Camden Mental Health Support Team

The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) works with young people, their families and schools across Camden to support well-being. We help young people to stay emotionally well and foster healthy relationships. We can help in different ways; for example, through meeting young people or parents individually or via groups and workshops as well as by providing staff training and consultations.

Wellbeing Webinars

The autumn term has started, which means that children and young people are back to school after having experienced challenging and uncertain times around the COVID-19 pandemic and previous lockdowns. To provide support around processing experiences and looking to the future, we have created a series of workshops to cover a range of topics that may be helpful for parents and carers. Each one-hour workshop will provide a space for discussion, learning and sharing. There is also an optional 30-minute slot after each session for any further questions you may have. The sharing of your views, experiences or opinions is completely voluntary.

Due to the current situation around COVID-19, workshops will be delivered via Zoom.

1. Why Early Intervention Matters: Introducing the MHST

Why is early intervention important? What does the MHST do? The aim of this webinar is for you as parents and carers to find out more about the importance of early intervention in supporting children with mild to moderate emotional and behavioural difficulties. The webinar will also introduce the MHST team and their work in Camden primary and secondary schools. This webinar will help you understand what support is available and how you can access the appropriate service for your child’s needs.

Intended parent audience: primary and secondary schools

Date: Friday 12th November Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

2. Parent-child interactions

How do you spend time with your child? The aim of this webinar is for you as parents and carers to find out more about what makes positive parent/child interactions and how to promote, maintain and increase positive connections with your child. A secure and positive relationship has a positive effect on children’s physical health (e.g., helping brain development), emotional well-being (e.g., view of self, others and the world) and behaviour (e.g., positive behaviours more likely to follow). This webinar will help you improve your relationship with your child.

Intended parent audience: primary schools

Date: Friday 19th November Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30) OrDate: Thursday 20th January Time: 12.00 to 13.30 (Q and A 13.00 to 13.30)

3. Managing child worries

What is worry? What do children worry about? Why? The aim of this webinar is to help you as parents and carers understand more about the different worries children typically have and to learn some strategies for managing your child’s worries (e.g., facing anxiety-provoking situations, problem solving, refocusing attention and relaxation/mindfulness techniques). This webinar will help you if you find yourself struggling to manage your child’s worries.

Intended parent audience: primary schools

Date: Friday 26th November Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)OrDate: Thursday 27th January Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

4. Supporting your Anxious Young Person

What is anxiety? What are young people worried about at the moment? Teenagers are often more reluctant to talk about and work on their anxiety as this can make them feel embarrassed or self-conscious. The aim of this webinar is to help you as parents and carers to learn more about the different types of anxiety typically experienced by teenagers. This webinar will help you understand how to support your teenager in overcoming worry and anxiety.

Intended parent audience: secondary schools

Date: Friday 3rd December Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)OrDate: Thursday 3rd February Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

5. Understanding Adolescent Development

Adolescence is a time of great change. Young People at this stage of life are going through physical, hormonal, emotional, relational as well as psychological change. This Webinar aims to provide a brief overview of these key changes so that Parents/Carers feel better equipped to make sense of, and support their young person’s development.

Intended parent audience: secondary schools

Date: Friday 10th December Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)Or Date: Thursday 10th February Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

5. Therapeutic conversations with child and young person

How to have therapeutic conversations with your child? Having open, thoughtful and caring conversations with your child can be very beneficial for a child’s emotional well-being and their social problem solving skills. Join us for this Webinar to learn some top tips for having these important conversations with your child.

Intended parent audience: primary and secondary schools

Date: Thursday 24th February Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

6. Screen Time

Screen Time – perhaps a challenge for all parents of this technological age? In this Webinar we hope to provide you with up-to-date research as well as explore why this topic can be so emotive for families alongside some helpful ideas parents might wish to try out.

Intended parent audience: primary and secondary schools

Date: Thursday 3rd March Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

7. All about sleep

How does your child sleep? Why is sleep so important for children and young people? Having problems with sleep is very common. Approximately 1 in 5 adults have some difficulty with sleep. Children with certain conditions are more likely to experience poor sleep than others. For example, if your child is experiencing worries or anxiety, has ADHD or is on the autistic spectrum, this may impact their sleep patterns. This webinar will help you understand more about how you can support your child to improve his/her sleep and well-being.

Intended parent audience: primary and secondary schools

Date: Thursday 10th March Time: 12.00 to 13:30 (Q and A 13:00 to 13.30)

Please note: these workshops have been created for a universal audience. The content of the webinars may be of interest to parents and carers with mild to moderate concerns around their child’s wellbeing, thoughts and behaviours. There will be opportunities for open discussion, however, if you have concerns about you or your child’s wellbeing that you would like to discuss privately then please speak to one of the MHST facilitators, a member of school staff or your family GP. The MHST can also signpost to other services or teams that may provide a helpful source of support for you or your family.

Once you have booked your ticket, a link to the webinar will be visible on Eventbrite 24 hours before it takes place. Please look out for notifications.

MHST Parent and Carer Webinar Series (2021-2022)