Parent information 

Mental Health Awareness Week –

11-17th May 2026

Take Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us

The Mental Health Foundation has chosen the theme "Action” this year to recognise that whilst awareness is vital, real change comes when taking action too.  Regarding action during this week try to:

• For yourself: Choose one positive action to boost your mental health that works for you. Click here on resources for looking after your mental health in addition to Resources from Action for Happiness -10 Keys to Happier Living | Action for Happiness

• For someone else: Find one thing that you can do to help build mentally health communities, workplaces and schools. Click here to learn why community is important for our mental health
  
  

In addition, there are various resources for your setting to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week:

• • Mental Health Foundation – The foundation have a range of resources which include logos, posters and social media posts to help spread the word about Mental Health Awareness Week as well as Tipsheets which include top ten actions for good mental health and eight actions to improve mental health in the long-term.

  • Voluntary, community and faith groups | Barnet Council– The council website have a dedicated page on ways you can join a networking forum. There is a range of specialist forums in Barnet for the voluntary, community and faith sector to network and share information.

  • Autism and mental health – A blog post from Mind which explains, autism, how mental health and autism are related and useful contacts for autism support.

  • Barnet Local Offer: Please see the Barnet local offer on how specialist education services can help and as well as the Inclusion Advisory Team.

 If you would like to learn more about the Resilient Schools Programme, and how to promote a whole school approach to mental health wellbeing, please click here to contact Jayne Abbott.

Helplines, resources & support 

• Urgent Help Mental Health Crisis Line –The North Central London 24-hours crisis line has a team of trained mental health advisors and clinicians who provide help or advice for young people aged under 18 in a crisis – 0800 151 0023

• Barnet CAMHS – Duty team for young people already known to services, Monday – Friday between 9am- 5pm, young people or carers can telephone for support – 020893827

• Barnet Integrated Clinical Services (BICS) – Is a non-emergency service that provides services to children, young people and families with mild to moderate mental health needs in the borough including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and youth justice liaison & diversion. Professionals working with young people can get in touch to receive advice and make a referral. Contact BICS@barnet.gov.uk for general enquiries or call 0208 359 3130 (Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm)

• Barnet Young People Thrive Talking Therapy – A programme delivered by Young People Thrive, CB Plus to support 17- to 25-year-olds facing mild to moderate mental health challenges, including those struggling with university, life or work pressures and social challenges. It includes CBT-based webinars, group sessions and 1-2-1 interventions. Click here to find out more

• Waiting Room is a website that provides mental health and wellbeing information for children and young people, adults, parents and carers, and professionals based in North Central London. We offer information, resources, and support services. The North Central London Integrated Care System (NCL ICS) covers five London boroughs: Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey.

• Mermaids (mermaidsuk.org.uk)  Supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families since 1995

• Brook Healthy Lives for Young People is a free and confidential sexual health advice service.

• Change Grow Live is a free and confidential service for young people up to 24. Provides help and advice with challenges young people facing in everyday life such as issues with drugs and alcohol mental and sexual health.
  Phone: 0300 303 2866 |Email: Barnet.Info@cgl.org.uk | Webchat: Our webchat is for young people under 25 looking for advice and info. Speak to our online team.

• Young Minds provide free help and advice for young people, parent/carers and professionals working with young people. Includes a chat service for parent/carers, resources for professionals and mental health advice for young people on a range of topics. Phone: Parent/Carer Helpline: 0808 8025 544 | Monday – Friday 9.30- 4.00pm

• SHOUT is the UK’s first and only free, confidential 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope. To start a conversation text ‘Shout’ to 85258 and trained shout volunteers are here to listen any time and messages won’t appear on your phone bill.

• Childline is a free, confidential service where children and young people under 19 can talk about any issue they’re going through, online or on the phone. Call 0800 1111, email or through a 1-2-1 counsellor chat

• HOPELINEUK | Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity (papyrus-uk.org) If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice.

Call: 0800 068 4141 Text: 88247  Email: pat@papyrus.uk.org

• North Central London - Amparo Support after suicide service for people who have been bereaved by suicide who live, work or study in the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey

• Talk to us on the Phone | Samaritans Call 116 123 for free

• Stem4 has created five evidence-based apps to support young people with challenges such as anxiety, low mood, body image and self-harm – These health management resources make support more accessible and tailored to individual needs. Please note they function as an aid in treatment but do not replace it.

Support in educational settings

•  Kooth for students and Qwell for all staff in education. Both services are run by qualified counsellors and are completely confidential.

• Suicide-Safer Schools Guide - PAPYRUS has developed a guide to support teachers and school staff in building suicide-safer schools. The guide, which is downloadable on their webpage, provides school staff with an understanding of the most effective strategies to implement and to create a suicide-safer environment. The material in the guide is designed for secondary school and college teachers and staff, but can be adapted for younger children too- Click here

• Self-Harm Management Tool Kit - This toolkit from Essex, Southend on Sea and Thurrock councils in collaboration with the NHS is to support those working with school-age children and young people under 18 in educational settings – Click Here

• Health Education Partnership are commissioned by Barnet Public Health to support Primary and Secondary schools deliver effective PSHE curriculum.– Click here to find out more or email Tania Barney tania.barney@healtheducationpartnership.com 

• The Peer Champion Scheme is commissioned by Resilient Schools which includes mental health awareness training and a half-day co-production workshop so that young people can design the scheme to fit the needs of their school.  Click here to find out more

Training and awareness

• Resilient Schools provides Youth Mental Health Training and Suicide Prevention training opportunities for school staff in Barnet to support young people

• If you would like to join the cohort next academic, contact info@bdld.org.uk to register your interest in Youth Mental Health Training.

  • Part of the YMHFA Training offer includes webinars for professionals to choose a topic to enhance their practice in supporting CYP. Click here to shape the next webinar.

• Suicide Prevention half-day training delivered by Papyrus will allow you to learn vital suicide prevention skills such as holding open and honest conversations, identifying signs of struggle and how to support someone’s safety. Keep an eye out for the next set of training for the 26/27 academic year!

• BICS deliver groups and workshops throughout the year when Barnet families need them. Click here to find out more

• Thrive LDN developed a film Connects which invited people to write a message of hope for someone who may be finding things difficult. – Click here to watch the video and  click here for the discussion guide

• Zero Suicide Alliance Training is a FREE 20-minute online training that can be accessed by the whole school community including parents/carers. The training helps you to more confident in supporting people you are worried about and provide a whole school approach to suicide prevention. The Suicide Prevention training aims to give skills and confidence to help someone who maybe considering suicide. It focuses on breaking stigma and encouraging open conversations.  – Click here

• For further information on supporting yourself or others, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/

Articles of interest

Barnet's Suicide Prevention Campaign ‘may have helped save 10 lives’, finds Middlesex University report | Barnet Council