists. To quote, "There is evidence that appropriately-trained and supported staff such as teachers, school nurses, counsellors, and teaching assistants can achieve results comparable to those achieved by trained therapists in delivering a number of interventions addressing mild to moderate mental health problems (such as anxiety, conduct disorder, substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder)”

From the ACE study to practical implementation, our interventions are informed by over 1000 cutting edge up to date research studies from neuroscience, medicine and psychology. We offer whole school inductions (whole or half a day) Senior Leads training (two days) and a Practitioner training leading to the award of Diploma in Trauma and Mental health Informed schools (University award route 13 weekend days, non- University route 11 days). We offer training in London and throughout the UK